Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Rack Man · 11-05-2008, 01:17 AM

Since my original rear shackle eyes were no longer round I decided to just get whole new shackle assemblies...But they really do not look anything like that of the originals....I can't seem to figure out if I put them in correctly or if they are backwards...I tried both directions and it doesn't seem to change the angle at all.....This direction seem to give me more clearnace for the leafs below.....Does this look right?....

Here are after & before pics....The after pic is with the axle just hanging (no load) and the before pic is with the weight of the chassis on it...

Thanks Dan

**special-K** · 11-05-2008, 07:01 AM

That looks backwards to me.The open part should face the rear and the arc should roll forward.

Rack Man · 11-06-2008, 02:02 AM

Well I decided to scrap these new aftermarket ones....they are garbage and very thin compared to the originals...

I'm gonna bring my old ones down to my work and see about getting the spring eye back to being perfectly round....then just install new bushings and re-use em!

Someone on here warned me about the aftermarket ones...and I didn't listen!

Dan

OLDCHEV4X4 · 11-06-2008, 08:29 AM

I bought some from GM, and they look just like those. And i have been abusing them real good for 4 years and havent had a failure. I've broken alot of other things, but not the shackle.

DirtyLarry · 11-06-2008, 09:19 PM

I work for a spun off division of GM that manufacturers stripped chassis for the commercial step-van and RV market. We still use those same exact spring hangers and shackles on our Workhorse W-series chassis today (previously known as the Chevrolet/GMC P-Chassis). Depending on the leaf spring pack, length, and type (multi-leaves vs. parabolic) we flip the shackles around one way or another. Often times during production the shackle gets flipped the wrong way for the spec’d spring type and guess what? We have found that it really doesn’t make an ounce of difference which way the shackle is mounted in 90% of the cases. However, it does cause interference issues on units with extremely large spring packs with long spring blades.

Below is a picture of a 2007 UPS truck with multi-leaves with the shackle pointed with the big opening to the rear of the spring pack. UPS can break an anvil but they have never bent or broke one of these Detroit Steel Products shackles. I have never had a problem with a stock DSP shackle on any of my junk either.

**special-K** · 11-07-2008, 07:37 AM

Yeah,GM just changed the design/method of construction.As Larry said,it doesn`t really matter.On a 4wd taking suspension to extreme droop it will hit the hanger sooner if turned the way you showed.Also,turned that way mud will pack in there.The GM shackles cost less than $20 for the pair.
My wrecker has them turned like yours and everything else is the way I said,from a`71 to a`92.Same shackle.

msgross · 11-08-2008, 09:00 PM

Here are my originals.. I think they are right but maybe not... I know my 1/2 ton springs look pretty scrawny compared to yours...

Rack Man · 11-09-2008, 01:34 PM

On a related note...can anyone tell me which one these is correct for the rear leaf spring eyes......or will either design be sufficient?

(1970 K-10)
My originals looked like this:

My parts supplier sent me these:

Thanks, Dan

msgross · 11-09-2008, 01:54 PM

I used the energy suspension poly bushings... didn't look like either of those

11-05-2008, 01:17 AM	#1
Rack Man Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 770	Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly Since my original rear shackle eyes were no longer round I decided to just get whole new shackle assemblies...But they really do not look anything like that of the originals....I can't seem to figure out if I put them in correctly or if they are backwards...I tried both directions and it doesn't seem to change the angle at all.....This direction seem to give me more clearnace for the leafs below.....Does this look right?.... Here are after & before pics....The after pic is with the axle just hanging (no load) and the before pic is with the weight of the chassis on it... Thanks Dan Last edited by Rack Man; 11-05-2008 at 11:00 AM.

11-05-2008, 07:01 AM	#2
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly That looks backwards to me.The open part should face the rear and the arc should roll forward. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

11-06-2008, 02:02 AM	#3
Rack Man Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 770	Re: Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly Well I decided to scrap these new aftermarket ones....they are garbage and very thin compared to the originals... I'm gonna bring my old ones down to my work and see about getting the spring eye back to being perfectly round....then just install new bushings and re-use em! Someone on here warned me about the aftermarket ones...and I didn't listen! Dan __________________ My Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=309288

11-06-2008, 08:29 AM	#4
OLDCHEV4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Chester County PA, USA Posts: 1,228	Re: Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly I bought some from GM, and they look just like those. And i have been abusing them real good for 4 years and havent had a failure. I've broken alot of other things, but not the shackle. __________________ 72 k/10 short wideside 72 k/5 Blazer 72 K/5 Blazer - obstacle course racer 72 custom/10 8' bed 70 K/5 Blazer 67 C-30 GMC Flat bed 86 GMC K2500 Plow Truck 85 GMC K3500 84 M1008 85 M1008 77 G30 Motor Home 72 Sears 12hp Tractor Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

11-06-2008, 09:19 PM	#5
DirtyLarry Windy Corner of a Dirty Street Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pueblo West, Colorado Posts: 2,926	Re: Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly I work for a spun off division of GM that manufacturers stripped chassis for the commercial step-van and RV market. We still use those same exact spring hangers and shackles on our Workhorse W-series chassis today (previously known as the Chevrolet/GMC P-Chassis). Depending on the leaf spring pack, length, and type (multi-leaves vs. parabolic) we flip the shackles around one way or another. Often times during production the shackle gets flipped the wrong way for the spec’d spring type and guess what? We have found that it really doesn’t make an ounce of difference which way the shackle is mounted in 90% of the cases. However, it does cause interference issues on units with extremely large spring packs with long spring blades. Below is a picture of a 2007 UPS truck with multi-leaves with the shackle pointed with the big opening to the rear of the spring pack. UPS can break an anvil but they have never bent or broke one of these Detroit Steel Products shackles. I have never had a problem with a stock DSP shackle on any of my junk either. Attached Images __________________ Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles Instagram

11-07-2008, 07:37 AM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly Yeah,GM just changed the design/method of construction.As Larry said,it doesn`t really matter.On a 4wd taking suspension to extreme droop it will hit the hanger sooner if turned the way you showed.Also,turned that way mud will pack in there.The GM shackles cost less than $20 for the pair. My wrecker has them turned like yours and everything else is the way I said,from a`71 to a`92.Same shackle. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

11-08-2008, 09:00 PM	#7
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly Here are my originals.. I think they are right but maybe not... I know my 1/2 ton springs look pretty scrawny compared to yours... Attached Images __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer" Last edited by msgross; 11-08-2008 at 09:01 PM.

11-09-2008, 01:34 PM	#8
Rack Man Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 770	Re: Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly On a related note...can anyone tell me which one these is correct for the rear leaf spring eyes......or will either design be sufficient? (1970 K-10) My originals looked like this: My parts supplier sent me these: Thanks, Dan __________________ My Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=309288

11-09-2008, 01:54 PM	#9
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: Did I Install These Aftermarket Rear Shackles Correctly I used the energy suspension poly bushings... didn't look like either of those __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer"



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