Shackle Question

[Jarrett Melvin]

I swapped my 1 ton from 2wd to 4wd. The truck sits quite a bit lower in the drivers side front the passenger side. I measure the axle to ground on garage floor. The same on both sides, frame to floor by the forward rear spring hangers is the same. Frame is level behind the cab.

I thought the issue was the springs but after looking it seems I mounted one front rear spring bushing about half inch lower than the other.

Could this throw the height off a couple inches one side?

My question is, can I put a longer shackle on the driver side to bring that side of the frame back up and make the springs sit at an even height?

 

[bucket]

What is the axle to frame measurement on each side?

 

[Jarrett Melvin]

What is the axle to frame measurement on each side?

10.5 and 11.5

 

[bucket]

10.5 and 11.5

That is your problem right there. Sounds like you've got a saggy spring too.

 

[Jarrett Melvin]

That is your problem right there. Sounds like you've got a saggy spring too

Oh I know. Everything else measures the same or even. But with one spring mounted a lower then the other. Should I try longer shackles on one side, so the eyes of the springs are the same distance from the frame or just go ahead and replace the springs?

 

[Jarrett Melvin]

That is your problem right there. Sounds like you've got a saggy spring too.

I forgot to add that this truck was originally C30 that I straight axle swapped with leafs.

 

[bucket]

Yeah, I remember your swap thread.

The shackle being mounted 1/2" lower or higher will only change the ride height at the spring perch about 1/4". But due to the axle being mounted at an angle, it may be as much as 1/2" difference in ride hight, at the fenders.

So definitely not enough difference to cause your ~2" difference in ride height. But if your higher mounted frame bushing is also on the same side as your weak spring, it's going to amplify the issues.

Personally, I'd swap springs side to side and see the results. Or just fix the shackle issue and replace both springs.

 

[Jarrett Melvin]

Yeah, I remember your swap thread.

The shackle being mounted 1/2" lower or higher will only change the ride height at the spring perch about 1/4". But due to the axle being mounted at an angle, it may be as much as 1/2" difference in ride hight, at the fenders.

So definitely not enough difference to cause your ~2" difference in ride height. But if your higher mounted frame bushing is also on the same side as your weak spring, it's going to amplify the issues.

Personally, I'd swap springs side to side and see the results. Or just fix the shackle issue and replace both springs.

Right on, I never thought on swappign springs honestly, thanks

 

[Blazerbiker]

The way to verify a spring problem is:
1: put them side by side on the floor and they should be the same height or very close to it.
2: swap sides. If you have a spring problem, the problem will move with the spring. Most of the time, if the springs are the same height on the floor and you have a low side when they're installed, there's something going on with the truck.

In your case, getting the eyes the same distance below the frame is a good start and a longer shackle is an OK way to do it. Probably nobody but you will ever know.

 

[Jarrett Melvin]

So I swapped the springs today, it did get better, about 1/4 inch in difference now, frame to axle. The tires are old on the truck and it still seems to have a little a lean. I'm gunna call me back to it when I get new tires installed and if I have to I may change the shackles. But swapping the springs was definitely an improvement. Thanks again guys

 

[bucket]

So is the apparently saggy spring now on the side with the shackle hanger bushing mounted lower on the frame rail? Is the same side of the truck still the lower riding side? Or did they swap sides? And one final question, are you sure that one shackle hanger is off by only 1/2", or could it possibly be off more?

 

[Jarrett Melvin]

So is the apparently saggy spring now on the side with the shackle hanger bushing mounted lower on the frame rail? Is the same side of the truck still the lower riding side? Or did they swap sides? And one final question, are you sure that one shackle hanger is off

 

[Jarrett Melvin]

So is the apparently saggy spring now on the side with the shackle hanger bushing mounted lower on the frame rail? Is the same side of the truck still the lower riding side? Or did they swap sides? And one final question, are you sure that one shackle hanger is off by only 1/2", or could it possibly be off more?

The same side is still a little lower. The side that has the lower mounted shackle hanger I can easily fit my fingers between the spring eye and frame rail with room to spare, the side riding low, the drivers side, I can't even squeeze my finger through. Perhaps I should have measured it exactly to begin with.

 

[bucket]

The same side is still a little lower. The side that has the lower mounted shackle hanger I can easily fit my fingers between the spring eye and frame rail with room to spare, the side riding low, the drivers side, I can't even squeeze my finger through. Perhaps I should have measured it exactly to begin with.

Ok, that all makes sense then. You've got a weak spring and a significant shackle height difference. Currently the weak spring is masking the shackle issue... or depending on how you look at it, the shackle issue is masking the weak spring. Whereas before, they were both amplifying the other problem.