Front leveling = Rear sagging???

[Sewie]

I didn't get any intentional pics of us getting hung up but this one kind of gives you an idea of what was happening.



You can see the scrape marks on the big rock under the drivers door where the hangers were hitting before we could get a tire up.

[Ipedog]

Edit...

I'm not sure I agree with you Sewie. By adding the shackle aren't you forcing the axel away from the body of the vehicle? In essence lifting the hangers away from the ground.

I've been doing some research and it seems that the Colorado/Canyon people (Who have LOTS of lifts available ) do shackles to do the rear lift and a t-bar crank in the front. Typically this seems to yeild about 2 inches of lift on the cheap.

This sort of lift WOULD get the front hanger up away from the rocks.

Here is a pic of a Fabtech 3.5" Spindle/Shackle lift for the colorado/canyon. Only $600 too...

[Sewie]

Well, I'm definitely no expert. Maybe some folks with more knowledge can give some input here.

[Ipedog]

Originally Posted by Sewie

Well, I'm definitely no expert. Maybe some folks with more knowledge can give some input here.

Hell, neither am I LOL. I'm just trying to envision the mechanics of this whole thing and try to get us farther into the air in a timely manner and without having to sell off our children!

Just so that we're on the same sheet of music... The part that you're refering to as the hanger is this, right?:




No, its all good Sewie. For all I know I am totally way out in left field talking out my butt. Hopefully someone with some knowledge will chime in.

This is the way I'm figuring it (put on your thinking caps ):

Call the connection of the leaf spring at the hanger "A"
The connection of the axel to the leaf spring "B"
and the connection to the leaf spring at the shackle "C"

Assume that the leaf spring always returns to its basic shape

A is a fixed point and cannot move in relationship to the body of the vehicle
B is a fixed height in relationship to the ground

If C is forced down away from the truck with a longer shackle and B is a constant, fixed distance above the ground, AND the leaf spring retains its basic shape

The result is point A must be forced higher into the air. This is because if point C is pushed down then point A must go up because point B is a constant.

The end result is a lift.

Oh well... I'm probably talking out of my butt. ;-p

[HummBebe]

so we were hanging up on our hangers???

Ipe, you are doing great so far, but I need visuals of A, B and C.....prease

[Sewie]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

so we were hanging up on our hangers???

Among other things.

That and the UCP were the two biggest clearance issues.

[HummBebe]

Ok, so the guys that kept saying we were hanging up on our shackles really meant we were hanging up on our hangers???

Just don't want to be confused....thanks.

[Ipedog]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

so we were hanging up on our hangers???

Ipe, you are doing great so far, but I need visuals of A, B and C.....prease

Okay Bebe's

In this pic you see what I'm calling the hanger. Its triangular in shape and welded to the frame. Call this point A



In these next two pics you see where the rear axel is attached to the leaf spring. Where the upside down U shaped bolts attach the leaf spring to the axel is point B

In this pic you can see the hanger A in the left of the pic.



In the this pic you can see the shackle C in the right of the pic.




In this pic you see the OEM shackle. Its about 2.3 to 3" long and is where the leaf spring attaches at end (bumper) of the truck. Call this point C


Does this make it any clearer Bebe?

[HummerNewbie]

I have no clue about suspensions but why couldn't the leaf springs just go over the top of the rear axle rather than under. You would get a lift at point A & C that way too.

[evldave]

What you want are a simple set of lift shackles. $600 is a lot of money for that. Wrangler owners use them for an easy 2" of lift.

Basically, they extend the rear mounting point of the leaf spring down from it's current position about 3-4" (or however long you want to go - more is riskier because of the forces involved). By lowering the rear of the leaf spring, you lower the tire in relation to the body, thereby raising the body.

One this you must be careful about is pinion angle. By only lowering the rear of the axle, you pivot the pumpkin UP towards the t-case, changing pinion angle - depending on conditions, you may need to shim the rear axle (at point B).

Here's what it will do for clearance (imho). The height of the pumpkin is determined by the tire height, the height of the body (and undercarraige) is determined by tire + suspension. By lifting the rear of the leaf pack, you will gain a small amount (maybe .5-1") near the front of the vehicle, but you will gain ~1-1.5" at the rear bumper. This would be very good for rock clearance on your departure angle, but shackles won't help approach (and if you raise the rear of the truck, it might hurt, relatively speaking, your approach angles).

