Bent front shackle

[stevr59]

hey guys i got a 85 c j7 with a 4" lift and i noticed today my right front shackle is bent... would this cause me problems and if so what kinds?

 

[BusaDave9]

How bent is it? Can you post a photo?
The shackle is a very inexpensive and important suspension component. I would just replace both front as a pair and be done with it.
It is just the shackle itself that is bent and not the mount? Or maybe it's a bad bushing and it looks like the problem is the shackle.

 

[stevr59]

its not bad. but you can see it leaning to the left and one bushing don't look to good i try to get a pic of it tomorrow afternoon when i get home from work.

 

[BajaEdition]

replace it
nuff said

 

[stevr59]

replace it
nuff said

yes i am planing on replacing it soon. but what i wanted to know is what kinds of symptoms would i be having ?

 

[stevr59]

hell i for got the pic sorry my cell phone didnt get a good shot of it

 

[BajaEdition]

You have the bent shackle and you do not know ? So you want us to tell you?

yes i am planing on replacing it soon. but what i wanted to know is what kinds of symptoms would i be having ?

 

[BajaEdition]

I am not trying to be hard here, but you pointed out it is messing up a bushing, so what else do you need to know it is damaging your jeep? The contiinued use can ruin the spring or rip the mount off or bend the frame. Is that what you wanted to hear?
Fact is, it is bent, change it, takes 10 minutes.

 

[stevr59]

the fact is i am having problems but not sure if the bent shackle is the cause like one i got bump steering and a very harsh ride. i cant hardly go over 5 mph off road it so bad. i can jump on the bumper and it hardly moves the lift kit is unknown as the po did it.. thinking of re[lacing the lift kit later done the road but not sure if it needs to be replaced. fixing to replace all the shackles soon as i get the cash to do so. hoping may be new shackles will fix the harsh ride.

 

[BajaEdition]

Ok,now we are getting someplace
Lossen the shackels and retoque to 85 pounds
Then jump on it
What shocks are on it?
Check the shocks to see iff they are to long and bottoming
Then post back
Good luck

the fact is i am having problems but not sure if the bent shackle is the cause like one i got bump steering and a very harsh ride. i cant hardly go over 5 mph off road it so bad. i can jump on the bumper and it hardly moves the lift kit is unknown as the po did it.. thinking of re[lacing the lift kit later done the road but not sure if it needs to be replaced. fixing to replace all the shackles soon as i get the cash to do so. hoping may be new shackles will fix the harsh ride.

 

[stevr59]

i have to Waite till tomorrow after noon before i can re torge the shackles as for shocks i cant tell what brand looks to me sliver case i got some bad pics i took s wile back of part of the suspension system may be this will help

 

[BajaEdition]

how a leaf spring works
as you hit a bump. spring flattens out, shackle moves forward allowing spring to flatten
things that will prevent such
shackle bolts to tight
shocks have to much dampening
shocks to long
something in the way of movement
springs are to heavy for the jeep
your problem is one of those, I would say 98 % chance of one of those.
I am not there and pics will not show me what is happening, video would. so you are going need to go out and figure this one out.
if it is none of those maybe we can think of something else.
oh, 4 inch lift, someone may have used way heavy springs

 

[BajaEdition]

Your bump steering is because th po never did fix all the steering geometry after the lift.
You have a big bill of issues to deal with, we nnd to start with one item, the shackle. Then we can get the shocks and springs. Once all that is done, we fix the steering. If we go for steering first, it aall changes when we deal with the springs

 

[stevr59]

how a leaf spring works
as you hit a bump. spring flattens out, shackle moves forward allowing spring to flatten
things that will prevent such
shackle bolts to tight
shocks have to much dampening
shocks to long
something in the way of movement
springs are to heavy for the jeep
your problem is one of those, I would say 98 % chance of one of those.
I am not there and pics will not show me what is happening, video would. so you are going need to go out and figure this one out.
if it is none of those maybe we can think of something else.
oh, 4 inch lift, someone may have used way heavy springs

i am kinda of thinking they put in heaver springs cause it came with a Reese hich so i am thinking they was hauling a boat and may have put stiffer springs if so how would i know if i got heavy or meds springs?

 

[stevr59]

Your bump steering is because th po never did fix all the steering geometry after the lift.
You have a big bill of issues to deal with, we nnd to start with one item, the shackle. Then we can get the shocks and springs. Once all that is done, we fix the steering. If we go for steering first, it aall changes when we deal with the springs

i am going to order some new shackles in the next day or so got to place a order for a new carb so what brand shackle should be looking at?

 

[Cheepjeep85]

like baja said replace the shackles, and don't over tighten them. i made that mistake when i first put my lift on, caused it to ride like the axles were welded to the frame. thats the easiest place to start if it rides the same then move on to replacing shocks. if it still rides to tough for you then look into new springs. someone might have used a rough country lift or some other similar cheap lift they ride like their name. as far as steering you can use a drop pitman arm, but if you are going to do some offroading you might wanna look into a high steer kit, or tie rod flip kit.

 

[stevr59]

ok i loosen the shackles and jumped on the bumper it still feels the same but i did notice that the shackles did move so i guess that's a good thing. i all so do have a drop Pittman arm i try and do a test drive later and see if the ride is a lil smoother

 

[Cheepjeep85]

did you re torque the rear shackles to or just the front. because in my experience its always the rear that seems to ride the worse when you change suspension setups. i can only guess the reason for that is because you sit closer to the rear axle, or maybe its because of the weight of the motor on the front springs that soften them up.

 

[stevr59]

yeah i did both front and rear and notice on the rear its going to be a pain to change out will have to remove the reesh hitch from the frame and will have to cut one bolt cause the gas tank got it where i cant pull the bolt out unless i drop the tank or cut the bolt. any one have any recommendation on which brand shackle i should get

 

[stevr59]

ok i fianly got to test ride it today and loosening the shackles help some its a lil softer ride but only did it on the road , will do a lil off roading tommoro when i get off work and see how its does but yeah fixing to get new shackle soon