Long travel rear shackles

[BeaterBrown]

Couldn’t find anything on here about it, and this might be a stupid question! I’m running the stock 8600 gvwr packs with an ez ride add-a-leaf. It’s stiff unloaded but I use my truck to haul some pretty heavy loads at times! Was wondering if it’s possible to use the ORD long travel shackles without changing anything else besides bushings.
I’m hoping to unlock a little off road capability while retaining stiff springs for hauling. Anyone do anything like this to their square?

 

[bucket]

Shock travel and spring rate are two different things. Long travel shocks won't change how your rear suspension moves, they are for soft springs that have a bunch of flex. If you want to soften the ride and retain load capacity, the simplest way is to remove your add a leaf and instal a set of helper air bags that you can inflate when needed.

 

[BeaterBrown]

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This is what I’m referring too! The theory in my head being that they could possibly allow the rear suspension to only droop better even with the stiff spring?

 

[bucket]

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This is what I’m referring too! The theory in my head being that they could possibly allow the rear suspension to only droop better even with the stiff spring?

Ah ok, those are shackles! I must have been drunk earlier... I definitely read "shocks" lol.

At any rate, those won't help either. They allow for more swing with a softer and more compliant spring that changes overall length greatly as the spring goes from full compression to full droop. The shackles won't make a difference with your current spring setup. The greasable bolts and bushings though, those could improve your ride quality slightly.

 

[BeaterBrown]

Ah ok, those are shackles! I must have been drunk earlier... I definitely read "shocks" lol.

At any rate, those won't help either. They allow for more swing with a softer and more compliant spring that changes overall length greatly as the spring goes from full compression to full droop. The shackles won't make a difference with your current spring setup. The greasable bolts and bushings though, those could improve your ride quality slightly.

I figured it was a shot in the dark anyway! My caveman brain just thought longer arm=more leverage=more pivot, but I see your point!

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Their shackles won't work without a shackle flip. Well they will you'll just be lowering your truck instead of lifting it. They're about a half inch longer than factory so it would push your springs up.

If you want capacity and a nice ride you'll need less stiff leafs and helper air bags.

 

[BeaterBrown]

Their shackles won't work without a shackle flip. Well they will you'll just be lowering your truck instead of lifting it. They're about a half inch longer than factory so it would push your springs up.

If you want capacity and a nice ride you'll need less stiff leafs and helper air bags

I appreciate the input! Im not necessarily looking to soften anything up, rather seeing if this would allow the stock set up droop a little further. Good point with lowering ride height!

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I appreciate the input! Im not necessarily looking to soften anything up, rather seeing if this would allow the stock set up droop a little further. Good point with lowering ride height!

Yup, since they pair em with the shackle flip the extra length helps the angles of the shackle. But if on a factory hanger it'll raise the eye of the spring making it lower.

You won't be able to make it flex more without removing a leaf or two from your current pack or getting softer springs and getting helper air bags, that's about the only options for what you want to do.

The shackle flip would help your flex and also shouldn't mess with your hauling capability, but you would have to change springs if you have lift springs. Shackles will only work if you have a shackle flip lift as well though.

 

[BeaterBrown]

Yup, since they pair em with the shackle flip the extra length helps the angles of the shackle. But if on a factory hanger it'll raise the eye of the spring making it lower.

You won't be able to make it flex more without removing a leaf or two from your current pack or getting softer springs and getting helper air bags, that's about the only options for what you want to do.

The shackle flip would help your flex and also shouldn't mess with your hauling capability, but you would have to change springs if you have lift springs. Shackles will only work if you have a shackle flip lift as well though.

They do talk about these being used with a tension style shackle set up on the ORD site, but with aftermarket springs I’m sure!