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My first shackle flip screwed up

1Guy

18
0
So I guess I am supposed to have more angle towards the back, I want to fix my shackle flip but would like you all to share what I have for options. Other than moving the back hangers, can I move the front hangers back and drop them a little (more lift)? Can I get 58" long springs (these are 56")
This is a 1974 FORD 4x4 with about a 6" lift, long bed, 1/2 ton. Thanks ahead of time for the input.


beforeafter1.jpg
 

Alvin in AZ

1,330
46
Venta de la Mesilla
I looks like you moved the rear spring hanger toward the rear.
{effectively making the spring too short}
Noticed it's now covering the bumper-plate's bolt hole.
Was the reason for that?

Alvin in AZ
 
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1Guy

18
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Well what I did was align the center of the hole on the new hanger with the center of the hole on the old hanger, it covered the bumper hole because the hanger was wider. I did'nt realize it was a big deal since I have custom bumper brackets and don't need that hole, I thought it was more important to put the holes where the shackle bolts up the same as the old one, but i guess with the hanger being longer and the shackle fipped I suppose it threw it off?

I would rather not yard my tank out again if I don't have to, I seen other options such as moving the front bracket back and down or longer leaf springs. So with you comment of {making your your spring too short} does that mean a longer spring will fix it? These are 56" x 3" and I found some from a mid 80's Ford that are 58" x 3".
 
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Alvin in AZ

1,330
46
Venta de la Mesilla
1Guy wrote: {newsgroup style :}
>Well what I did was align the center of the hole on the new hanger
>with the center of the hole on the old hanger...

What's it look like with weight on it? :)
Is this going to be a city truck or what? ;)
Might work ok like it is?
Just doesn't "look" good is all? :/

>...thought it was more important to put the holes where the shackle
>bolts up the same as the old one, but i guess with the hanger being
>longer and the shackle fipped I suppose it threw it off?

Yeah, looks like it from here. :/

>I would rather not yard my tank out again if I don't have to...

What does that mean? (I'm the dumbest guy on FTF)
Looks like the spring hangers are bolted on... just move 'em forward? :)

>...other options such as moving the front bracket back and down...

Yeah, good point! :)
When lowering the rear of the spring that changes the angle on the axle.
Maybe other than screwy U-joint angles... it's good to keep the same angle
on the rear axle? On Fordification.com they have some tech articles about
axle angles. Didn't study them since I'm not interested in modifications of
this sort so don't have the answers for you or any real knowledge of it.
...all I got is just "pointy" questions. ;)

What about squareness?
What all did you do to make sure everything is square?

-----------------------

I special ordered my '75 F150 and have basically done all my own work on it.
The two rear leaf spring packs that came with the pickup have a different
length from the front eye to the bolt that locates the axle, a 5/8" difference!

A guy at Ford picked those springs out to square up the axle.
My axle is square with the frame because he did that. :)

Funny but before measuring them I notice how the two spring packs had a
different "look" about them, like they weren't made the same day by the
same guy or something. The tapers at the ends of the springs are different
and the Ford "part" numbers are stamped in different places and don't look
alike etc. Just dumb stuff like that got me to wondering about 'em. :)

BTW, they both have the same numbers, nothing on them to tell a guy they
are different, prob'ly placed in a rack according to "eye to locating pin length"
and that's all that was needed?

I had painted a stripe on the inside edges of one pack so I could be sure
which pack they belong to. I re-arched them myself.

-----------------------

>...a longer spring will fix it? These are 56" x 3" and I found some from
>a mid 80's Ford that are 58" x 3".

Yeah, the longer springs ought to do it, especially after weight is returned. :)
I assumed:/ you were talking about buying new springs. ;)

Alvin in AZ
 

1Guy

18
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Thanks Mudslut....


Ok so it has the weight it will have on it, it is going to be a pavement pounder (Trying see if I can get it to show quality or close) however I drove it and holy crap I feel every bump in the rear and it hits hard.

As for squareness what I did was measure from center of front hub to center of back hub each side and measured the same, then I found center of the width of my frame right behind the cab dropped a plumbbob down to the ground made a mark then took measurements from several points from each side and everything came out right. I did it this way because thats how we square up the axles on the tractor tailers we build at work.

I went to the yard today and took measurements on some rear springs and the longest I could find were 57" center of hole to center of hole.

So it looks like my best bet is to move my fronts and kill two birds with one stone? (shackle angle and center my wheel in fender little better)

Thanks for the input.
 
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UNRULEE

UNRULEE

^LARGE carbon footprint^
5,412
424
Coal Country, ND
For what it's worth here's a pic of my flip. I moved the hanger (Sky Manu, not stock, but it gies you an idea) ahead a couple of inches for proper shackle angle. As said before, if you don't have the box on it's hard to tell what the final angle will be. Maybe just wait till you get the box on untill you start moving hangers?
IMG_2137.jpg


And for an FYI if the postion of the tire in the wheel well bothers you there's an easier way to correct it. I used these http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/Zero Rates.htm

IMG_1942.jpg



BTW I like your truck.
 
UNRULEE

UNRULEE

^LARGE carbon footprint^
5,412
424
Coal Country, ND
Pay attention, I'll see if I can explain this. He got some hangers off of another truck. He used the front hanger for the rear spring and used it for the flip. So now supporting the rear springs are 2 front shackles on each side.

Does this help?

And yes the hanger needs to be moved farther forward for a better angle. But the weight of the box will make the angle improve as well.
 
UNRULEE

UNRULEE

^LARGE carbon footprint^
5,412
424
Coal Country, ND
Alvin in AZ said:
Cool! :)

I keep getting confused right after the "Pay attention" part. :/

Alvin in AZ (dumbest guy on FTF)
Click to expand...

You serious, it's ok if you are.
 
LEB Ben

LEB Ben

Arrogant A-hole At-Large
34,919
1,124
outside your house
UNRULEE said:
You serious, it's ok if you are.
Click to expand...


I doubt it...Alvin is a pretty mechanically smart guy. As he says...he's not too bad for an old ditch digger...hahaha.
 
UNRULEE

UNRULEE

^LARGE carbon footprint^
5,412
424
Coal Country, ND

1Guy

18
0
Fixed it...It actually sits back a little further, I took this pic when it was still up on the horse. Rides alot smoother.

shacklefix.jpg
 

Ronzi

101
12
1Guy your truck looks great. In the bottom pic of your last post is it just me or does your rear tire sit a little to far forward? Im not being critical Im just curious cause im thinking of doing a shackle flip to get rid of my block.
 

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