how much longer should my shackle be...

[colbystephens]

i've just got the stock shackle up front with 4" lift springs. my shackle length is seriously limiting my articulation - you can see that the current angle is pretty sucky and in any sort of compression situation, it almost immediately hits the frame. in any droop situation, it's almost fully extended already.

i'd rather not increase the lift with the addition of the longer shackle - is that doable? what length should i run?

for what it's worth, i'm running a 38" tire with no inner fenders, but the exterior ones need a bit more trimming. i want to do the new shackles before i trim more tho, so i can figure out how much more needs cut.

 

[Stomis]

Do what I did. Pull the bracket out and make the front 2 hangar holes the new rear ones. Wahlah instant perfect shackle angle without measuring anything! I use the longer shackles diy4x offers and everything up front is perfecto 30-40* angle.

 

[colbystephens]

interesting. i'll have to take a look at that. so what you're saying tho, to be clear, is that if i move the front spring hangar forward, i won't need to replace my stock rear hangar? i'd like to beef it up sometime in the future, but if i can save some coin right now - major bueno.

 

[Stomis]

interesting. i'll have to take a look at that. so what you're saying tho, to be clear, is that if i move the front spring hangar forward, i won't need to replace my stock rear hangar? i'd like to beef it up sometime in the future, but if i can save some coin right now - major bueno.

No you can reuse it just need to get bolts to replace the rivets. Thats what I did, required minimal shaving of the front bottom corner of the hanger to fit in the frame rail BUT this allowed me to use BOTH holes therefor eliminating any guess work with matching the two sides up perfectly.

 

[GsxrMike]

I think if you move your hanger forward you are going to have to get longer shackles or you will be riding on your frame. Move it forward and get the 6" shackles from DIY4X. You will only have to spend like $30 for the shackles.

 

[colbystephens]

I think if you move your hanger forward you are going to have to get longer shackles or you will be riding on your frame. Move it forward and get the 6" shackles from DIY4X. You will only have to spend like $30 for the shackles.

that sounds like a good plan. i suppose that'll get me about an inch or so longer wheel base? or no? when i do the crossover steering conversion (hopefully this winter), i was thinking to go ahead and move the axle as far forward as possible anyway. but, until then, this seems like a great next mod on the truck.

 

[kgblazerfive]

I have seven inch long front rear shackles but alot better shackle angle cuz I have 56's

 

[howdiy]

that sounds like a good plan. i suppose that'll get me about an inch or so longer wheel base? or no? when i do the crossover steering conversion (hopefully this winter), i was thinking to go ahead and move the axle as far forward as possible anyway. but, until then, this seems like a great next mod on the truck.

It won't extend the wheel base at all

If you are going to move the axle forward I would just wait until then to move the rear shackle hanger

 

[Kenny78]

Hey stomis, do you have stock length springs? I think I remember that you do from your thread. What shackle length did you go with 6"? Could you post pics?

Thanks man

 

[Stomis]

This is using the bolt hole trick I said and a 6in shackle from diy4x

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238784&highlight=shackle&page=4

 

[Kenny78]

Those look like standard lift springs, right? Looks like it. You said it flexes better. How does it look stuffed up? Almost against the frame. I have 4" RC springs and want to upgade the shackle soon. My angle s slightly more vertical than colbys and yours(envisioning stock shackles). Did you notice any loss of lateral stability? I doubt you did but like to know every variable I can think of.

Thanks Stomis

 

[Stomis]

The truck does drive a little softer. Between the shackles and no swaybar I take turns very carefully. If you still have a sway bar I wouldnt worry at all.

The shackles dont come anyway near the frame that I notice, leafs dont get very good compression anyway. Those are just standard 4in springs, couldnt tell you what brand or what spring rate, they were on the truck when i bought it.

 

[colbystephens]

if you're referring to mine, yes, they are standard pro comp lift springs. as they get worn in, they are getting nice and flexy. i don't really have a need to do 56's (i don't think) because these flex real nice. however, i think that the hangar is really limiting my flex alot. that hangar is pressed up against the frame.

here's a pic of the max flex i can get out of it, of course it's limited by that damn hangar. i don't know what max droop is.

it doesn't feel unstable at all - i am not running a sway bar up front either. it's perhaps slightly soft - but i think alot of body roll has to do with dimensions of your rig. the higher you go over a fixed width, the more unstable it's going to be. i'm running 4" lift on 38's - so my center of gravity is LOW.