Stock Toy Rear springs in front. Longer shackle?

[jeff84runner]

I need to move my front axle forward anyway, and I figure before I spend $400 on a pair of 'custom' springs I am going to try the ol' puttin the rear stock Toy springs in front.  Now since this is a 3" longer (if I remember correctly) spring the issue is going to be with the shackle.  
Any suggestions appreciated!

Jeff :chug:

[Cracker]

Jeff, email me for a quick and easy solution...

[email protected]

[mr4x42u]

Yea,,you need a longer shackle if you use rears in the front..Mine pused the stock shackles all the way to the frame...

[booger_weldz]

heres what i did.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=96888&highlight=rears+up+front

[dhbiker456]

Dudbuilt sells a shackle specifically for putting rears up front.  Its a boomerang type shacke.  Look that up as well just to give you more ideas.

[jeff84runner]

Yeah, Budbuilt right.  Yeah Ive seen their Bannana shackles.  Looks and sounds like it would work.  
Im Just trying to see what others have done, and more to the point what happened when they've taken it on the trail, what worked or what didn't.

Cracker - I PM'd you to find out your way.

mr4x42u - Thanks I figure I need longer shackles, just wondering on any specifics.  

In the stock front shackle mount, the frame is at an angle and the body mount supports are right next to it (the metal support that protrude out on either side of the outside part of the stock shackle mount 79-85), my thought is that under full compression, these two things wont allow for the shackle to bottom out on the frame(because of the metal protrusions and frame angle), when a longer spring is used, especially when a longer shackle is used.

I actually have the old All_Pro shackles (3" longer than stock?). Anyone have the rears up front who also have their shackles in the stock location and have tested them?
Thanks for all your help guys...
JEFF

[Cracker]

Jeff,
Actually I was just going to tell you about Bud's shackles, but figured Big Mike and Cruzilla are prolly tired of seeing me plug Bud's products on their forum....

Its just that alot of issues people are asking about, it seems Bud has already designed a nice, simple, bolt on product for people who cant really fab their own stuff.

[mr4x42u]

well thats the way I went also.(bud's bannana shackles).For the price not a bad deal really..

[jeffs84runner]

mr4x42u;
Have you trail tested the bannana shackles?  Under full compression does it let the spring go back far enough so the springs bottom out before the shackle goes back and hits the frame? (and potentially 'wrinkle' the springs)?  

[mr4x42u]

yea,,They were tested,,not trail tested but did do the forklift test..worked like a charm...I am really happy with the amount of flex I got.I still have to put the hysteer kit on and flex it out again to get some shock lengths..I will take pics this time and post..Oh yea,,Also when doing the last test I did not have my tacoma rear springs in the rear yet either so I should see alot more flex seeing as the taco springs are like 9 or 10 inches longer.. :chug:

[Cracker]

Are you swapping in Tacoma springs? If so, you know you'll have to add more leaves to the Taco pack?

[mr4x42u]

Yea,,taco rear spring are going in..I'm trying to get downey to build me a set..They don't make them for the year I want..I am looking into a few other places as well but would rather have the downey over the others..Worst case I'll add two leavs and a 1 inch block and I think it will be ok..I might even get away with just 1 leave...we'll see what happens..

[Cracker]

Hmmm....Sorry I cant say anything good about Downey.
I bought the Taco AAL's from them last April for my 99 daily driver. 8 months later, one of the AAL's broke off in the middle, and Downey absolutely refuses to warranty it. Its only a $31.25 part!!

Be aware (supposedly) they only have a 90 day warranty on springs.

I only put the AAL's in, not because I wanted lift, but it seemed the cheapest way to get the truck sitting back at stock height, since the stock leafs had gone negative real bad.
Even with the AAL's in, they settled to where I only had about an inch over stock, and I can see that the Taco springs are starting to bend around the ends of the AAL.

Sounds like you got the early 95-97 2 leaf packs. I have the later 3 leaf packs, and THEY suck bad! I think you'll need to add at least 2, maybe even 3 leaves.

It might be cheaper and better if you were to think about doing the Chevy swap....

[mr4x42u]

No,,I am real happy with the downey products..I have never had a problem with any thing from them..I used to have all owney spring on my runner before now..I am not real impressed with the checy springs and I want somthing different..I really like the flex the taco springs give..They use more then a 2 spring pack stock.I would have to look because I don't remember off hand,,,

[mr4x42u]

No,,I am real happy with the downey products..I have never had a problem with any thing from them..I used to have all owney spring on my runner before now..I am not real impressed with the checy springs and I want somthing different..I really like the flex the taco springs give..They use more then a 2 spring pack stock.I would have to look because I don't remember off hand,,,I might have to have a spring shop make up some close to the toco springs..we;ll see..