I was at the dealer yesterday looking at the rancho lift. They have a set of long shackles in the back, maybe 4". I didn't look in the front to see if they used a hanger extension (my jeep lift had that). If you also had a hanger extension (for the front of the leaf springs), you wouldn't have pinion angle issues.



If you want to go better, get a set of revolver shackles. These are a two-piece lift shackle, that is folded in half in normal operation. When the wheel starts to drop, the shackles actually 'opens' and allows the rear axle to drop more than the leaf springs will allow. This helps on rocks to keep one extra wheel on the ground. I did a quickie google search and couldn't find any revolver shackles for the H3.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by Ipedog

Okay Bebe's

In this pic you see what I'm calling the hanger. Its triangular in shape and welded to the frame. Call this point A



In these next two pics you see where the rear axel is attached to the leaf spring. Where the upside down U shaped bolts attach the leaf spring to the axel is point B

In this pic you can see the hanger A in the left of the pic.



In the this pic you can see the shackle C in the right of the pic.




In this pic you see the OEM shackle. Its about 2.3 to 3" long and is where the leaf spring attaches at end (bumper) of the truck. Call this point C


Does this make it any clearer Bebe?

CRYSTAL
Thanks!!

[allan p]

xterra owners have referred to such lift as the "Poor Man's Lift" or PML for some time. You can buy a set of these for a whopping 5o bux and lift the ass end an inch and a half to counter the front's torsion bar crank.

a l l a n

[wpage]

Wonder how far you could go B4 the need for extending hoses etc would be required without damage? Looking at the rear the distance from ground to universal gearcase is about 9" with stock/standard tires. If shackels were extended one inch at "C" It would have no effect there. Only raise body. This is unlike torsion bar tightening effect which effects both elements in front.
This would appear to solve the sag issue on the surface. However underneath the rear would still be low...

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by Ipedog

Edit...

I'm not sure I agree with you Sewie. By adding the shackle aren't you forcing the axel away from the body of the vehicle? In essence lifting the hangers away from the ground.

I've been doing some research and it seems that the Colorado/Canyon people (Who have LOTS of lifts available ) do shackles to do the rear lift and a t-bar crank in the front. Typically this seems to yeild about 2 inches of lift on the cheap.

This sort of lift WOULD get the front hanger up away from the rocks.

Here is a pic of a Fabtech 3.5" Spindle/Shackle lift for the colorado/canyon. Only $600 too...

One small issue....may-beh... this kit is for 2WD??

2004 - 2005 Chevy/GMC Colorado/Canyon 2WD - 3.5" Spindle System

Fabtech?s Spindle system for the new midsize Colorado and Canyon features a cast replacement spindle that directly replaces the OE unit for a fast install. System includes steering stops, front brake lines and a rear shackle system to level the vehicle.

[deserth3]

Wouldn't it be easier to have a shop make a small skid plate or cover to protect the hanger?
Could probubly come up with something to fit the reciever hitch and protect the back bumper. Though i don't know if the hitch could handle it.

[Sewie]

Originally Posted by deserth3

Wouldn't it be easier to have a shop make a small skid plate or cover to protect the hanger?

It doesn't really need protecting. It needs to get the FAWK OUTTA THE WAY!!!!!

Amstar is making a skid for the shock plates. But you just end up losing even more clearance.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by Sewie

It doesn't really need protecting. It needs to get the FAWK OUTTA THE WAY!!!!!

x11nty bazillion

[Ipedog]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

One small issue....may-beh... this kit is for 2WD??

2004 - 2005 Chevy/GMC Colorado/Canyon 2WD - 3.5" Spindle System

Fabtech?s Spindle system for the new midsize Colorado and Canyon features a cast replacement spindle that directly replaces the OE unit for a fast install. System includes steering stops, front brake lines and a rear shackle system to level the vehicle.

I just used it as an illustration of what was available and that used a shackle in the back. I know it wouldn't fit...

Originally Posted by Sewie

Amstar is making a skid for the shock plates. But you just end up losing even more clearance.

I read somewhere from someone who had used a prototype that they just slid over the rocks smothly because they didn't have all the nooks and crannies to get hung up on.