Camburg Stock Length Shackles

[lateralis]

How hard of an install is installing shackles? Detail of procedure? TIA.

This guy is swapping leaf springs but you can skip around to see the parts involving the shackle.

 

[nikhsub1]

This guy is swapping leaf springs but you can skip around to see the parts involving the shackle.

Yeah I've seen that - I'm wondering the procedure for just swapping the shackles without removing the entire spring. Some say it's possible... is it a PITA?

 

[lateralis]

Yeah I've seen that - I'm wondering the procedure for just swapping the shackles without removing the entire spring. Some say it's possible... is it a PITA?

It looks like a real PITA due to the top bolt. I'm not sure how much room you're going to have to get that top bolt out or get a good size wrench on it. It definitely doesn't look fun doing that on the ground. Did you already do leafs and are now just getting around to shackles?

 

[nikhsub1]

Did you already do leafs and are now just getting around to shackles?

Raises hand...

 

[adllewis42]

Raises hand...

Hah - I'm potentially in the same boat ...

 

[zombiekiller]

I understand this is all coming from someone who really beats this **** out of these trucks, but for us normal folk, would a 1" drop shackle really be that bad? Most of the miles on my truck are on paved roads and when i do take it off-road, I'm going down forest roads in the Western US. All I deal with is gravel, washboards, potholes, and the occasional "rock crawling". I just have a hard time believing that adding 1" to the length of these shackles will cause so many negative impacts when the truck isn't being pushed to its max.

If you arent running traction bars, you'll be fine. My issue is that now that I've gotten used to traction bars, not having them on the truck makes me sad. ( reinforced When I had to take them off when I Sheered a bracket being an idiot.

 

[Wojciech Gierczynski]

Yeah I've seen that - I'm wondering the procedure for just swapping the shackles without removing the entire spring. Some say it's possible... is it a PITA?

You can do it. You have to pickup the truck by rear diff put two stands by your rear passanger door area on both sides as high so you can fully drop your rear diff ones wheels are off. Take both rear wheels off. With jack under your rear diff take both nuts from rear shackle bolts and start unscrewing lower bolt from the shackle. Play with rear jack on your rear diff ( up or down ) to see at what point lower bolt comes out more freely. Ones you take out lower bolt (your leaf my still spring up and hit the bed underside) jack up the rear diff so upper bolt from the shackle will go between bed and frame and at this point you will be able to take it out. Installation of new shackles goes same way. Insert upper bolt then play with the jack on rear diff to position lower hole from the shackle as close as possible to shackle cradle so you can insert lower bolt (you might have to help yourself with crowbar last inch or so). You cam do it without undoing U-Bolts you just have to remember to find sweet spot jacking up your rear diiff so shackle lower bolt comes out as freely as possible ... otherwise will hit underneath of your bed hard (better dont have your fingers in between). Did it in the driveway with 2 stands, Jack, 2 ranches and small crowbar.

 

[adllewis42]

You can do it. You have to pickup the truck by rear diff put two stands by your rear passanger door area on both sides as high so you can fully drop your rear diff ones wheels are off. Take both rear wheels off. With jack under your rear diff take both nuts from rear shackle bolts and start unscrewing lower bolt from the shackle. Play with rear jack on your rear diff ( up or down ) to see at what point lower bolt comes out more freely. Ones you take out lower bolt (your leaf my still spring up and hit the bed underside) jack up the rear diff so upper bolt from the shackle will go between bed and frame and at this point you will be able to take it out. Installation of new shackles goes same way. Insert upper bolt then play with the jack on rear diff to position lower hole from the shackle as close as possible to shackle cradle so you can insert lower bolt (you might have to help yourself with crowbar last inch or so). You cam do it without undoing U-Bolts you just have to remember to find sweet spot jacking up your rear diiff so shackle lower bolt comes out as freely as possible ... otherwise will hit underneath of your bed hard (better dont have your fingers in between). Did it in the driveway with 2 stands, Jack, 2 ranches and small crowbar.

Thanks for the info -

So you're saying if you do it the right way, you can get the bolts out of the shackles without having the spring come up and hit the bed? You're saying that only happens if you do it without loosening the tension in the spring?

 

[Wojciech Gierczynski]

Thanks for the info -

So you're saying if you do it the right way, you can get the bolts out of the shackles without having the spring come up and hit the bed? You're saying that only happens if you do it without loosening the tension in the spring?

Yes. You take both nuts from both Lower and Upper bolt ot the shackle. Then you will start unbolting the lower bolt of the shackle at this point you play with the jack sitting under your rear diff. the easier the bolt comes out the less tension it is on the leaf. Just in case I would put some folded towel on the upper part of the shackle if it hits the underside of the bed.

 

[zombiekiller]

I generally just loosen the bolt that holds the shackle to the hanger, take the load off the bolt, remove the bolt, then lower the entire spring and remove the bolt that holds the shackle to the spring.

Nothing hits the bed and a shackle swap takes all of 10-15 minutes.