Ok, my question isn't how to install them, I figured that much out. I was curious what everybody else used to install their shackles. I had to use an engine hoist to lift it high enough to get the new shackles in, couldn't get it high enough with a normal floor jack.

 

i used my car hoist. but most dont have one at home.

 

Take the wheels off and you will get a few more inches lower. If that doesn't get it, put the engine hoist on blocks to raise it up higher.

 

I tried using a hi-lift but it didn't feel stable enough to be once I got it where I needed so I decided not to do it. I'll be using a fork-lift sometime soon to do it instead.

 

I used a floor jack and a bunch of chunks of 6x6 post. Jacked a little bit, then stacked 6x6 under my hitch, then put the jack up on more blocks, put more 6x6 under my hitch, and so on.. It took 5 times longer to jack up the truck than it did to change shackles. The next day I went and bought a hi-lift.

 

Redneck inginuity... nothin' like stretchin' brake lines. lol.

 

Here's how Cory and I did his rear suspension....biiiiig chunk of wood on the spare carrier...




(it's out of the way here....truck suspended by the jack)

 

for those of you with shackles, what lift do you have up front?

Full spindle lift or super lift?

 

I had a Superlift up front and an AAL in the back...needed another 1.5" or so to level the truck out. In went the shackles that got me 1.5" of lift. I didn't want to stack blocks like Superlift wants you to do.

 

i have AAL in the back, so I need a spindle lift before I can consider shackles. Damn torsion bars.

 

I just used my floor jack and my tall 6 ton jack stands. My floor jack is bigger than most though so it was tall enough.

 

DJM arms and 2in lowering spring

The shackle makes me sit moar level...or a slight rake.

 

yeah this may be my eventual path. Right now I seem to be heading more towards stock, selling off my stereo for Christmas cash as we speak. :(

 

take your wheels off, lower the axle to the ground, sit the drums on a couple peices of wood, jack the back end up enough to relieve tension from the leafs then you remove old stock shackles, jack the rear end up some more to fit shackles. may have to disconnect shocks to get enough lift. thats what i had to do, and thats the method i used to install my shackles

 

I just replaced both of the stock shackles in my 1999 ranger. I have seen how others have raised the rear up to lower the shackles for replacement, but i did it an easier way.
After removing both bolts on a shackle I placed my small floor jack on the leaf spring and the jack cup was placed against the support that the fender uses. The support has a 1/4 inch rod that goes to the fender and the other end is connected to the bed. The floor jack was a small one that I picked up at Pep Boys, but I'm sure you could use a small bottle jack too. Once the jack was in place all I had to do was jack it up and it seperated the leaf spring enough so that I could remove the old one, and it allowed me to use it to easily align the bolts for the new one. Hardest part was getting those old bolts to back out.

 

you guys are nuts

all you had to do was un-bolt the axle from the spring

then the spring will just swing right into the eye of the shackle

 

i just have a shackle in the rear and a coil spacer up front

and i just used a regular suv jack and set the frame on jack stands and took the wheels off...i had to lower the rear end all the way to the ground to get it to mount but it worked lol

 

doing mine this weekend hopefully i can use all ur ideas and somehow make this werk out not too badly

 

for the coil spacer... wat kind of coils and spacers did u use??? i got a 94 2wd xlt, just got the shackle yesterday but idk wat i need for the front

 

A full year late.. no pictures form it, but had it in my garage and used a big jack with about 2 feet of 4x4.. then had to use a big 2x4 as a pry to line the bolt holes up.. always fun :-D

 

I used a small floor jack and a couple of 6 tonne jack stands. I also took the rear wheels off the truck. Once I got the truck jacked up as high as the jack would go, I placed the jack stands as far forward as I could and lowered the jack all the way down. I pulled the leaf springs down the rest of the way with one hand, and did the wrenching with the other. It took me a total of about 2 hours