05-up inverted shackle

[OR_05Taco]

I was under my truck lookin around earlier and I am wondering why the fawk toyota went to the inverted shackle on our trucks? Is there some advantage to it that I'm not seeing?
If not, would it be worthwhile to fab up a new shackle hanger higher up on the frame and go to a traditional shackle style? This would allow people to go to longer shackles if they wanted, which is not an option with the inverted correct? :confused:

*Wasn't sure whether to put this here or in the suspension folder, but since this folder is new, I'm puttin it here*

[Paul]

You can be a pioneer.....

[OR_05Taco]

You can be a pioneer.....

It' something I really might do but I want to make sure there's not some magical advantage to the inverted shackle first. Could be a cheap easy way to get some extra ass end lift too.

[AK98Taco]

The goal was to locate the spring and shock absorber further out on the axle to reduce the leverage of the axle on the leaf springs which in-turn reduces body roll and improves handling.

This is also why the spring is outboard of the frame.

[OR_05Taco]

The goal was to locate the spring and shock absorber further out on the axle to reduce the leverage of the axle on the leaf springs which in-turn reduces body roll and improves handling.

This is also why the spring is outboard of the frame.

Yea I understand that part of it. I don't see why they couldn't have done that with a normal shackle setup though. If you were to place the shackle hangar high on the frame, on the outside like the inverted hangar is (but its low on the frame), then the whole thing is still outboard, and you could run a different length shackle if you wanted. Even with a short shackle I think it would give you some cheap ass end lift.

I'll go take a pic so everyone knows what it looks like.....BRB....

[GOT COPE?]

If the bracket for the shackle is like the '70's F-250s it will unbolt and flip. I think new holes will need to be drilled. If not, cut it off and fab a bracket. :D Pioneer. :p

[OR_05Taco]

If the bracket for the shackle is like the '70's F-250s it will unbolt and flip. I think new holes will need to be drilled. If not, cut it off and fab a bracket. :D Pioneer. :p

YAY, I could be a pioneer!! :xrainbow:

It just crossed my mind as something that might be useful and doesn't seem like it would be all that much work. I really don't know all that much about suspension setups though so I wasn't sure if there was a specific reason for the inverted shackle.
Pics of the stock shackle and hanger:

From the wheel well:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/OR_05Taco/1afd579d.jpg

From the rear:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/OR_05Taco/bc6b5c8f.jpg

Angled shot from the rear:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/OR_05Taco/dee34ede.jpg

I was thinkin just cut off that whole ugly assed hanger and weld on a new one outboard the frame up high on it, slightly forward to get a good shackle angle. Made out of 3/8 and gusseted up, it should be strong enough.....

What about welding to the 05 frames? Someone said they were heat-treated, so what would welding to it entail? Special prep or is it just a no-no?

[GOT COPE?]

Yeah the hanger would be a lil tall if flipped :D would need to fab a new one.

As far as the frame, I dont think it would be "unweldable".

[ScoTaco]

Correct me if I am wrong,but that looks similar to the Tundra rear shackle setup.Why not look in their folder for an idea or discussions on this.Just my :2cents: !!

[awsumdc]

YAY, I could be a pioneer!! :xrainbow:

It just crossed my mind as something that might be useful and doesn't seem like it would be all that much work. I really don't know all that much about suspension setups though so I wasn't sure if there was a specific reason for the inverted shackle.
Pics of the stock shackle and hanger:

From the wheel well:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/OR_05Taco/1afd579d.jpg

From the rear:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/OR_05Taco/bc6b5c8f.jpg

Angled shot from the rear:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/OR_05Taco/dee34ede.jpg

I was thinkin just cut off that whole ugly assed hanger and weld on a new one outboard the frame up high on it, slightly forward to get a good shackle angle. Made out of 3/8 and gusseted up, it should be strong enough.....

What about welding to the 05 frames? Someone said they were heat-treated, so what would welding to it entail? Special prep or is it just a no-no?
Here is what I did with my '05 rear hangers. I cut them off and Jason fabbed up some new ones.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1096673/springperches2.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1096673/springperches3.JPG

[Intrepid]

That looks nice, I don't have an 05 but some info on what size tube you used and what size and where you got the bushings for it might be good for the '05 guys.

[cb77DEMELLO]

That looks nice, I don't have an 05 but some info on what size tube you used and what size and where you got the bushings for it might be good for the '05 guys.

We used 1.75in tube in the center that was .5in thick maybe over kilL? the outer tubes are .120 wall Sorry the welds are little sad the welder was pissed at me that day!
I have more pics but I don't have a way to post them right now.

[OR_05Taco]

Here is what I did with my '05 rear hangers. I cut them off and Jason fabbed up some new ones.

YEEEEAAAAA. That's what I'm talkin about. That looks kick ass :kewl: . Do you have any shots of it all done with the shackle and everything on? What bushings, etc? How is it performing so far like that? MORE PICS!!!

EDIT - Any idea how much lift that gave you just by re-doing the hanger? I'm guessing not because I know you changed pretty much everything, but thought I'd ask.

[awsumdc]

YEEEEAAAAA. That's what I'm talkin about. That looks kick ass :kewl: . Do you have any shots of it all done with the shackle and everything on? What bushings, etc? How is it performing so far like that? MORE PICS!!!

