Instead of welding a brace between the shackles, drill a hole to put a bolt through. The bolt will be part of your brace. The trick is to use a bushing from the fixed end of the spring, with the sleave still in it. This is so when you run on the street you can tighten this bolt to bottom out the sleeve against the sides of the shackle.The sleave will keep you from crushing the bushings in the springs.<BR> When you hit the trail you can loosen the bolt and alow the shacle to flex more. The bushing will give a little to allow this.<BR> I would also recomend rubber bushings, they flex more. Along with metal locking nuts, not nylocks. I think they will last longer.<BR> <P>------------------<BR>Paul Elbisser #3233<BR>TLCA Eastern Rep.<BR>Pres Rice on the Rocks<BR> <A HREF="http://www.riceontherocks.itgo.com" TARGET=_blank>www.riceontherocks.itgo.com</A>