Shackle Reverse Kit

[Blast]

I have a 1977 CJ5 Golden Eagle . I have sanblasted and restored the frame. I was looking at the "Reverse shackle kit" has anyone installed one on there jeep and if so can you tell if it improved the ride?

Thanks

 

[Purple77CJ7]

I installed a M.O.R.E. offroad shackle reversal on my CJ7 . So I'm not sure on a CJ5 . It did improve the ride, but in my case it caused death wobble. The whole front end would shift in the bushings. To cure that I ended up making a track bar. I have been running it this way for 7 years now. It does smooth out the harshness from bumps. Four wheeling I have had no issues.

 

[BusaDave9]

We've talked about Shackle Reversals before. This is a hotly debated topic and since everyone has a right to my opinion I will put my two cents in. If you don't have much of a lift and the leaf springs don't have much arch to them then a shackle reversal wont' make much difference. But if you have a lift the front axle will move back quite a bit as you go over bumps. For that reason you will need a long travel drive shaft. I have a shackle reversal from the previous owner and this has caused quite a few problems. My drive shaft was bottoming out and banging into my Transfer Case . I had my drive shaft replaced with one with a long travel slip joint. It still bottomed out and I replaced it a 2nd time with one with 8 inches of usable travel (more than enough). The front tires were also smashing into my fender and I had to do a lot of metal cutting to resolve that.

In the above picture my tire is pressing into my inner fender. If I were to turn my wheel to the right it would press very hard into my nerf bar.
Although I already cut my front fenders before the above picture was taken I had to cut them some more. The nerf bars had to go. I then got rock sliders.
Here is a more recent photo.

You can see that the front tire moves far to the rear as the suspension compresses. This is the biggest problem with a shackle reversal and why I to make other modifications to keep my jeep from damaging itself going over bumps.

 

[tarry99]

I have a 1977 CJ5 Golden Eagle . I have sanblasted and restored the frame. I was looking at the "Reverse shackle kit" has anyone installed one on there jeep and if so can you tell if it improved the ride?

Thanks

I Think "Purple" & "Busa" have summed that up quite well.........In fact I could talk for hours about one side of that option versus the other and why it may help and may not............just not a clear cut one size fits all application. Most folks don't have the slightest Idea how to properly do one and get all the geometry correct anyway.

Big lift spring under suspension's that have stiff springs due to the lift may benefit from the reversal off road..........on the street may also calm the ride down. Spring over suspensions using a flatter spring pack see no real benefit from the reversal, but due to the front end on a reversal wanting to move forward under braking they can become a handful dipping and diving while under braking.

For most people the shackle reversal is all about "Ride" and nothing else. With today's modern leaf spring technology the days of the shackle reversal may be Limited as the available springs get better and better.........i
f your interested in lift and also ride I would be more apt to use a longer YJ type leaf spring on both ends...........best of both Worlds............Call Deaver Springs in So-Cal.

 

[Blast]

Just wanted to say thanks for the help. I’m new to the Jeep world and I’m sure I’ll have a ton of questions before it's over. I’m not sure what level I’m going to take it to as far as all of the upgrades.


My jeep didn't come factory with power stearing, do you spent the money now and add it or wait and do it later. I could ask a 100 question's on things that would make it better..

P.S Im not going to add the "Reverse Shackle"



Thanks
Blast

 

[gutthans]

I have an MORE reversal on my YJ...After taking note that (some) CJ models often developed cracks at the shackle hanger area...it occurred to me that asking the frame to absorb the force of road bumps with an unyielding mount point...I decided to try a reversal on mine.

Happy, happy! Yes, it does soften ride and kidneys live longer...I also have a 'Buggy Spring' arrangement...definitely NEED a track bar. However, I have NO Death wobble...although I did get it for awhile until I realized it was coming from a bad lower ball joint.

 

[Blast]

Here's where I’m at today. All bushings have been replaced I might just go ahead and order one and see what happens. I’m not going to be doing any rock climbing more just back roads and around town.

 

[gert]

Here's where I’m at today. All bushings have been replaced I might just go ahead and order one and see what happens. I’m not going to be doing any rock climbing more just back roads and around town.

I dis like NON power steering, the bigger and wider the tire the harder to turn, im jealous your CJ is looking good