shackles.....1 more ?

never changed shackles, so bear with me if this is stupid:

When you install the new shackles, do you tighten the new bolts down tight or leave a tad of play in there to help movement?

 

thanx Mike

That's what i was thinking, but wanted to make sure

 

In addition you may also want to be sure and have the weight on the springs before you tighten the bolts, so that they are centered, so to speak in their travel.

 

thanx Cam, was just thinkin about that.

IIRC, when i put the 8" springs in my chevy i had it in the air and reef'd the shackles tight.....VERY rough ride until i loosened everything (truck on ground this time) and retightened. I think i torqued them down again though.....BUT, it did ride nicer

 

The ones I have from 4wd.com say in the directions that the cross bar should be torqued to 50lbs. and the end bolts should be torqued to 10lbs.

High5

 

What bushings did you use? I used poly ones that have a steel sleeve inside them. You tighten the bolts down until the shackle plates bottom on the steel sleeve. You can't overtighten them and squeeze the poly bushing flat hence binding it up.

 

The original rubber bushings have a steel inner and outer sleeve too. However, I thought that the pivot is actually between the inner sleeve and the bolt. If you tighten them enough so that the shackle plate locks to the inner sleeve, the only place left to pivot is between the urethane (or rubber) and the inner or outer sleeve. I'd think this would wear out quickly.

<edit> Well, the manual says 25-40 ft-lbs. This implies that the pivot is between the urethane (or rubber) and the sleeves.

 

Thanx for all the info guys......i'm going to hold off on switching the shackles just yet. I figure i'll get the new springs and bushings then swap them out.

On another note, i noticed today that the front springs aren't sagging like they were before (i took a pic of them, in another thread) and they actually appear in really good shape. Now i'm not so sure about getting lift springs as my 33's fit perfect and with the 1" lift shackles they should have more than enough clearence.......but still planning on new spring/shackle mount bushings at the least.

<edit> of course it also helps that i took the ugly fender flares off.....i HATE fender flares