Shackle Lifts

[007]

I've searched around on here and elsewhere, but didn't find exactly what I was looking for; so I'll ask...

Is there anything really wrong with a 1 3/8" shackle lift? I'm completely stock and my original shackles are just a bit tweaked to the side in front and figured if I replace them - why not go up just a bit? What is the net lift you get if you put these on?

I plan on putting on some 30 or 31's and wondered if it might be just as well to do this - but do no more without a "real" lift.

Come or high water I'm getting this thing out to Ouray this year for the trail ride and I need tires and want it to look AND DRIVE decent.

 

[tarry99]

The lift is half the distance of whatever the increase is over stock. So it really doesn't matter except that you will loose some caster in the axle and perhaps add some bump steer.........If there leaning better check you suspension bushings also.......

 

[007]

I see, looks like I found what I want - a Rocky Road set of shackles, 2" for 1" of lift. That's all I need for what I'm doing.

 

[PaRenegade]

Nothing wrong with a shackle lift of that distance. You will lose a bit of caster but you may not even notice it. It can also put added stress on the factory shackle mounts, but then even the factory shackles do that. (weak factory part)

I had a 1 1/4" shackle lift for 29+ years but they were quality Con-Ferr brand, 3/8" sides and a welded center block. I had no problems other than a twisted mount (stock) until I added 2 1/2" lift springs to them. Then I had to install some caster shims to remedy the steering issue.

If I were you I'd get you some new upgraded shackle mounts like the ones from Mountain Off Road Equipment (M.O.R.E.) or at least ones that had side gussets to eliminate uncurling, twisting, or cracking at the bolt hole.

The problem with longer shackles, and why they get their bad rap, is with really long ones built cheaply. There is a limit to using them. [Think 70's era Mr.Gasket brand pre-packaged universal shackles that were just basically 2 straps of 1/4" steel with holes every inch or so apart and 2 threaded rods with nuts.]

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[007]

Whew - good deal... I may end up doing springs, but we shall see. I need shackles regardless.

Thank you to all...

 

[RookieJeeper]

I'm new to the Jeep game. I bought a well-running '85 CJ7 with about a 2 1/2 - 3" lift on it. The steering was horrible, so I put a 4" Skyjacker kit on it. All new bushings, springs, shocks....etc. The steering didn't get any better. I took it back and learned that the 6" shackles swayed from side to side without the tires moving. This was my problem! Its in for a shackle reversal now - hoping to cure the "death wobble" that I had been getting. I'm pretty convinced that using the shackles to do the lift isn't a good idea. Most are 1/2" lift over stock, so the 1" should be fine. Good luck with it.

 

[gert]

I'm new to the Jeep game. I bought a well-running '85 CJ7 with about a 2 1/2 - 3" lift on it. The steering was horrible, so I put a 4" Skyjacker kit on it. All new bushings, springs, shocks....etc. The steering didn't get any better. I took it back and learned that the 6" shackles swayed from side to side without the tires moving. This was my problem! Its in for a shackle reversal now - hoping to cure the "death wobble" that I had been getting. I'm pretty convinced that using the shackles to do the lift isn't a good idea. Most are 1/2" lift over stock, so the 1" should be fine. Good luck with it.

I hope that you have gone through your steering system in this process to verify that your ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rod ends, pitman arm, steering box, steering shaft and steering column are in good condition. Any play/ slop in these parts can contribute to loose steering wandering and death wobble it is also a good idea to check your tires for deformities and bent rims and check your shocks to make sure they are still good. Also having a sway bar is a good thing on the road if you dont have one or its not connected


Shackle Lifts
I've searched around on here and elsewhere, but didn't find exactly what I was looking for; so I'll ask...

Is there anything really wrong with a 1 3/8" shackle lift? I'm completely stock and my original shackles are just a bit tweaked to the side in front and figured if I replace them - why not go up just a bit? What is the net lift you get if you put these on?

I plan on putting on some 30 or 31's and wondered if it might be just as well to do this - but do no more without a "real" lift.

Come or high water I'm getting this thing out to Ouray this year for the trail ride and I need tires and want it to look AND DRIVE decent.




A shackle lift is not necessarily a bad thing as long as you use quality parts and dont go over board with the amount of lift. I recommend that if you do a shackle lift buy a set of pinion shims for the springs to get your caster back and to make sure your u joints stay happy you will need a protractor to figure out how much you need
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tfy-90016?seid=srese1&gclid=CIPQuMft2bsCFYl9OgodtngAyQ

 

[PaRenegade]

I'm new to the Jeep game. I bought a well-running '85 CJ7 with about a 2 1/2 - 3" lift on it. The steering was horrible, so I put a 4" Skyjacker kit on it. All new bushings, springs, shocks....etc. The steering didn't get any better. I took it back and learned that the 6" shackles swayed from side to side without the tires moving. This was my problem! Its in for a shackle reversal now - hoping to cure the "death wobble" that I had been getting. I'm pretty convinced that using the shackles to do the lift isn't a good idea. Most are 1/2" lift over stock, so the 1" should be fine. Good luck with it.

Seems to me your trading one problem for another. Shackle reversals come with their own set of driving qwerks. Jeeps had front shackles for 4 1/2 decades for a reason. Unless it's going to be a trail rig only you will experience nose diving issues when the brakes are applied. And if you have steering issues with the 4" springs facing the normal way, you could still have them with the springs reversed. You need to look at the steering components not just the suspension components.
The 6" shackles with 4" of lift springs added was your problem. How much lift do you need / want?

 

[007]

I hope that you have gone through your steering system in this process to verify that your ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rod ends, pitman arm, steering box, steering shaft and steering column are in good condition. Any play/ slop in these parts can contribute to loose steering wandering and death wobble it is also a good idea to check your tires for deformities and bent rims and check your shocks to make sure they are still good. Also having a sway bar is a good thing on the road if you dont have one or its not connected

A shackle lift is not necessarily a bad thing as long as you use quality parts and dont go over board with the amount of lift. I recommend that if you do a shackle lift buy a set of pinion shims for the springs to get your caster back and to make sure your u joints stay happy you will need a protractor to figure out how much you need
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tfy-90016?seid=srese1&gclid=CIPQuMft2bsCFYl9OgodtngAyQ

Thanks for the advice / info. I'm doing new shocks all the way around and I do have a sway bar. Rims were checked before they were sandblasted and painted, so they're good too. Everything else seems good up front, it has less than 50k original miles so I'm fortunate there. I just want to put 31's on without doing a 2-2.5 lift for now, but if these shackles aren't enough then that's what I'll have to do.

 

[mtnwhlr]

I have ran 31's on stock CJs for years with no problems. You would only need to lift it if the springs are sagging.

 

[007]

That's good to know... Thank you.


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