Ouch, Shackle trouble

[Tiv]

Had new shackles from POL, after only 500 miles or so ones gone, as in I heard a chink driving down the road, assumed id kicked something up off the road, noted its hanging darned low when I parked up in the garage and had a nosey under as you do....



Anyone else had trouble with cheap shackles (not saying these were just tabling a possible outcome)

Whose [reliable] shackles have you used ?

I never paid much attention to the bolt holding these together, so I will have a looksee the other side now i've thought about it...

[Rude Dude]

early shackles design on 1955 to 1956 used a center bolt in middle of shackles to squeeze together and bolt in place, later design changed in 57-59 have four nuts on ends of shackles to hold it together used on screw in pins better design. They weren't bad shackles looks like the center bolt was not tighten enough and shackles fell off. I would change to later design pins and use four nuts.

[Rude Dude]

here is a pic of different design notice on 55-56 shackles the center holes squeezes the plates together versus 57-59 the plates have no center pin just the four nuts and lock washer that are bolted at ends of screw in pins.

[_Ogre]

the replacement rear shackles i bought from brothers only had the center bolt
not the 4 nuts like the oem on my 58, i don't like the single bolt design at all

[Tiv]

Interesting, I didnt realise there were 2 designs

I have retraced my steps and cant find the damn plates in the gutter either!

I will have to look at replacements - a quick look so far only shows the single bolt design, i'm still looking

I guess I could always make a pair of plates as a recovery option for now out of some flat bar, anyone got measurements [forget I said that, ive got the other pair lol] and ill use a decent grade bolt this time around and loctite the nut on. Overtightening them I guss will bend the plates, so perhaps a 2 nut arrangement to clamp the outer plate would be an improvement.

[mr48chev]

Is the spring by chance in a bit of a bind? As pulled in or out where it bolts to the axle? Where it hit on the bottom of the bed wood is about half a board in from being lined up with the shackle mount on the frame and that makes me wonder if there may have been a bit of a twist on the spring as viewed from the rear.

[Tiv]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Is the spring by chance in a bit of a bind? As pulled in or out where it bolts to the axle? Where it hit on the bottom of the bed wood is about half a board in from being lined up with the shackle mount on the frame and that makes me wonder if there may have been a bit of a twist on the spring as viewed from the rear.

Fair question mr48chev, a good spot if it is you must have a good eye, I will have to get under it again to find that out, thats not gonna happen tonight now but i'll let you know.

I can say that the opposite side bolt has a nyloc nut and its threaded on enough so it just doesnt bend the plates (ie nipped right up), but the nyloc is not full of thread, the bolt looks to be nacks nacker too short really - thats not gonna be helping

[mr48chev]

The local 4x4 guys often put a spacer in the middle where the bolt goes through to stiffen the shackle.

The part number for the Moog brand shackle is
Moog - Leaf Spring Shackle
Line: MOO | Part # K150240

That is the one with the nuts on the ends of the pins that go though the bushings and shackles. Those are rather expensive even with the best discounts. That part number should cross to other top brands though. Rock auto has it and the Delco brand and the Delco is quit a bit less costly.

[1958Warrior]

Could just replace the spring bolts and use the existing shackles if you make replacements or find the ones you lost (long shot)
$5.99 a set Auto zone
http://www.autozone.com/parts/suspen...?checkfit=true
$5.02 Rock auto
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...489131&jsn=482

would need to also buy Qty.8 nuts (1/2"-20 if I remember right)

Should come out easy as they haven't been in there very long.

[Rude Dude]

I have extra brackets and 4 threaded shackle pins with nuts they are yours for free but would ask that you pay the cost to ship to the UK. PM if you want me to check with US Postal Service on cost

[Rude Dude]

Once you jack the frame up and take the weight off the spring it will go back to its original position for placement of shackle brackets. All I can say is been there and done that.

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Is the spring by chance in a bit of a bind? As pulled in or out where it bolts to the axle? Where it hit on the bottom of the bed wood is about half a board in from being lined up with the shackle mount on the frame and that makes me wonder if there may have been a bit of a twist on the spring as viewed from the rear.

[mr48chev]

Hopefully it did pull over when it popped loose but I've followed behind someone who put a jack between the springs to push them to get the holes in the pads on the axles to hit and had the springs in a bind before and I'm hoping this isn't the case here. On that one we had to cut the spring pads off the axle and relocate them.

[tmoble]

don't these things have the threaded pin with tapers on the ends? matching tapers on the shackles? The nuts pinch the shackles onto the tapers. when the spring movesthe threaded pin rotates in the bushing, which is why there's a grease zerk on the end.

[mr48chev]

That's the way they work if you keep them greased good. Years ago it was normal to grease these trucks every thousand miles. The newer greases might last a bit longer but a guy still wants to grease them a lot more often than late model stuff needs it.

[Tiv]

Thought I best give you guys a quick update

I made 2 plates to match the opposing side and fitted new bolts with a nut to the inside face and a nylock nut to the outside face ensuring the nylock nut was fully threaded on (the last bolts hardly made contact with the nylock which I think is the root of the problem, bolts not long enough)

Ive replaced both bolts both sides the same

There was no lateral bind once I relieved the weight they lined up enough to drop them on by hand.

Thanks guys, mobile again

[solidaxel]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, "looks to be Nacks Nacker" , I like that I will have to use that sometime!!!!

[mongocanfly]

Ok..so what does that mean? When I typed it in google it autocorrected to "snack maker"...if that's what it means then I'm all for it..I like snacks..I don't have a uk to redneck translator book so I'm not sure..haha

[capnduane]

Just went out and looked at the two shackles on the front of my '55, and they are the centerbolt type. The bolts are about 1/4in long past the lock nuts. The left front one is a aftermarket part that I put on when I restored my truck 3 years ago. The right front is much older. They both have plenty of grease in them. Good luck Tiv!