The great shackle debate.....Shackle forward or rear?

[N-Smooth]

I honestly can't b!tch about how well my XJ performed when set up with the short arm lift.

well then go with that.

mine flexed really well with my 3" lift and 31's actually... i could get one tire up 36" and all the rest on the ground.
but, it kept losing alignment and bushings, tie rod ends and everything wore out constantly. so i went to leafs because of simplicity and they work great.

i can see myself building a buggy in the future and it might just have leafs up front. unless maybe i can fit in a good dt 4link

 

[Shawn]

I have ran both, I have debated in other posts on this board the differences in both. I will never run shackle reversal again in a 60%+ offroad rig.

SR is for the highway.

 

[Greg]

... (that's kind of a bad thing, look where that's got Greg ).

Haha....

 

[cyberduke]

Shackles front are actually less abusive to your frame. Especially if your vehicle was designed that way in the first place. The pivot point winds up being the center of your rear axle. When the leaf compresses, it's easier on the frame when the shackle extends out the front rather than behind the axle. For that same reason, shackle reversal causes your ride to be smoother down the road because the shackle to pivot toward the same direction that energy is being released.

Now w/ all of that said. I love my shackle reversal. But not for all of the reasons listed in this thread or above. For me, it was the least expensive way to get Wrangler springs on my CJ. The kit is bolt on. The results are awsome! I've got gobs of travel. But I think had I kept the shackle up front and adapted for the same wrangler springs it would have worked just as well.

 

[James K]

Shackles front are actually less abusive to your frame. Especially if your vehicle was designed that way in the first place. The pivot point winds up being the center of your rear axle. When the leaf compresses, it's easier on the frame when the shackle extends out the front rather than behind the axle. For that same reason, shackle reversal causes your ride to be smoother down the road because the shackle to pivot toward the same direction that energy is being released.

Now w/ all of that said. I love my shackle reversal. But not for all of the reasons listed in this thread or above. For me, it was the least expensive way to get Wrangler springs on my CJ. The kit is bolt on. The results are awsome! I've got gobs of travel. But I think had I kept the shackle up front and adapted for the same wrangler springs it would have worked just as well.

way to be on the fence.

 

[EZRhino]

The main reason I didn't do shackle reversal was the frame cracking issue. You need to beef up the spring mounts and tie the two frame rails togather better on a CJ. YJ frames don't have that issue though.

You break the KISS rule if you do a shackle reversal though! Of course, you've probably already broken it, so it may not matter.

EZ

 

[mbryson]

The main reason I didn't do shackle reversal was the frame cracking issue. You need to beef up the spring mounts and tie the two frame rails togather better on a CJ. YJ frames don't have that issue though.

You break the KISS rule if you do a shackle reversal though! Of course, you've probably already broken it, so it may not matter.

EZ

The YJ will LIVE by the KISS rule {at least initially}. I think for how long I expect to have a leaf front, I'll just do it shackle forward (less cost on the driveline seems to be the biggest reason) and see what I think. It's not like it's rocket science to change to reverse it if I don't like it.

 

[EZRhino]

Sounds like a plan.

Anyone that says leaf springs suck can smoke a turd!!!! (Braden...did you hear that?!!)

EZ

 

[Maverick]

While I have never owned a vehicle with the shackle on the rear, the ones that I have seen all seem to do wierd things when trying ledges or waterfalls. The front axle will start to walk all over the place because it pulls on the shackle instead of the frame. Dunno, just a thought

ding ding, we have a weiner!

I have S/R. If I do a leaf front again, I'll do S/F.

Up and back and flowing and all is nice, but when you are wheelin, the front axle is pullin' and it's better for it to pull on the leaf/frame than push the leaf, more stable (as in trying to push on a rope).

 

[mbryson]

OK...............So I'm ready to tack the perches in place. Just noticed how the shackles 'hang'. Should I set the shackles fairly vertical (how my stock Suburban is set up) or hanging 'reversed' (bottom is forward--neighbor has a STOCK 4 cyl. YJ, that's how it is) or bottom towards the rear of the vehicle?

 

[RockMonkey]

With the shackles in front, you want the bottom forward, definately. Wont flex for crp with the bottom back, and will ride like a rock with it verticle.

 

[Caleb]

With the shackles in front, you want the bottom forward, definately. Wont flex for crp with the bottom back, and will ride like a rock with it verticle.

yeah what he said...they say the ideal angle is about 45* with the weight on it...

 

[mbryson]

yeah what he said...they say the ideal angle is about 45* with the weight on it...

GOOD POINT!!!........I have no engine installed. Hmmmm.......Maybe a 'secure' tack is in order. Something that could be cut off easily, but will hold while I get this thing together. I'll set it so it'll probably be in the 45* area with some weight on it.


THANKS!!!!

 

[Maverick]

GOOD POINT!!!........I have no engine installed. Hmmmm.......Maybe a 'secure' tack is in order. Something that could be cut off easily, but will hold while I get this thing together. I'll set it so it'll probably be in the 45* area with some weight on it.

THANKS!!!!

I'd go a little more verticle than 45*, especially if you are SOA with flatter springs. IMO, you just wanna make sure that the shackle isn't gonna limit travel...unless you want it to. My fronts are pretty vert, I actually like it because it keeps the driveshaft from pulling apart and I have plenty of flex. The rear are about 20-30* from vert, used to be 45*

Rockmonkey, you think it'd ruin those procrap springs on my sister's jeep if I took out the short leaves? it rides like crap. (I just got done putting in Todd's old 4:1 w/SYE.)

Also, why will verticle shackles make flat springs ride bad? Vert actually offers the least amount of resistance to the spring deflecting, angled wants to keep the spring flat.

(edit) ok, you didn't say "flat" springs...to me, vert with flat is ok, more angled with arched springs, basically just a little more than perpindicular to the spring.

(goin' to bed, eye's hurt)

 

[EZRhino]

Marc, ditto what Brett said. 45* is a little much. Mine are more like 20*, never had a problem with the shackle inverting.

EZ

 

[RockMonkey]

Rockmonkey, you think it'd ruin those procrap springs on my sister's jeep if I took out the short leaves? it rides like crap. (I just got done putting in Todd's old 4:1 w/SYE.)

Hard to say. Can't be good for them. Loosen up those shackle bolts, and stop running Pro Comp shocks (are you running Pro Comp shocks?) and the ride will get a lot better.

 

[Maverick]

Hard to say. Can't be good for them. Loosen up those shackle bolts, and stop running Pro Comp shocks (are you running Pro Comp shocks?) and the ride will get a lot better.

HAHAHAHA how did you know? I think she *did* buy the procrap shocks, ES3000? What should she get?

Brett (shock stupid)

 

[mbryson]

HAHAHAHA how did you know? I think she *did* buy the procrap shocks, ES3000? What should she get?

Brett (shock stupid)

Doestch Tech

 

[RockMonkey]

How did I know? You told me when you said it rode like crap. Pro Comp shocks are ridiculously stiff. Some DT 3000s would be much better.

 

[Maverick]

Doestch Tech

Any specific model?

And go and get your own avatar!

Or at least paint it green, no blue...