i have some 3" front shackles and was wondering if anyone has ever put shackles in the front to get rid of excessive driveshaft angle. i have 4 or 5 inch lift leafs. the shaft doesnt' make any noise from it being to much angle. and not eating up u joints yet. but i just was looking at a cj the other day and noticed that they have shackles in the front. this would help eliminate excessive shaft angle wouldn't it?? just curious to see if anyone has ever done this.

 

Wait...so you want to put shackles on the front of the front springs like a CJ?

 

front shackles = EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

 

your shackles are in the back, not the front. if you put shackles in the front too, you'd be up for one hell of a ride!

Al

 

x2, it'll be unsafe as all hell, it'll allow the front axle to move around as it pleases

then we'll be forced to throw you in with the spooky suspension and steering archives

 

Vehicles with front mounted shackles tend to wander a bit when driving., probably why they make front shackle elimination kits for the front of old jeeps.

if your lift the front spring mount too much you run the risk of not allowing your front end to turn correctly, take a look at the trunion bearings on the front end of a toyota straight axle
(borrowed from slacker's Trekker thread, THanks Corey)





These pic's show how the steering knuckle pivots on the ball, turn those pivots too far forward (past the perpendicular) and you won't people to turn correctly.

In the quest for the perfect pinion angle on the front driveshaft some people with go to the extent of cutting and turning the front end. Go that route you had better know what you are doing.

ANother option-Hi Pinion third member-only recommended for the front, expensive.

-High Angle Drive shaft- cost any where from $300-800.

I would not worried about your front DS angle just yet, if your suspension is somewhat flexible like mine I would be more worried about having enough spline contact in the slip yoke..

hope this made sense

 

random thought:
As Al and 4bangin said, if you ended up with shackles on both ends of the spring (has been done) the springs would go where ever they wanted, than you would end up needed some form of links and panhard bars to keep the axle correctly centered--go that route might as well 4 link it

 

use degree shims to correct it

 

yea ocdropzone that makes sense. i just had seen an old jeep with front shackles and rear solid mounts, and i just figured since my truck came with 3" front shackles, it makes my d/s angle pretty bad. i'm thinking i'll just find some stockers to put in place. and to all you others who thought i'd have shackles in the front and rear of the front springs. lol!!! whoever would think of doing that. ohhh my!!!!!!