lift shackle pros & cons?

[punkigor]

What are the pros and cons of a lift shackle (something like a 1" or 1.25" lift).

i understand that it will give you more height. It seems to me that it will also change the angle & location of where the axle mounts to the spring. I imagine this is not that great as it would cause axle warp and maybe even change the pinion angle of the rear driveshaft?

i know lots of people run them and they're definitely better than lift blocks, but i want to know all the ramifications of them before considering putting them on.

[Dick Foster]

For just an inch or so of lift there is not going to be much of any down side. That is only a 2" longer shackle. Remember that the shackle has to be twice as much longer as the amount of lift you're shooting for. 1" of lift = 2" more of shackle length over what you started with.

[atwinda]

Does not effect the way the spring mounts to the axle at all. Pinion angle is fine until you start getting over 4" of lift.

[punkigor]

does it wear (flatten) the spring out faster? also, does it adversly affect exhaust clearance? (seems like it could).

[WILLYCAD]

Your exhaust clearance will be screwed most likely. I had to basically cut off the exhaust pipe because of it's contact with the leafs. I did a Daystar greasable shackle (maybe 2" lift or so I guess)? It will flatten the leafs and also possibly "shift" them somewhat from side to side (depending on how flexing and hard you wheel). I am going to a Deaver 7-leaf and a shorter shackle becasue of this. But that would cost you about $600 or so to do. Better option though.

[Dick Foster]

I was able to lower the rear exhaust hanger to accomidate about an inch or so of shackle lift. I ran it that for years all the way up until the SAS when things really got carried away back there. At that point some exhaust changes had to be made.

[atwinda]

shackles will wear your springs at a faster rate, but it's not like it will happen over night, or even a few months for that matter. When it does occur, rearching will take care of that. The springs sag on their own, shackle or not- they just make it happen a little quicker.

[sagexp]

I put NWOR 1 5/8 shackles on mine, and can't tell a difference other than the increased droop. My springs were already pretty flattened from heavy use, so I'm not worried about speeding up the sagging.

Dropped my muffler mount bracket down 1 hole and that seems to have taken care of that.

You'll need an extended brake line. Easy change out.

You'll also need to move your shocks inboard about 3/4 of an inch top and bottom. Bajataco has a write up on the parts you need on his web site, but instead of the 3/4 inch large outside diameter washers he used, I ordered some 3/4" black small outside diameter washers from McMaster car to use. Looks pretty much factory and doesn't hang below the shock mounts. And no more bent shock tubes.

No complaints from me.

[mudferret]

Regarding exhaust clearance, I happened to get my exhaust done shortly before putting on my shackles and had them re-route the tailpipe to above the leaf springs. Should be a pic or two in the link in my sig.

[ibidu1]

I ran 2 1/4 inch lift shackle for awhile, no problems here. I did have to cut the exhaust tip only down side. But other then that I loved it, and ive stuff loads in my bed. Ive pulled heavy trailers no problems, I say buy them there were the best lift I could have done.

I got my set for sale on ebay if you want them you can bid. I am buying an 05 taco so I have no use for them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMESE%3AIT

[Intrepid]

Originally Posted by punkigor

does it wear (flatten) the spring out faster? also, does it adversly affect exhaust clearance? (seems like it could).

You had the wheelers five leaf on there right? I put a 3" extended (1.5" lift) shackle on mine and I am not really happy with the results. It still rides fine and flexes well but my heavy duty springs now sit almost perfectly flat and I am nearly level, possibly slightly lower in the back (I never measured) with my revtek spacer on double cab springs in the front. If you look quickly you would swear the back is lower. I bet that with the newer springs you have it would look good for a while, but after a year when they settle it will start to look too low, unless you like the level/slightly low look, I will take a picture of my truck within the next couple days so that you can see it. You could also drive up sometime and have a look.
I am currently looking for a way to get the back end up (I like the higher in the back look). I would hate to go with a 1" block but I am afraid that if I put an AAL on it would be too stiff in the back. I have even considered offering to trade someone for a decent stock set with an AAL (although I am not that desperate yet) because I want a relatively cheap option. (I don't want to have them rearched and rebuild with an extra leaf, to much money). A $30 pro comp AAL is starting to look pretty tempting...unfortunately noone knows how that would ride, especially with the shackle, because noone has done it yet. I will let you know if I find anything.

My muffler would not fit inside OR outside of the spring so I cut it off after it dropped down over the axle, it seems to function well enough.

[punkigor]

Yeah, i had the wheeler's leafs. right now, with a 2" donahoe lift in the front, my truck sits pretty level (must be the camper shell in the back), and i wanted to restore that raked, tail-high look. but i've heard that the shackles wear the springs out faster, and i'm trying to avoid that. i would have probably gone with a shorter lift shackle than you did.

I think next time i'm just going to go w/ custom Alcans. Keith's (Tuf-Em-Up) look and ride great, and he didn't pay that much more for them that i did for the Wheelers (maybe $100-200 more altogether, but he's getting 4"+ of lift back there).

i'm fine w/ mine for now and i'm not going to go changing things just because i don't like the looks of it.. my next step is getting the locking axle back there (and out of my basement) and 33x10.5s so i won't have any money to replace springs for a while (unless they break or sag badly).

[Intrepid]

Keep an eye on the rear height, mine sagged to around stock height without the shackle, one sagged about 1" more but they will warantee that one.

BTW, what size is the axle you have on your truck now and what gears are in it?

[punkigor]

i have the stock axle with 4.10s (i believe). i'm hopefully going to be swapping in a (slightly newer) one with a TRD locker sometime this summer..

i'll keep an eye on the sagging, we'll see what happens. i've only had them on there for about a month and a half. so far they're fine, we'll see if they sag to stock height (with 2" up front, i guess i'll notice it sooner or later). if that happens, i'll either throw a shackle back there or just get new & taller leafs.

your truck didn't seem to be too saggin in the back when i saw it that time at Ashburnham.. if you add the TJM too it will pull the front down more