Shacle Reversal

[4x4fEvEr]

This desrves its own thread.

Who's got one?

My reason for wanting one is to help keep my front springs from bending. As you know a reversal pushes the axle back as u hit an obstacle and standard shackles push forward which with he tires pushin too equals a lot of stress on the rear of the springs. So good idea to do it right?
I'm ruunin stock springs with AAL right now does that net the same lift as shackles forward?
I need some input

[4x4fEvEr]

Ok trasborgs article says it keeps the leaves from bending but for rockcrawling leave em forward, but Cappa did it to hotdog hmmmm

[j20brett]

The only reason to leave them forward is that it forces the leaves into the obstacle, instead of away, making it easier to climb. But the advantage of not bending leaves anymore far outweighs a small climbing advantage.

[4x4fEvEr]

This is true. I'm finding all kinds of articles for them but none apply to fsj's

[fulsizjeep]

Our 76 Waggy with SOA has the front shackles reversed and it flexes like an Olympic gymnast. It was set up this way when we got it so I am not sure what all was done in the reversal process.

[Long&Low]

I ran a shackle reversal on my YJ. It allows the spring and axle to climb stepped obstacles better.

But there is a down side or two. First the axle will have move fore and axle movement, so you may end up needing a longer splined area for your front driveshaft. Mine needed a 12" slip joint. That gets kind of spendy, unless you want to run a squate tubed front driveshaft. With that extra for and aft movement, you may run into the tire coming up and into the rear of the fender during the lift cycle. And as it cycles down, the axle will move farther forward.

As for street driving, under hard braking, your nost will dive down.

All in all it's six of one, half dozen of the other. A lot goes into how you set up the spring. Do you make your front mount higher or leave it level (level as in parallel to the ground)? You can dial in how the spring will react on obstacles if you place it differently.

It really doesn't matter if it's a baby Jeep or FSJ, the charateristics will be the same.

[j20brett]

Our 76 Waggy with SOA has the front shackles reversed and it flexes like an Olympic gymnast. It was set up this way when we got it so I am not sure what all was done in the reversal process.

Could you possibly take a few pics of the front and rear hangers? Thanks!

[fulsizjeep]

Sure, when I feel like laying in the snow again.
The spring hangers are stock. The only thing that changed on the springs was the shackle move to the rear.
The front shaft is longer than stock and has longer yoke section to help with axle moving back when compressed.

[4x4fEvEr]

The only thing I care about is bending springs and trasborg says in steep climbs the front end wanders. I dontlike that.

I'm ruunin a square shaft already and I don't care about bodydamage there's not a straight dent free panel on mine and I don't run on the road so all those concerns are out the window.

I'd like to see pics as well seen a rough country kit for $110 bucks I may get that and have at it

[fulsizjeep]

The only thing I care about is bending springs and trasborg says in steep climbs the front end wanders.

It wanders more on the pavement than anywhere else. We got used to it. It is fun to get someone riding shot gun in it for the first time.

[jtr]

I am going to save my $$ and 3 link front and some kind of link setup in the rear. Early Bronco springs would work good in the front I think.


Leafs just arn't going to last long for your application, IMO.

[Elliott]

These guys (members here) have a SR kit for FSJs: http://www.tandjperformance.com/main.shtml

[4x4fEvEr]

Leafs just arn't going to last long for your application, IMO.

Yea tru links and coils would be great. Not even in the budget though

[Long&Low]

The only thing I care about is bending springs and trasborg says in steep climbs the front end wanders. I dontlike that.

I'm ruunin a square shaft already and I don't care about bodydamage there's not a straight dent free panel on mine and I don't run on the road so all those concerns are out the window.

I'd like to see pics as well seen a rough country kit for $110 bucks I may get that and have at it

Tell Pete you'll get less wandering with an SRS system than without, hillclimbing or not.

[Stuka]

It should also be noted that your front drive shaft will be forced to operate at a much higher angle when the axle droops. As the pinion will point down instead of up (as it does with a front shackle). So you look fine for slippage with the square shaft, but the u-joints are going to need more angle (unless you already have 1410's or the like).

And, if you drive on the street, you will get a lot of nose dive when you brake hard as when the axle pushed back, the shackle will give, which allows the axle to move up as well.