shackle flip

[Blazer Eagle]

hey all, i have found a shackleflip for sale with 6.5 inch shackles, my question is how much lift will this net? im using my stock springs from 74 so they have a little sag, so if it gives me a 6 inch lift and they sag an inch then that gives me 5 which means i can ditch the add-a-leaf and have a raised back stance, if it in fact will give me a 6 inch lift, i think i heard that you add half the shackle length to your lift, but i dont know where the shackle flip is compared to stock, oh, its the diy4x version

[N2TRUX]

I think this might get a better response in the 4x4 forum. Not so many 4wd experts in here...

[drbyrdman]

around 4".

[famous4130]

well you will most likely pick up 5-7 inches of lift because just be flipping the shackle itself you can pick up a couple inches. but sometimes depending on the shackle design even if its a 6.5 inch shackle you might only get three inches out of it.

You WILL however, notice a a pretty big difference in how your truck flexes out and its body roll. if you do a lot of off roading then i would say do it, if this is your daily driver i would say get a sway bar up front if you don;t already have one.

[bmeredith]

you'll get around 4" of lift with a shackle flip and 1" of lift with the longer shackle. you could get more lift out of the shackle depending on the angle of it, but you want to have the shackle leaning 35-45* backwards (ex: \ ). if the shackle is more straight up and sown it'll be more lift, but ride horrible and could reverse if it flexes at all.

[Blazer Eagle]

does a shackle flip have more body roll than an all spring 4inch lift? and i do have a swaybar up front

[bmeredith]

what are your plans for this truck. daily driver, weekend warrior, mudding machine, rock legend... if you can tell me what you want to do with your truck i can help you out a little more.
the shackle flip won't make any more body roll than stock

[Oilbrnr]

Originally Posted by bmeredith

what are your plans for this truck. daily driver, weekend warrior, mudding machine, rock legend... if you can tell me what you want to do with your truck i can help you out a little more.
the shackle flip won't make any more body roll than stock

I like that, "Rock Legend!"

A flip does raise your center of gravity and will allow body roll to be more noticeable. I just did a 4" ORD flip on my K5, and I would not want to drive much on the streets (especially higher speeds) without the front sway bar connected and with good bushings.

Are the new shackles cross-tied? If they are from DIY then they probably are...

[Blazer Eagle]

it will probably be mostly a daily driver with some moderate trails and some moderate mud, the extreme stuff just isnt for this rig, im going to build a purpose built one for those things

i want a 4 inch lift, so my main options are spring or shackle flip, so my questions is does the shackle flip have more body roll than a spring lift would, i wont be doing anything super serious so a spring lift would be fine

[bmeredith]

it must just be personal pref. because i've smashed my truck around town hard for years w/o a swaybar and have never felt uncomfortable. that'll change when i put my 52" in front but until then i won't think twice about it. those superlift 4" lift front springs are real stiff and keep my truck under control pretty well. and that stock sway bar limited flex so bad i ditched it as soon as i could

[Oilbrnr]

Well, I have the ORD sway bar disconnect, so I don't have to worry about flex off road, and I don't wallow around when I'm on the pavement doing 75 either.

I suppose that if I still lived in a small town it would be cool, but here in Phoenix traffic it was a bit sketchy.

[Oilbrnr]

Well, I have the ORD sway bar disconnect, so I don't have to worry about flex off road, and I don't wallow around when I'm on the pavement doing 75 either.

I suppose that if I still lived in a small town it would be cool, but here in Phoenix traffic it was a bit sketchy.

[FormerMember]

Lift shackles give you half the lift of the length of the shackle over stock shackles.

Stock shackle = 4" (hypothetically)
6" shackle is 1" lift, as it only drops (if the shackle is flipped, I.E. pointing down) one end of the spring.

[BIG HEAD]

It will shorten your wheel base. The tire will not be in the center of wheel well. It will be closer to front.

[Oilbrnr]

Originally Posted by BIG HEAD

It will shorten your wheel base. The tire will not be in the center of wheel well. It will be closer to front.

Meh, the arc that the rear spring is on, moves the axle forward a negligible amount... visually it is not detectable IMHO.

[FormerMember]

Which is also why people use zero rate spring blocks to move the axle back.

[Blazer Eagle]

yeah i have thought about using a zero rate, but im not sure which lift i should get, with a swaybar, is there any difference in bodyroll between a spring lift or an shackle flip?

[bmeredith]

the lift springs will be stiffer but your COG will be the same either way. so the shackle flip might have a little more roll

[BIG HEAD]

Originally Posted by Oilbrnr

Meh, the arc that the rear spring is on, moves the axle forward a negligible amount... visually it is not detectable IMHO.

It is not so noticeable with a two inch flip. But very detectable with six. I'll get pictures this week end. I understand completely that some times the shackle flip is used to get more wheel travel in certain applications. But in other applications it is used for more lift. That is the part I don't get, because by the time you spend nearly $190.00 on a flip kit, $60 on new shackles, and what ever zero rate blocks cost, plus shipping. You are well over the new price of two lift springs.
*
If I was looking for a softer ride w/lift I would either a: lower both spring hangers uqually or b: get a set of lift springs remove the bottom 2 or 3 springs in the pack and then install a twisting shackle.

[Oilbrnr]

Well I did a four inch flip, had no need for zero rates, virtually the same ride as stock, increased flexability and saved about $220 compared to new getting new springs.

YMMV

[BIG HEAD]

Originally Posted by oilbrnr

well i did a four inch flip, had no need for zero rates, virtually the same ride as stock, increased flexability and saved about $220 compared to new getting new springs.

Ymmv

it sounds as though things worked out well for you. Did you make your flip kit or buy one (what brand)?

[Oilbrnr]

ORD made the brackets. DIY4X would also be equivelent.

[BIG HEAD]

Originally Posted by Oilbrnr

ORD made the brackets. DIY4X would also be equivelent.

Like I said $189.00 for ORD 4 inch flip kit, plus shipping. Two hundred twenty for springs at local parts house. So you did not save $220.00.

[Oilbrnr]

Originally Posted by BIG HEAD

Like I said $189.00 for ORD 4 inch flip kit, plus shipping. Two hundred twenty for springs at local parts house. So you did not save $220.00.

I have no idea if I could have gotten rear springs from a local parts house with a 4" increase in ride height for $220. Tuff Country gets ~$400 for a pair, so that is what I'm comparing too.

You don't like non-homebrewed flips, so be it. Some of us do not have the resources to fab up whatever we want like you apparently do. So be it.

Like I mentioned earlier, YMMV.