"custom" leaf Shackle

What is everyone thoughts on this. Iv been contemplating doing this, but the halfass-ness is pretty high...anyone tried this, had any luck?
http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/homebrew-shackles-sorta-43324/

I wouldn't do it, that's a lot of stress on those welds especially for a key suspension component. It will also require some shims so that your leaf bushing won't be moving around in there. I would box that whole top section in with 1/8" if I did do that. Hope you can trust your life and others with your welding abilities.

Besides being 75% ghetto and needing a washer on each side of the bushing for spacing, it would work fine. There is plenty of weld surface area to make it hold.

run it, let darwin do his thang.


but seriously, you couldnt have rounded out those 90degree edges any?
and as has been said, it's gonna need washers (design failure, imho)

my thoughts? if i built something like that, i'd run it, but i WOULDNT post pics of it!

remove the bushing, cut the tube off the rest of the shackle, weld your new shackle to the tube. install new bushings, and then dont post pics. and definetly box it in like moto ridah said.

I do not see what is wrong with it,... :eyes: . Add shims/washers between the spring and shackle as needed then go out and enjoy your creation. :thumbup:

a set of lift shackles isn't that expensive imo

A solution without a problem.

moto_ridah said:

I wouldn't do it, that's a lot of stress on those welds especially for a key suspension component. It will also require some shims so that your leaf bushing won't be moving around in there. I would box that whole top section in with 1/8" if I did do that. Hope you can trust your life and others with your welding abilities.

Click to expand...

X2. You could avoid the washers by bending the plates in two places each so that they neck down to the right width.

xcm said:

my thoughts? if i built something like that, i'd run it, but i WOULDNT post pics of it!

Click to expand...

X2 :roflmao:

wingnut3k said:

a set of lift shackles isn't that expensive imo

Click to expand...

Yeah... and that's a pretty goofy amount of lift happening here.

If I was going to do something like this, I'd get a piece of 2.5 x 1/4" square tubing long enough to make the shackle, a piece of tube to fit the upper bushing required, weld the two together (cutting and bending the upper end of the square tubing to make it fit into the 2.5" shackle box) and then open up and drill the lower end of the square tubing as required. The OEM shackles are nowhere near heavy enough to be weakening by welding quarter inch plate to them, and the added stress from the extensions makes it worse.

Shackles are $30

Ya i did NOT build this i was looking for an inexpensive way to get some longer rear shackles...i have to admit this did cross my mind :anon: but in the end i came to the same though..might be alittle to sketchy to try.

kastein said:

If I was going to do something like this, I'd get a piece of 2.5 x 1/4" square tubing long enough to make the shackle, a piece of tube to fit the upper bushing required, weld the two together (cutting and bending the upper end of the square tubing to make it fit into the 2.5" shackle box) and then open up and drill the lower end of the square tubing as required. The OEM shackles are nowhere near heavy enough to be weakening by welding quarter inch plate to them, and the added stress from the extensions makes it worse.

Click to expand...

I was thinking about somthing to this effect, but not with square tube with some 1.5 x 1/4" DOM i have laying around, then build basicly a box from plate for the mount for the leaf spring but im thinking it will be easier to just pony up the cash for one.