[Pathtaco]

I used the search future but didn't find anything on what I am looking for. :xcrybaby:
Maybe somebody here can direct me to find this information in the forum.
I got a new set of Downey H/D shackles and I'd like to install them myself :welder:
I need a write up on how to install them and safety precautions I should keep in mind.

Thanks

FS.

 

[mudferret]

• Standard jacking procedure, block your front wheels, etc...,
• Jack the back end of your truck up,
• place jack stands under the frame,
• leave your floorjack in place under the 3rd member, but lower it back down,
• undo your bolts and remove your shackles and bolts (one side at a time of course),
• put new shackles and hardware on,
• use the floorjack to raise/lower the axle as needed, it at all.

It's a very easy install, 30 minutes max. Can't recall the torque specs on the bolts, but will search the FSM to see.

 

[Pathtaco]

• Standard jacking procedure, block your front wheels, etc...,
• Jack the back end of your truck up,
• place jack stands under the frame,
• leave your floorjack in place under the 3rd member, but lower it back down,
• undo your bolts and remove your shackles and bolts (one side at a time of course),
• put new shackles and hardware on,
• use the floorjack to raise/lower the axle as needed, it at all.

It's a very easy install, 30 minutes max. Can't recall the torque specs on the bolts, but will search the FSM to see.

Thanks, seems like a pretty straight forward and easy procedure...
Is there a risk of the leaf springs going out of aligment and not being able to matched the bolt holes in the shackle??? Up and down I'd figure you can use the floorjack, how about sideways???

Thanks again.

FS.

 

[mudferret]

Thanks, seems like a pretty straight forward and easy procedure...
Is there a risk of the leaf springs going out of aligment and not being able to matched the bolt holes in the shackle??? Up and down I'd figure you can use the floorjack, how about sideways???

Thanks again.

FS.

Mine needed a bit of persuading (besides what the floor jack could offer), but that's what big dumb friends are for

You won't run into any problems that you and a friend can't handle.

 

[Pathtaco]

Mine needed a bit of persuading (besides what the floor jack could offer), but that's what big dumb friends are for

You won't run into any problems that you and a friend can't handle.

I see, so I am going to wait until I get some help before I take this task on my own :welder:

Thanks a lot for the info that's exactly what I was looking for..

BTW: you're from Calgary? Nice city.. I lived in Red Deer for about 2 years..

FS.

 

[mudferret]

You may not need help, but you never know.

I just moved to Calgary a few months ago after a very brief stop in Grande Prairie, and a slightly longer stop in Yellowknife. Working in oil when you were in RD?

 

[Pete]

A bottle jack between the leafpack and the frame in addition to the floor jack under the axle will make the job REAL easy.

 

[Pathtaco]

You may not need help, but you never know.

I just moved to Calgary a few months ago after a very brief stop in Grande Prairie, and a slightly longer stop in Yellowknife. Working in oil when you were in RD?

Yeap, Electrical construction in the oil field.... Becauae of my job got to know many different places, any where from as far nort as Bistcho Lake (by the North West Territories) to south as Medicine Hat and pretty much everything en between.
Alberta is a very nice province..

FS.

 

[Pathtaco]

A bottle jack between the leafpack and the frame in addition to the floor jack under the axle will make the job REAL easy.

I supposed the weight of the whole rear end assambly is not enough to bring the leaf pack donward to match the hole in the new shackle?

Thanks,

FS.

 

[Pete]

I supposed the weight of the whole rear end assambly is not enough to bring the leaf pack donward to match the hole in the new shackle?

Thanks,

FS.

With mine just using the weight of the axle didn't make for a perfect alignment. It was real close though and I probably could have just hammered it home. You may luck out and everything will line up.

But the combo of the 2 jacks allows you to line it up perfectly and you won't need any big dumb friends.

 

[mudferret]

Big dumb friends should be mandatory at any wrenching event IMHO. Good idea however, I can't recall exactly, but I think we had to man handle the spring eye down about a 1/2" to get things to line up, in my case.

 

[Pathtaco]

With mine just using the weight of the axle didn't make for a perfect alignment. It was real close though and I probably could have just hammered it home. You may luck out and everything will line up.

But the combo of the 2 jacks allows you to line it up perfectly and you won't need any big dumb friends.

Sounds good...

Thanks,

FS.

 

[hytenor]

some pics to add to the posts

http://www.norcalttora.com/~chris/mods/Downey rear shackles/

 

[Pathtaco]

some pics to add to the posts

http://www.norcalttora.com/~chris/mods/Downey rear shackles/

Very good..! I got a pretty good idea as per how to do it now...
Thanks for the pictures they sure help a lot.

Thanks again..

FS.

 

[Super Doody]

some pics to add to the posts

http://www.norcalttora.com/~chris/mods/Downey rear shackles/

Chris,

How do you like your downey shackles? I'm thinking about gettting a set.

Jim

 

[hytenor]

Chris,

How do you like your downey shackles? I'm thinking about gettting a set.

Jim

shackles are pretty much shackles in this 1.5" range. I got them cuz they were cheap All they do is add a little bit of lift and some more droop over the stock shackles...well, that and make the springs sag faster