Hey, this is my first post, so I thought I would get some advice on shackle lifts.
I have an '87 runner, 22re, 5 speed, basically stock.
I want to do a shackle lift. Where is a cheap place to buy a set for the rear of my runner. It is sagging like they all do, and I figured shackles are the way to go, right?

Also, I have heard that some people make their own, has anyone done this? Is it safe? Has anyone posted anything on this? I saw a runner with home made ones and it looked pretty good and pretty easy, but I wanted some input.

Thanks

 

www.4crawler.com sells shackles... he is an awesome guy, and he is highly regarded on this site... some people make their own shackles that are way too big, and just scary in my opinion, however they can be made yourself if you research it enough and know what you are doing..... i used to work as a mechanic and have personally seen failed parts that someone made themselves......

 

Yes, www.4crawler.com is the man for just about anything and everything including tons of information.

Heres a few more websites that may also have what your looking for- plus some:
http://www.downeyoff-road.com/
http://www.offroadsolutions.com/
http://www.marlincrawler.com/
http://www.allprooffroad.com/
http://www.lcengineering.com/
http://www.4x4connection.com/
http://www.budbuilt.com/new/
http://www.frontrangeoffroadfab.com/

 

You should realize that extended shackles can cause your springs to de-arch and eventually you could end up at the same height. Perhaps a small AAL would work better.

 

Add a leaf worked for me, hasnt sagged at all in the past 2 years, superlift makes em, around 60 bucks, perfect for fixing the sag, 3 inches, easy install.

 

Hey now
I have the FabTech AAL which I like because it is longer than most AAL and therefore not as harsh on the ride quality. Unfortunately it has settled to around 1.5" from the original ride height. I, too, was thinking a shackle lift would be just the right thing for me since all that I need is around 1" more of lift height to match the front. Would a small shackle lift, like a 1", still cause heavy de-arching or would it be minimal. Thanks in advance.

 

I've run extended shackles for many, many hears and never had a proeblem with the de-arching springs. Springs rde-arch when they are overloaded or bent too far in negative arch. As long as you have proper bumpstops and are not overloading the springs, then a longer shackle should not cause any spring issues. More info on shackles below:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/Shackles.shtml

The main issue with longer shackles is the resultant pinion tilt (about 1 degree per extra inch of shackle length). Easy to make a shim to correct that angle if needed.

An add-a-leaf is a good idea if you need more load capacity. As noted, look for a long, thin leaf (i.e. soft and flexible) vs. a short, thick leaf (i.e. stiff). Rancho makes an excellent Soft-Ride AAL kit, has 2 pair of leaves, one long, thin the other a little shorter and a little thicker. Gives you many options for installation adding or swapping those leaves with the stock ones.

 

Do you think the 1" shackle lift I'm refering to (4Crawler) would necessitate a shim or is the pinion shift small enough.

 

It may be a small enough change to not cause problems, all depends on where the pinion angle is now and how far it changes with the longer shackle. Easy to measure and correct if needed:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/Shims.shtml#FAQ1

One option is to install the longer shackle, drive the truck and if no vibrations are noticed, then it is OK. If there are vibes, measure the angle and have a shim built to correct it. Other option is to measure the angles beforehand and have a shim made to correct the expected angle change.