Topic: 1983 pickup shackles

[Keithporter83]

Ok so I have a 83 Toyota pickup I am wanting to get some more flex out of it


I am running 33x12.5x15s and slightly scrub on the front

I have some home made shackles on the rear that give me the lift I want but they are at about a 70 degree angle what options do I have to keep my lift but get some more flex

The front sits about 1.5in lower then the rear can I do just the 6in shackles on the front

I plan on hi steer and 6s in the rear and ruf later but not now so I want something that will help for now

[Dirt Mover]

Figure that for every inch longer the shackle is, you'll gain half an inch of lift, but you may create a problem with your caster causing front end wobbling. Longer shackles or adding a few leafs should be enough to help level it out

[Willard]

Yes I agree. Adding leafs would be your best option. Longer shackles up front will also effect your pinion angle. 

[Keithporter83 [OP]]

This is a off-road only toy how much shackle lift can I do before I have pinion angle problems when adding leafs what would you suggest doing.

[Keithporter83 [OP]]

Let me redo this

What do I need to clear 33x15.50 on a 15x10rim with 2.5inch backspacing

I have no bed so the rear is no problem the front is were I am scrubbing

I would like to have more flex and I really don't have that front or rear

My rear has the home mode shackles that are 5.5 eye to eye they are at about a 70 degree angle

The front is stock with fenders cut I am rubbing on the inside I guess its the floorboard

does anyone sell a 1.5in body lift

[Dirt Mover]

I'm assuming you are not dual cased so your dl is shorter than most people on here. Lowering your pinion will put your universal joint in more of a bind. The longer shackle will add some height, but it won't make your springs articulate any more. If your u bolts are long enough to add some more springs I think you would be happier and all you will need to buy is new center bolts. Running stock length springs (shorter) limit your ride quality and articulation more than anything. Save for hy steer for safety and run a spring set up like most people run on here (AP or RUF w/ 63") and you'll be good for a long time.

[Keithporter83 [OP]]

Is there anyway to run the trail gear super flex front springs without hi steer I would be using the 3in ones I know it moves the axle forward is there anyway to mount it were the axles stays in stock position.

[Dirt Mover]

The springs are longer and your shackle be be laid way back so I would say no. I'm sure you can still find a dog legged drag link for push pull steering but the problem is the ball at the end of the J arm is small and weak. There is a lot of ways to stay on a tight budget, but your steering is too important to go cheap with all of the better options out there

[Willard]

I ran allpro 6 inch springs on my 82 with a pro comp extended j arm lol. Worked ok. Wasn't the best choice, but it worked

[Keithporter83 [OP]]

well the reason I say this because its a offroad truck only also I only want to run 33in tires

[blackdiamond]

Do you want more flex in the front or rear? My 85 had a 3.5 inch Pro Comp with blocks in the rear and 32x11.50 tires. I went to 33x12.50 tires with a 4.5 Superlift with rear lift springs. The front springs flexed great in both scenarios and the rear did on with blocks and OEM springs. The rear has zero travel with the 4.5 arched rear springs.

Long shackles in the front rotates your differential down and can cause both bad driveline angles and steering geometry issues. Pickups don't flex well in the rear because they don't have much weight and it sounds like you shackle angle stinks.

You could try shorter shackles in the rear to match the front height and improve the shackle angle a bit.