Front leveling = Rear sagging???

[cestwick]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

You are so smart

Let's get some longer shackels made....who do we know here that can do that for us???

I made a pair of extended shackles for mine this weekend. Took all of about an hour to make and install. I will take a few pics to night and post.

[Ipedog]

Originally Posted by cestwick

I made a pair of extended shackles for mine this weekend. Took all of about an hour to make and install. I will take a few pics to night and post.

Details and Pics!!! DO NOW!!!

[cestwick]

Originally Posted by Ipedog

Details and Pics!!! DO NOW!!!

Well I adjusted the front torsion bars up as high as I think the truck will allow and the rear was an inch or so lower then the front.
I went to a friends welding shop and got a length of 1 1/2 by 1/4 by about 3 foot length of steel and took it back to the dealership/shop and got started. First I measured the factory ones which were 3 1/2 inches center of bolt to center of bolt. As many of you know form the last few days of posts if you lengthen the shackles you will effectively raise the truck half the length. I only need a inch, inch and a half. So I measured out an extra 2 1/2 inches and marked them at 6 inches hole to hole with an extra 3/4 inch past, for a total bar length of 7 1/2 inches, cut 4 pieces, drilled holes centered side to side and 6" centered. add some black paint of course.

To install I raised the truck on the hoist and supported the axle, removing the old shackle and installing new bars one side at a time. The only thing I haven't done with them yet is you should have a tie bar welded in between the 2 sides for support similar to the shackles pictured preveously in thread. I plan to do this soon but wanted to see how truck looked and handled before final welding..as you can see in the pics they extend past the bumper about 2 inches.. I have not tested off road much but have taken it on the test track out back and it didn't hit anything.

I am also replacing the shocks. The stock shocks work fine but they have a limited travel. The stock shocks fully extended are 24" I am replacing with BDS shocks that extend to 26". This should give me another 4 inches or so drop at the rear tire when fully extended.

[HummBebe]

How many more of these did you say you were making????

[evldave]

Originally Posted by cestwick

Well I adjusted the front torsion bars up as high as I think the truck will allow and the rear was an inch or so lower then the front.
I went to a friends welding shop and got a length of 1 1/2 by 1/4 by about 3 foot length of steel and took it back to the dealership/shop and got started. First I measured the factory ones which were 3 1/2 inches center of bolt to center of bolt. As many of you know form the last few days of posts if you lengthen the shackles you will effectively raise the truck half the length. I only need a inch, inch and a half. So I measured out an extra 2 1/2 inches and marked them at 6 inches hole to hole with an extra 3/4 inch past, for a total bar length of 7 1/2 inches, cut 4 pieces, drilled holes centered side to side and 6" centered. add some black paint of course.

To install I raised the truck on the hoist and supported the axle, removing the old shackle and installing new bars one side at a time. The only thing I haven't done with them yet is you should have a tie bar welded in between the 2 sides for support similar to the shackles pictured preveously in thread. I plan to do this soon but wanted to see how truck looked and handled before final welding..as you can see in the pics they extend past the bumper about 2 inches.. I have not tested off road much but have taken it on the test track out back and it didn't hit anything.

I am also replacing the shocks. The stock shocks work fine but they have a limited travel. The stock shocks fully extended are 24" I am replacing with BDS shocks that extend to 26". This should give me another 4 inches or so drop at the rear tire when fully extended.

Looks great! A couple questions:

When you installed the space (for the frame mount), did you put a bushing in there? Does it squeek?

Any flexing on the upside. What I mean is when you move the tires up, how do the springs flex up? It looks like the shackle angle might prevent upward travel (because it can't flex inward towards the axle). I'd be curious to see how it ends up working.

Oh yeah, this is some good stuff. Take pics of it offroad. Sell a set to Bebe before next weekend and let her try them out at Moab!!!!!!!!!

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by evldave

Oh yeah, this is some good stuff. Take pics of it offroad. Give a set to Bebe before next weekend and let her try them out at Moab!!!!!!!!! She's your Queen ya'know

Fissed

[Ipedog]

Cestwick -

Very nice work! How do you like it?

I have a few questions for you if you don't mind...

• If you refer to my last post on page 1 (illustrating the A-B-C points to Bebe) do you have before and after measurements from the ground to the bottom of the hanger A?
• How many cranks of the T-Bars did you make from the stock settings?
• How high are the tops of the bumpers above the ground, front and rear?
• How much clearance do you have up front now? Distance from ground to center of front skid at its lowest point?
• How is the ride in comparison to before the mod?

Additionally, if you don't mind...

• Going out on the test track could you please take pics of the shackles when the truck is fully flexed? (One wheel stuffed, the other drooping as far as it can) What I want to see is what the shackles are doing when the wheels are in this position.

I'm sure that I'll have more questions soon. I hope that this isn't too much trouble.

Thanks!

[wpage]

Looking into Gabriel or Monroe air shocks as a low cost and low tech alternative to body lift solution. This worked on my other 4x quite well. For $85.00 this offers a variable mix based on air pressure (25lb -200lb)to match what is tweaked on my front torsion adjustments (2x-5x)...

[Ipedog]

cestwick -

I have another question for you, one that may require input from the service dept...

• How has the pinion angle been affected? Do you get vibration in the drivetrain now?

Thanks in advance! Especially for being the poor experimental guinea pig!

[cestwick]

Originally Posted by Ipedog

Cestwick -

Very nice work! How do you like it? So far I like it just fine. still rides like a truck and drives like a truck.

I have a few questions for you if you don't mind...

• If you refer to my last post on page 1 (illustrating the A-B-C points to Bebe) do you have before and after measurements from the ground to the bottom of the hanger A? I did not measure before but from ground to hanger now is 13 1/2 inches.
• How many cranks of the T-Bars did you make from the stock settings? I didn't count exactly I turned them about 8 turns, made sure truck was level and that I didn't have to much lift as far as alot of angle on axles and ball joints.
• How high are the tops of the bumpers above the ground, front and rear? Top of front bumper is 37" off ground and top of rear is 33".
• How much clearance do you have up front now? Distance from ground to center of front skid at its lowest point? lowest point on skid plate is 14"
• How is the ride in comparison to before the mod? FIrst of all it is a truck. Other then that I think it rides pretty much the same.

Additionally, if you don't mind...

• Going out on the test track could you please take pics of the shackles when the truck is fully flexed? (One wheel stuffed, the other drooping as far as it can) What I want to see is what the shackles are doing when the wheels are in this position. I took pics but can't post till I get home after 5pm cst.

I'm sure that I'll have more questions soon. I hope that this isn't too much trouble.

Thanks!

No problem any more Q's just ask.

[cestwick]

Originally Posted by evldave

Looks great! A couple questions:

When you installed the space (for the frame mount), did you put a bushing in there? Does it squeek? I used a metal spacer in between shock bolthead and the washer for the bushing. no noise or squeek. As I stated this is temp till new shocks get here, I just didn't want the rough ride from shocks "topping out".

Any flexing on the upside. What I mean is when you move the tires up, how do the springs flex up? It looks like the shackle angle might prevent upward travel (because it can't flex inward towards the axle). I'd be curious to see how it ends up working. With shackles installed I still have full flex. The tire will stuff all the way till axle is on bump stop.

Oh yeah, this is some good stuff. Take pics of it offroad. Sell a set to Bebe before next weekend and let her try them out at Moab!!!!!!!!!

I took some pics flexed but will have to wait till after work.