Ok so i've looked around a bit and haven't found any exact answers to the questions so i'm making this thread for a bit more help.

At this point suspension wise my 02 fx4 is stock but i plan on doing a t-bar crank no question to fit some 32 11.5s more easily but i was also considering changing stock shackles to some Beltech 6400's. i can get the shackles here Amazon.com: Belltech 6400 Shackle Kit: Automotive for like 50 bucks. is that all i need? i've read around and many of you replace the shackle mounts because of rust issues or something but i live in New Mexico and rust is definitely not much of an issue...

so my questions are, are those two shackles all i need? would i have to do anything other than just take dismount the leafs from the shackles, replace the shackles and remount the leafs?

lastly, i also plan on installing some JD traction bars... could that be done at the same time as the shackles considering i'll prolly have the wheels and bed off? and how long would all of that take?

sorry for being so nooby, but thanks for the help, you guys are great.

 

i believe you can get the shackles cheaper from summit. i would say in new mexico the mounts will be fine. you should just be able to undo the bolt that mounts leaf spring to shackle and then unbolt bolt that mounts shackle to the mount and replace with the new one. I woulddnt take the bed off to do just the shadckles.

 

anyone else?

 

all you need is the shackles. and yes the duff bars can go on at the same time.

also you dont need to remove the bed. there is plenty of room in there to do with out going through the pain of taking the bed off.

 

If you turn the tbars up to level it out, wouldnt adding shackels raise the back end up and not sit level again?

 

depends on how far you crank them up,i have my t-bars maxed,and my rear sits lower

 

Depends on the truck. Some t-bars are so saggy that it just gets level and won't raise it more than the back. Also remember when you do max the t-bars the ride quality will suffer a lot.

 

^^^ and watch your CV joint angles. if they get too far, then you'll throw your CV joints out faster than a smart car getting hit by a train.

 

Well i turned mine in about a month ago, driver side bolt is about one turn from all the way in, it was around 6.5" front and 7" back, sits perfect if i want to put a few lbs more in, it wont sag in the rear, i kind of like the stiffer feeling it doesnt float so much, the difference though isnt much at all. I didnt even get an alignment and its fine and steers just like it did before.

 

well my idea i guess is that i dont really mind the rake and if i crank the bars an inch and a half or so, the 6400 shackles will lift the back an inch and a half to so i'd have the same sitting angle but just taller no?