Shackles or Leaf Springs

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 1:25 pm

I was thinking about doing torsion bar mod and was wunderin (Texan) if i should go with a shackle system or an Add a leaf system, Any one have input on this?

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 2:09 pm

With shackles you'll have better flex. Adding a leaf spring will make the rear end stiffer which means less flex.

I just ordered shackles for mine yesterday.

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 2:33 pm

Cool....That makes sense....

Which Shackles did you order and how much did you end up spending?

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 2:46 pm

I got the Daystar non-greasable 3" ones (give 1.5" of lift). There's a link in the mods section under "shackles." Click on that and it takes you to this place in SoCal called Mac's Springs. The price on there is $56 per pair, so make sure you only order a quantity of one. I put 2 and luckily the guy there e-mailed me to make sure how many I wanted.

Also...they're on backorder right now from the manufacturer...which is in Phoenix incidentally. They're going to be available on or before June 10 and the guy said that they'll drop ship them from the manufacturer in Phoenix right to my place for $5. Good service and price at this place.

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:29 pm

I get to put in my vote for the springs-

Shackles will indeed allow MORE flex, but that can be a bad thing if it is side to side.

Ask Hobie about the rubbed drive shaft on his fuel tank shield.

Going to a steel shaft or not adding the gas tank shield are options.

I'm NOT saying shackles are bad, but there are concequences to any mod.

I'm going with springs. Done right it should raise the rear 1" or so add some load carrying capacity and still have as much articulation as stock.

Some of the off the shelf "add-a-leaf" kits are what give them all a bad name. One very arched hard spring may not be the way to go. I'm told that by removing one spring and adding three thinner springs , that I will retain all the stock characteristics with only a raised ride height.

Bear in mind that I will be pulling a trailer , more than just ocasionally, I don't have BIG rock crawling terrain, and tend to apply side loads on the trails I frequent.

I'm hoping to get a kit put together, through a local shop, that is fairly easy to install with basic hand tools, for under $100. Maybe less?

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:37 pm

ya, the shackles are easy to get and install and do provide good flex

but if i ever start pulling trailers again, i will take them off and add a leaf.....

i didnt notice a ride difference. the tires to me made the biggest differencec in the ride.

NTXCrew · Post by **NTXCrew** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:40 pm

Was the difference in the ride from the tires good or bad?

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 4:19 pm

a2b wrote:ya, the shackles are easy to get and install and do provide good flex

Now that's flex.

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 9:57 pm

Can you add both? Just curious...this is good stuff

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 10:41 pm

MikeyZR5 wrote:Can you add both? Just curious...this is good stuff

yes you can add both and its very common. espically on blazers. cuz they sag more than trucks.

and the 31's make the ride alot ruffer cuz they are heavier

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:47 am

Ok....So adding both can be done...

I wonder what lift that would achieve and I wonder if that is for me...I am not a rockcrawler (hardly an off-roader, soon to change), but I will be doing some hauling and occasional towing.

Do you think I can do a t-bar crank and add both the shackle and Leaf...trying to get best of both worlds here....

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:54 am

The rear end would probably be oddly higher if you added both. Cranking the t-bars will get you 1.5"-2" tops. Shackles will get you 1.5", and an add-a-leaf will get you another 1" or maybe more for a total of 2.5" extra in the rear, which is already 1" higher than the front. I think it would look kind of odd.

If you're planning on towing and not much hard off-roading, go with the leafs.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 10:31 am

yep, go with the leafs. not a hard choice here

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 10:43 am

Cool..yall, thanks for the input...Helps alot!

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 4:19 pm

My shackles actually showed up a lot earlier than I thought. They were supposed to be on back order until Tuesday June 10, but they were on my doorstep when I got home Friday.

Guess that's the advantage of having the Daystar manufacturing facility about 4 miles from my house.

I installed them this morning and they're great! Install was pretty easy once I got the truck high enough to get the flex out of the springs (FYI...it's much higher than the recommended "rear wheels 3 inches off the ground then lower the axle" that's mentioned in the install instructions).

It's not incredibly higher in the back now, but it's a noticeable improvement over stock. Now all I need is to crank the t-bars and get an alignment and my truck will look more like a 4x4.

Post by **HenryJ** » Wed Jun 11, 2003 4:25 am

Installed the Boise Spring works kit on the rear of my truck.

It firmed the ride, I think just barely. Rides about the same with 2" increase in ride height.

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Wed Jun 11, 2003 5:15 am

Nice...How much was that whole setup and how long did the install take!?

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Wed Jun 11, 2003 5:22 am

Nevermind, found the thread.

MikeyZR5 · Post by **MikeyZR5** » Wed Jun 11, 2003 12:01 pm

HenryJ:

When you removed the spacer and added the new leafs, I assume that you loosened the clamp to put the new leafs on...What happened when you did that? How did you get the new ones on?

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 11:04 am

MikeyZR5 wrote:HenryJ:

When you removed the spacer and added the new leafs, I assume that you loosened the clamp to put the new leafs on...What happened when you did that? How did you get the new ones on?

I clamped the spring pack, used vice-grips to hold the center bolt and a wrench to remove the nut. Then take the clamp off, the spacer/overload will be loose the rest of the springs stay in place (front and rear horizontal stabilizing clamps).

The springs will hang there , drop the new centering bolt down through them and add the new springs underneath. A little wiggling while tightening the clamp and it will all line up. then install the new (heavier duty) nut, and tighten.

The whole process including several interruptions took me half an afternoon.

I'd say with some productive help it should take about 3-4 hrs.

With no help and good tools you should be able to do it in about 2 hrs.

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 7:29 pm

I would like to duplicate your springs. What specs should I give my local spring shop. I pull a 2500 pound camper. I had to get a weight distrubution hitch to pull it level. I would like to get away from it cause I think its overkill and a pain to hook up.

Brad

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 8:07 pm

Brad wrote:I would like to duplicate your springs. What specs should I give my local spring shop. I pull a 2500 pound camper. I had to get a weight distrubution hitch to pull it level. I would like to get away from it cause I think its overkill and a pain to hook up.

Brad

If you can , print some of the pictures from my page (a picture is worth a thousand words), and take your truck in so they can take some measurements.

The leaves are not drilled on center , so correct location of the center pin is important. They will also need to arch the the springsto match the crew cab spring pack.

I'm no expert, and really wouldn't know what all the measurements were that are needed.

Mike at Boise Spring Works made a template using my truck , so that He could easily build more.

Your local shop will be able to taylor it specifically to your needs (higher , lower, heavier loads, etc)