Shackle Question

[Canadian CJ 7]

I recently installed a 2.5 inch lift kit with Currie greaseable shackles. I noticed that my shackles are on a slight angle. I was told not to over torque the shackle nuts. Are shackles suppose line up like that? The lift kit went in perfectly other than the angle on the shackles. I have included a photo for you guys to look at. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.

 

[CJ]

You want to tighten the shackle bolts so the bushings are starting to compress.

That kinda looks like your frame brackets are tweaked or the leaf spring has rotated on the axle perch - hard to tell though. You may want to jack up the Jeep so the axle is hanging, loosen your U-Bolts and shackles to allow everything to realign (you may have to move them by hand while the axle is hanging), and tighten the U-Bolts and shackle bolts again.

 

[LASTCJ786]

Looks like you did not line up the holes one side maybe fliped.
Unbolt the shackle and spin the out side part up or down.

 

[Canadian CJ 7]

You want to tighten the shackle bolts so the bushings are starting to compress.

That kinda looks like your frame brackets are tweaked or the leaf spring has rotated on the axle perch - hard to tell though. You may want to jack up the Jeep so the axle is hanging, loosen your U-Bolts and shackles to allow everything to realign (you may have to move them by hand while the axle is hanging), and tighten the U-Bolts and shackle bolts again.

I installed new spring brackets and torqued the shackle bolts to 15 ft pounds as per the directions from Currie. I am thinking of taking the frame brackets and drilling the holes bigger so I can adjust them a bit, I don't know if that will work or if that is a good idea. Everything lined up perfectly including the axle perch to the spring perch when I installed the kit. It just when I completed everything and had a look with the jeeps weight on the springs the shackles were slightly crooked.

 

[Canadian CJ 7]

If I was to reverse the bolt so that are tightening on the the outside instead of the inside would that make a difference? Why I did this was that the gas tank was in the way and I couldn't slip the bolt through and thread from the outside.
Maybe this is my problem. What do think? I want to try to fix this myself instead of going to a spring shop, but I will if I have to.

 

[coldwater]

I have had a few jeeps look like that, both stock, and lifted. Once when I was installing a lift installed the springs and hung the frame with everything loose and jacked the axle housing up to it very carefully. I found that one of the perches was off by nearly 5/8" I cut both of them off and welded new ones into place to correct it. I did the same thing to my current CJ. I have a sneaking suspicion that some of them are just plain off.

 

[Canadian CJ 7]

I have had a few jeeps look like that, both stock, and lifted. Once when I was installing a lift installed the springs and hung the frame with everything loose and jacked the axle housing up to it very carefully. I found that one of the perches was off by nearly 5/8" I cut both of them off and welded new ones into place to correct it. I did the same thing to my current CJ. I have a sneaking suspicion that some of them are just plain off.

Hi Coldwater, was your axle perches off by 5/8? If that is the case there might be a few jeeps out there with crooked shackles. I put new new spring hangers in, the old ones had seen better days. My plan is to drill the spring hanger mounting holes larger so I can adjust the spring hanger so the shackles can be lined up straight, cinch the spring hangers tight with the two bolts that go into the frame and then weld it up. Thanks for your post I feel a lot better that you had the same issues as I had. I am looking forward to summer driving of the Jeep with the top off. I haven't done this since 1993 when I had my last CJ when I was 23 years old.

Cheers Brian

 

[coldwater]

Hi Coldwater, was your axle perches off by 5/8? If that is the case there might be a few jeeps out there with crooked shackles. I put new new spring hangers in, the old ones had seen better days. My plan is to drill the spring hanger mounting holes larger so I can adjust the spring hanger so the shackles can be lined up straight, cinch the spring hangers tight with the two bolts that go into the frame and then weld it up. Thanks for your post I feel a lot better that you had the same issues as I had. I am looking forward to summer driving of the Jeep with the top off. I haven't done this since 1993 when I had my last CJ when I was 23 years old.

Cheers Brian

Yup, it was the spring perches that were off on the axle. New ones are only a few bucks, and it's easy to slap in a new set. My buddy just built one (he's a mamber here but has never posted) with currie axles under it, and his are the same way. Shackles all off to the side. Drives me crazy!

 

[Canadian CJ 7]

Yup, it was the spring perches that were off on the axle. New ones are only a few bucks, and it's easy to slap in a new set. My buddy just built one (he's a mamber here but has never posted) with currie axles under it, and his are the same way. Shackles all off to the side. Drives me crazy!

Thanks Coldwater, I will let you know how it goes with my spring perch adjustment. lol