Front suspension help.

[Grumpa]

Is this a stock spring shackle mount? I bought some shackles from Morris 4X4 and nothing matches the mount. I had to pound out the upper bolt and it pushed out the steel bushing that was in there, now I'm not sure what to do. The second photo shows what it looked like before I took it apart.

 

[RiverandSand]

Is this a stock spring shackle mount? I bought some shackles from Morris 4X4 and nothing matches the mount. I had to pound out the upper bolt and it pushed out the steel bushing that was in there, now I'm not sure what to do. The second photo shows what it looked like before I took it apart.

The stock shackle is 3" between bolts I believe. Those aren't stock shackles, remember the front shackles are only 2" wide and back are 2 1/2"s. From your pics you still have to remove the sleeves between hangers. The bushings should be replaced also the bolts, if not drilled for zerks to grease the bushings. Morris should sell them as a kit.

Oops, I see your jeep is a 74, the info I gave is for 76 and up. So some info could be different i.e; shackle widths.

 

[Grumpa]

The stock shackle is 3" between bolts I believe. Those aren't stock shackles, remember the front shackles are only 2" wide and back are 2 1/2"s. From your pics you still have to remove the sleeves between hangers. The bushings should be replaced also the bolts, if not drilled for zerks to grease the bushings. Morris should sell them as a kit.

Oops, I see your jeep is a 74, the info I gave is for 76 and up. So some info could be different i.e; shackle widths.

This is what I got from Morris. They are the same width as the springs I got. The problem is, if I pound out the "stuff" in the mount that's on the frame, the bushing assys. that came with the shackles won't fit inside where the existing ones are. They are smaller in diameter. I'll figure it out I guess.

To add: The sleeve that's in the mount is not supposed to be there? Should I just cut the welds and take them out?

 

[RiverandSand]

To add: The sleeve that's in the mount is not supposed to be there? Should I just cut the welds and take them out?

The shackle end is correct for your year, I'm more familiar with the 76s and above. Apparently AMC changed the mounts. Don't knock out the sleeves, you probably need the bushings to go inside the sleeves. Did the shackles come with rubber or poly bushings?

I didn't see the bushings on the Morris site but that doesn't mean they don't have them, a call may be needed to get right parts.

 

[Grumpa]

The shackle end is correct for your year, I'm more familiar with the 76s and above. Apparently AMC changed the mounts. Don't knock out the sleeves, you probably need the bushings to go inside the sleeves. Did the shackles come with rubber or poly bushings?

I didn't see the bushings on the Morris site but that doesn't mean they don't have them, a call may be needed to get right parts.

The bushings are rubber. Two steel sleeves with rubber sandwiched in-between. It looks like the OD of them is too small to fill the hole in the sleeves on the mounts. I'll probably knock the guts out of the one sleeve and find out for sure what I got going on. Maybe tomorrow.

Update: I just took a closer look at the spring mounts over at MJW and it looks like I just have to knock the guts out of the spring mounts and stuff the new stuff that came with the shackle kit in there. Wish me luck!

 

[Scout1067]

I redid the suspension on my 81 in November. FWIW, this is what my front shackle mounts looks like.

Sent from my ALE-L21 using Tapatalk

 

[Grumpa]

I redid the suspension on my 81 in November. FWIW, this is what my front shackle mounts looks like.

Sent from my ALE-L21 using Tapatalk

Those are the ones shown in the schematic at Morris. They are listed for '76 through '83 I think. This is where part of my confusion comes from. Found the right ones at the other site, MJW.
Those look tougher than what's on my Jeep.

 

[HackFabrication]

Most aftermarket shackles require the use of bushings designed for aftermarket shackles. If the ones you are trying to use are OEM design, that would cause the pinching shown in one of the pictures.

 

[Scout1067]

Those are the ones shown in the schematic at Morris. They are listed for '76 through '83 I think. This is where part of my confusion comes from. Found the right ones at the other site, MJW.
Those look tougher than what's on my Jeep.

I have a CJ7 so there are most likely differences. I know I had a good ol time getting the old shackles off. I ended up cutting off the old ones. No bog loss for me as I was replacing them anyway because I put 2 1/2" of lift on mine.

 

[RiverandSand]

Update: I just took a closer look at the spring mounts over at MJW and it looks like I just have to knock the guts out of the spring mounts and stuff the new stuff that came with the shackle kit in there. Wish me luck!

Yes you are correct, those bushings slide into the sleeves on the hanger and on the spring eye too. The old ones must still be in the sleeves. The pics from Scout are 76 and up jeeps, but the way the shackles hung are the same. Soak the out of those old ones with PB blaster and then drive them out. Good luck.

 

[cglax6]

You'll definitely want bolts drilled with zercs so you can keep them greased. It'll prevent issues later.

The aftermarket shackles have steel inserts for the spring bushings that butt up on the inside of the shackles. The inserts do no go into the shackles...I think that's what you were asking.

 

[Grumpa]

You'll definitely want bolts drilled with zercs so you can keep them greased. It'll prevent issues later.

The aftermarket shackles have steel inserts for the spring bushings that butt up on the inside of the shackles. The inserts do no go into the shackles...I think that's what you were asking.

Those are for '76 and later. This is what I have.