This weekend I finally got off my lazy keester and decided to get the ball rolling on my truck. I wanted to level the rear end so I made some longer (7" eye to eye un braced) shackles. <P><I>Now, before everyone scolds me for the length of the shackle, I just want to say that my hero and mentor Scott Wilson ran 10" long shackles on his rig for a long time without any problems. So there</I> <P>Okay, here is my problem: When I sat the truck down on its full weight (on the tires), the shackles were canted to one side. When viewing from the rear of the truck, the shackles were leaning to the left.<P>Was this because the axle had shifted to one side slightly?<P>Will this straighten out?<P>I have NOT torqued down the u-bolts fully. Should I unbolt them, shake the axle a bit, then torque them to spec?<P>Yes, I installed a ubolt flip at the same time as the shackles so the axle was free to move around a bit.<P>Thanks for any advice!<P>------------------<BR><B>Jim Brink</B> - 1986 Std. Bed 4WD - Solid Axle Conversion<BR><B>Toyota/ASE Certified Master Technician</B><BR><A HREF="http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/" TARGET=_blank>4x4Wire's Toyota Section</A><BR> toytech@4x4wire.com

How are the bushings? Mine do the same, my bushings are shot, and the center suports are rusted out. These are terrible to drive on the street<BR> If you want to run them without a support I would recomend getting a spring bushing for the fixed eye of the spring. bolt this between the two sides of the shacle. Then when you hit the trail you can loosen the bolt that holds it, or tighten it for the road.<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>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jim Brink:<BR><B>This weekend I finally got off my lazy keester and decided to get the ball rolling on my truck. I wanted to level the rear end so I made some longer (7" eye to eye un braced) shackles. <P><I>Now, before everyone scolds me for the length of the shackle, I just want to say that my hero and mentor Scott Wilson ran 10" long shackles on his rig for a long time without any problems. So there</I> <P>Okay, here is my problem: When I sat the truck down on its full weight (on the tires), the shackles were canted to one side. When viewing from the rear of the truck, the shackles were leaning to the left.<P>Was this because the axle had shifted to one side slightly?<P>Will this straighten out?<P>I have NOT torqued down the u-bolts fully. Should I unbolt them, shake the axle a bit, then torque them to spec?<P>Yes, I installed a ubolt flip at the same time as the shackles so the axle was free to move around a bit.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I'ev been running 7" shackles (braced) now for nearly 2 years. Probably worth making sure the spring center pins are seated in the perch and spring plate. What size bolts/sleeves are you using? How are the bushings, new or old? Did you drill all the shackle plates at one time? I stack mine up, tack weld them together before drilling to make sure the holes are aligned.<P><P>------------------<BR>--<BR> Roger Brown<BR> 4crawler@home.com <BR> <A HREF="http://reality.sgi.com/rogerb/4Runner.html" TARGET=_blank>4Crawler Web page</A>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Paul Elbisser:<BR><B>How are the bushings? Mine do the same, my bushings are shot, and the center suports are rusted out. These are terrible to drive on the street<BR> If you want to run them without a support I would recomend getting a spring bushing for the fixed eye of the spring. bolt this between the two sides of the shacle. Then when you hit the trail you can loosen the bolt that holds it, or tighten it for the road.<BR> <BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Thanks for the reply Paul. The bushings are all new. I'm not quite sure I understand what you are saying about the bushing idea. Can you elaborate?<P>------------------<BR><B>Jim Brink</B> - 1986 Std. Bed 4WD - Solid Axle Conversion<BR><B>Toyota/ASE Certified Master Technician</B><BR><A HREF="http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/" TARGET=_blank>4x4Wire's Toyota Section</A><BR> toytech@4x4wire.com

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 4Crawler:<BR><B> I'ev been running 7" shackles (braced) now for nearly 2 years. Probably worth making sure the spring center pins are seated in the perch and spring plate. What size bolts/sleeves are you using? How are the bushings, new or old? Did you drill all the shackle plates at one time? I stack mine up, tack weld them together before drilling to make sure the holes are aligned.<P><BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Roger,<P>I'm using all new bushings in both the shackle hanger and the spring. I reused the bolts that came with my Downey shackles. Tomorrow I will check to make sure the center pins are seated. No, the plates were not drilled at the same time, that is worth looking into, thanks.<P>------------------<BR><B>Jim Brink</B> - 1986 Std. Bed 4WD - Solid Axle Conversion<BR><B>Toyota/ASE Certified Master Technician</B><BR><A HREF="http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/" TARGET=_blank>4x4Wire's Toyota Section</A><BR> toytech@4x4wire.com

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>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Paul Elbisser:<BR><B>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> <BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Ah, I see what you are saying. I'll look into that, thanks! <P>------------------<BR><B>Jim Brink</B> - 1986 Std. Bed 4WD - Solid Axle Conversion<BR><B>Toyota/ASE Certified Master Technician</B><BR><A HREF="http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/" TARGET=_blank>4x4Wire's Toyota Section</A><BR> toytech@4x4wire.com

My guess: I think if you tighten the u-bolts when the axle is in the right place, it will stay there...<P>...I've got dual shackles w/ plenty of opportunity (play) to lay to the side, but they don't seem to...?<P>------------------<BR>-Erik Bibelheimer<BR>'86 <B>44</B>Runner, '97 T100<BR><A HREF="http://home.off-road.com/~bibelheimer" TARGET=_blank>Erik's Toy 4x4 Pages</A>

Heya,<P>Do you have you gas charged shocks hooked up Maybe its inducing a little twist when things aren't all bolted up. Are your front wheels turned in a directyion that would make the frame twist a tad?<P>Or are you leaning a big rol of heavy shag carpet on one side of the truck?<P>Jimmy "going thru french toast witdrawal" Tom<P>

I forgot to add, I never did this yet. I have seen it on other trucks, just one of those things I need to get around to doing. make sure the bushing you use is as wide as the sholders are in the spring. You may need to put something like a washer to get the correct spacing.<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>