Topic: Pls Help Rear Suspension Problem

[Siringo]

I replaced my original rear springs only about 800 miles ago. The problem I then encountered was that my stock rear shackles ended up being vertical.

The replacement springs must have been a little too short I guess. Anyway, this has left me with not a lot of rear axle droop. The rear of my truck (1984 Hilux) only has an aluminium tray on it so there is not a lot of weight to push the back end down.

I've considered longer shackles but I can only think that that will only make the rear end sit up higher and not give me any extra droop (please correct me if I'm wrong).

I'm thinking of getting a set of revolver shackles as they look like they will solve my problem.

Has anyone here had any experience, good or bad, with revolver shackles?

Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

Thanks for any help,
Matt.

[Willy Mammoth]

I assume your problem is because you are light in the rear causing the shackles to be straight up and down.

If you add weight to the rear does it straighten out?

If it does then you can either add weight or move the shackle brackets on the frame to adjust for the new loading.

I would install longer shackles at the same time so you can find the best placement for the bracket and have a little extra movement.

As far as the revolver shackles, I don't have any experience with them and I am curious myself.

[IronClad]

the teraflex style  revolvers are garbage.  a "drop" shackle with a stop and a traction bar is the best bet for that style. 
As for your shackle problem is a weight issue.

I would move your  shackle mount and run a drop shackle.  Even if you did install the revolver shackles  it would not solve your problem since its still a straight line from bolt to bolt ( your shackle could zigzag and it wouldnt make a difference)

[Siringo [OP]]

Thanks for your replies.

> the teraflex style  revolvers are garbage

Why? Have you had trouble with them in the past? If so, what went wrong with them? To me they look like they may be a solution (?) as they will allow for more droop. I like the look of the 'drop' shackles I've seen, they look alot stronger, but I don't like the look of their price.

[IronClad]

They dont work as advertised.  most of the time they bind up and dont allow for full potential..

I made my drop shackles for 20 bucks using stock shackles from a chevy pickup  and  made my own longer shackles from flat bar

heres a pic at full droop. notice i welded stops to the top shackle to prevent them from inverting.
i dont have a pic of them at  full compression/ride heigth unfortunatly but basicly the top shackle lays against the frame and the  bottom shackle acts like a normal one untill  droop occours and it pulls the top one down allowing more travel.

[79coyotefrg]

  um IC,  aint those F150 shackles

i'm going to make some drop shackles from the F150's i have,
i like your stops  to keep them from inverting tho

[79coyotefrg]

siringo  the longer the spring the more droop you can have

[IronClad]

they could be.. i dunno i dug them out of the pile at the shop  chevy/ford/dodge shackles all look the same....  those springs arent f150s so theres no tellin where they came from

[Siringo [OP]]

Longer springs = more droop. Yep I know. But I just bought these new springs and I'm trying to work with what I have.

Ironclad do you think you could post a closer pic of your shackles for me?  I'm down in Australia so we don't have Chevy's here so I'll have to try and source something equivalent. That's no big deal but if I can get a good look at what you've used it'll make it a little easier.


Hmm, maybe I'll look into making my own drop shackles. ?

[IronClad]

i unfortunatly dont have that suspension anymore ( im now 4link )  so i dont have any closer pics sorry..  but you could make your own out of a piece of tubing and some flatbar  and some bushings..  same idea..   

its basicly a  | |   the bottom lines would be the piece of tube for the bushings.. 
                 ----    i'll look around on the net and see if i can find another pic

[Siringo [OP]]

Thanks Ironclad, greatly appreciated. I just cleaned my screen and closed the curtains, ahh, now i can see it alot better. I can see what you've done there. I reckon I can knock something up, it just can't be too hard. I'll drop into the trailer repair place tomorrow and see what they have on hand.

Thanks guys, much appreciated. 

[Siringo [OP]]

Sorry guys, but I was just thinking, is there any reason why I can't use my existing stock rear shackles and just grab some flat bar and knock up some extended ends?

Thanks again.

[79coyotefrg]

what you could do  is a type of reverse shackle/scissor type
___________________________________________
________________________________________frame
     \O\
       \  \
         \O\  < shackle
         /  /
       /  /___________
     /O/_______________ spring