EDIT - Any idea how much lift that gave you just by re-doing the hanger? I'm guessing not because I know you changed pretty much everything, but thought I'd ask.
I'll have some more pics of it this weekend and I'll get them posted for you. Thank Jason for that fab work. He is a real master at that stuff.

[GOT COPE?]

Here is what I did with my '05 rear hangers. I cut them off and Jason fabbed up some new ones.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1096673/springperches2.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1096673/springperches3.JPG

Purdy!

[pi]

I'll have some more pics of it this weekend and I'll get them posted for you. Thank Jason for that fab work. He is a real master at that stuff.

Wyatt,
Any idea on the completion date for your project? Been following it for quite a while and it is awesome.
-Mike

[GOT COPE?]

EDIT - Any idea how much lift that gave you just by re-doing the hanger? I'm guessing not because I know you changed pretty much everything, but thought I'd ask.

Im gonna guess 5-7" assuming as if the stock shackle length was kept.

[awsumdc]

Jason and I really want to get it done for AZ Rocks in March so that is what we're shooting for. I should have the Kevlar brake lines for it by Friday and the rest is up to Jason to fab. So end of Febuary looks good.

Thanks for the compliments.

[awsumdc]

Im gonna guess 5-7" assuming as if the stock shackle length was kept.
Not really sure what the lift is at this point. As it stands today the ride hieght is at 33" at bottom of the frame rail. The rear shackles that we made are 8" from hole to hole. Thats quite a bit longer than stock. When it's done we'll have all that info for you though, because at this time most of that will probably change.

[grumpy]

Jason and I really want to get it done for AZ Rocks in March so that is what we're shooting for. I should have the Kevlar brake lines for it by Friday and the rest is up to Jason to fab. So end of Febuary looks good.

Thanks for the compliments.

you better get that thing out here for AZRocks. I want to see it. looks good so far.

[awsumdc]

you better get that thing out here for AZRocks. I want to see it. looks good so far.
We really want to. Thanks for the compliments. And for you, we're gonna work extra hard... :)

[grumpy]

"we're going to work really hard"

thought you said Jason was dong all the work!!!!LOL
If you don't get it done, trailer it out and we'll all jump in and get it done at the campsite!!!LOL

[SP Jon M3]

Here is what I did with my '05 rear hangers. I cut them off and Jason fabbed up some new ones.

Can you guys come up with some sort of bolt-on solution for us guys that aren't so good with :saw: and :welder: ?

Looks kind tough, if not impossible, but I thought I would ask and throw that out there.

[mikerox]

Can you guys come up with some sort of bolt-on solution for us guys that aren't so good with :saw: and :welder: ?

Looks kind tough, if not impossible, but I thought I would ask and throw that out there.:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[cb77DEMELLO]

Can you guys come up with some sort of bolt-on solution for us guys that aren't so good with :saw: and :welder: ?

Looks kind tough, if not impossible, but I thought I would ask and throw that out there.Actully it wouldn't be that hard to make a bolt on one. it wouldn't be that fancy but we could do it.

[cb77DEMELLO]

Just a couple answers for you guys.

The lift were not sure on, were useing deavers 62in race springs on top of the axle! Were hopeing this will give us awesome flex! I currently run a set of 9 leafs on the rear of my truck and they seem to flex better than all these chevy conversion rears.

Being that the 62in deavers are the same length as the chevys but with a more flexy spring we hope to get the best of both worlds!

height wise, I'm not sure where were at. right now as it sits the rear is a tad higher than the front but we havn't added all the metal to the bed cage yet so when were done we will have to have the rear springs made with an extra leaf or step up to there 64in springs?

Were trying to keep the truck as low as possible but running 40's and trying to keep up travel around the 5-7in area were going to put a stiffer spring on the front end. the one's on there now are the ones I was running on my truck and they are way to soft!

the plan is AZ rocks but we gots allots of work to do between now and then! Once wyatt gets the steering parts and the brake lines I can stop blameing him and start working on it again..lol. Oh wait we still need metal for the cage! :)

[awsumdc]

Here are some pictures of the shackles on. They're not completely finished, but this will give you an idea.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1096673/rescaled3.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1096673/rescaled2.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/1096673/rescaled1.JPG

Don't make fun of the monkey bar going across the top. It's there to hold the frame together along with the ratchet strap, until we finish tubing the rest of the rear. Jason has a really cool idea that will incorperate the old stock cross member.

[mikerox]

Here are some pictures of the shackles on. They're not completely finished, but this will give you an idea.Don't make fun of the monkey bar going across the top. It's there to hold the frame together along with the ratchet strap, until we finish tubing the rest of the rear. Jason has a really cool idea that will incorperate the old stock cross member.are you guys going to join the shackles in the midle or leave them in two pieces?

[OR_05Taco]

Here are some pictures of the shackles on. They're not completely finished, but this will give you an idea.

Lookin good. Can't wait to see it finished. :kewl:

[awsumdc]

Probably leave them seperated for flex.

[mikerox]

um ok.

[GOT COPE?]

Yeah he meant it. W/o the little bar in the middle it allows more twisting of the shackles for a lil more flex.