3in Shackle Lift

[ForAmcJeeps]

If I lift the front of my 87 waggy with shackles 3in will I need a drop pitman arm?

[Tad]

No, you will need beter insurance coverage.
Do not do this.
You would need like a 6" long shackle and your steering will be wacked.

[ForAmcJeeps]

I see, what do you think about a 2in or 1in then?

[Dmntxn77]

I wouldnt go more than 1 inch... This isnt a little toyota. You have something like 3 thousand pounds on those shackles. When you get long shackles the frame can move across the front axle. Meaning when you turn, your shackles can flex sideways and your front axle will be pointed a different direction than your frame. If you are making them yourself, be sure to make them beefy to avoid the lateral flex.

[ForAmcJeeps]

Awesome, thanks for the info. :)

[77wagondeer]

On my offroad use only waggy I used belltech lowering shackles for a 1/2 ton cheby mounted upside down to raise the front 2" like I said though I only take it offroad. Not sure on road how safe or stable like the other guys said thats a heavy vehicle and an emergency stop or steer could end baddly.

[AlsChopShop]

i picked up a set of rear chevy shackles. they are about an inch longer, i wouldn't go any longer than that. you can find them on any 88-98 gm truck or full size suv.

Al

[scotty]

to get 3 inches of lift over what you have,theyd need to be 6" longer than stock. thats prolly close to an 11" long shackle :eek:

as has been said,do not do this,as it will drastically affect the castor,and how your rig handles.

much safer way to gain 3" of height is a body lift on the cheap end,and a spring lift on the more expensive end.

[CheapJeep]

Slight hijack, but...
To add shackel height to the front, I would want rear shackles for an 88-98 chevy pickup, correct?
My questions-- 2wd or 4wd, 1/2 ton or 3/4
If i used a "lowering shackle" for the chebby would that raise my front the same amount or more, ie a 2" lowering shackle would raise my wag 2" in front or more/less?
Thanks so much
scott

[scotty]

If i used a "lowering shackle" for the chebby would that raise my front the same amount or more

not necessarily. it depends how much longer the "lowering shackle" is than a stock jeep shackle. however much longer it is,youll get 1/2 that much lift,since youre only changine 1 end of the spring. after an inch or 2 of shackle lift,the springs tend to flatten out,then arch downward,so a 4" longer than stock shackle may not give you 2" of lift if the springs are well worn.

once again,excessive shackle lift is a bad idea :eek:

[Tad]

I did not mean to be so sarcastic in the first post.
Just wanted that to not be one of you options for a 3" lift.
Scotty outlined the math clearly.
I have GM rear shackles in the front for abour 1/2" lift now.
I have used some Ford ones also (thinner construction) about the same lift.
It's math, it works and does not change.

[texianjoe]

Would you guys recommend a body lift instead. I want to lift my 89gw just a couple of inches to put beefier tires on it. I don't do any extreme 4 wheeling, just dirt roads every now and then.

joe

[77wagondeer]

You are correct the belltech lowering rear shackles for a 1/2 ton cheby 88-98 are exactly 2" longer than the stock front shackle hole to hole. I netted exactly 2" of lift.

[AlsChopShop]

Slight hijack, but...
To add shackel height to the front, I would want rear shackles for an 88-98 chevy pickup, correct?
My questions-- 2wd or 4wd, 1/2 ton or 3/4
If i used a "lowering shackle" for the chebby would that raise my front the same amount or more, ie a 2" lowering shackle would raise my wag 2" in front or more/less?
Thanks so much
scottdoesn't matter if its 2wd or 4wd, and they are the same on half ton and 3/4 tons. yes you can use a lowering shackle. 2" lowering will net you about 1.5" of lift. i wouldn't go any more than that for saftey's sake.

Al

[robselina]

You are correct the belltech lowering rear shackles for a 1/2 ton cheby 88-98 are exactly 2" longer than the stock front shackle hole to hole. I netted exactly 2" of lift.

