Topic: shackle reversal?

[hrkr80]

ive seen them before and ive heard people say they are so much better, but ive never heard why.  so my question, is what is the purpose of a shackle reversal?  what exactly does it do?

[Nimyad]

A shackle reversal is simply moving the spring hanger to the front of your frame and your shackle roughly under the cab. Stock Toyota pickup solid axles come factory like that. It's for fj40s and jeeps, it makes them ride and drive nicer. Arguable wether it's better Offroad or not.

[hrkr80 [OP]]

oh alright.  thanks for that.

[Nimyad]

No problem!

[3toys]

A lot of people say that a front shackle vehicle offroads better because as the spring compresses it moves forward and pushes the tires into the obstacle which creates better traction.  But this is mostly heresay, no proof so far as I know.

[hrkr80 [OP]]

so it changes the direction the axle moves when the springs compress? 

[Nimyad]

Correct, shackles up front push your axle forward as it compresses, shackles in the back push the axle back when it compresses. Pushing your axle forward when it compresses can gain traction or push you off an obstacle.

[Rocksurfer]

The main issue I've seen and have had happen to me is when the shackle is on the front end your ramp angle is lower and the longer the shackle the lower the ramp angle. I used to hit my shackles on my Willys all the time and have seen them hit on others on several occasions. You get more of a slide on the front when they are rear mounted.