If they're 2" longer, eye to eye, you'll gain around 1" of lift (typically a little less).



Another thing to keep in mind with longer shackles is that they actually end up CLOSER to the ground, robbing you of approach angle. They don't call them trail graders for nothin'.

Here's a quick sketch I made to illustrate the point:

http://infohost.nmt.edu/~rselina/shackle.gif

[scotty]

Would you guys recommend a body lift instead

i would. i know alot of people think otherwise,but i personally am a fan of body lifts. they are cheap,they get you some room for tires,and they dont in the process screw up important suspension/steering geometry. not to mention it gives you alot of extra room to work on things underneath your truck. :thumbsup: i like my body lift,it makes alot of things i do under there frequently alot easier.

the only real downside is the gap created between the body and bumpers,but this is fixable with some raised bumper brackets or custom bumpers. the other thing that kinda sucks is getting all the 20+ year old bolts out,but youll have that removing springs bolts,shackles and axle u bolts as well.

my 2 cents for whatever theyre worth,a body lift is a much better idea to fit your tires than even a 2" shackle lift.

further questions? :)

[texianjoe]

i would. i know alot of people think otherwise,but i personally am a fan of body lifts. they are cheap,they get you some room for tires,and they dont in the process screw up important suspension/steering geometry. not to mention it gives you alot of extra room to work on things underneath your truck. :thumbsup: i like my body lift,it makes alot of things i do under there frequently alot easier.

the only real downside is the gap created between the body and bumpers,but this is fixable with some raised bumper brackets or custom bumpers. the other thing that kinda sucks is getting all the 20+ year old bolts out,but youll have that removing springs bolts,shackles and axle u bolts as well.

my 2 cents for whatever theyre worth,a body lift is a much better idea to fit your tires than even a 2" shackle lift.

further questions? :)

Thanks for the reply. I think I'll take you advise. What you say makes sense.

joe

[Dirtball]

A two inch add-a-leaf wouldn't be a bad suggestion either...

[ForAmcJeeps]

I was just thinking about the shackles as a temp solution until I sell my other car and grab a 6in spring lift.

[Tad]

I was just thinking about the shackles as a temp solution until I sell my other car and grab a 6in spring lift.
Well, that makes sense, but from a chronic parts buyer perspective (me) do not do the shackles then.
Just wait, buy the lift when you can afford the whole deal.
You'll have a buch of stuff to deal with then anyway, nothing serious, but the little stuff mounts up anyway.
No point in doing something twice (wish I would have learned that lesson 15 years ago).

[mdill]

If I lift the front of my 87 waggy with shackles 3in will I need a drop pitman arm?
6" shackels to lift 3", will make driving about as much fun as ballancing a marble on top of a ball ! (Besides all the negitive caster, there will be no lateral support for the front of the springs).
If you do this please don't drive where there is anything of value that can't take a big hit.

Mike D.

[Hutti]

I forgot who it was, but someone mentioned that shackle lifts do change you pinion angle.
I can speak from experience that they do. I just had my toe in adjusted by a shop and the computer print out confirmed that I now have a postive caster angle after I put the longer shackles up front.

my 2cents

[Herk]

Save your cash and just get a 4" all spring lift. Really long shackles are right up there with front lift blocks. Ever notice how nobody sells a 3" shackle lift kit? Also bear in mind that your other spring bushings are old and pounded out, add a long shackle and you'll be wandering all over the place.

I am no fan of body lifts either. The most expensive, poorly engineered lift out there (except perhaps long shackles). Look in the archives you'll probably find something like "I had to throw away my fan shroud when I put on my body lift, now my Jeep overheats. Do I need a different thermostat? Or should I spend the price of a decent lift kit on an aluminum radiator. Also, my steering seems screwed up, I cant put the transmission in low gear, and the brake lines coming out of the master cylinder look kinda kinked."

If you don't have the money to do it right, don't waste your money doing it twice!