Hey everyone, I'm a new owner of a 98 Ford Ranger. Recently I was in St. Louis visiting my father since he was giving me his truck. We had the dealer locally check out the truck and they mentioned I needed new Shackles and Shackle Brackets plus leaf springs. Unfortunately they couldn't get it done before I left but I purchased the parts before I left on the road.

So I took it to Maxwell Ford locally in Austin and got a quote for replacement of the shackles, shackle brackets, and leaf springs, letting them know that the rivets may have to be ground off and that the gas tank will have to be dropped. They quoted me 2 hours.

I just got a call from the dealer stating that the mechanic is quoting now 7-8 hours for the whole she bang and that replacing the shackle brackets is the most time consuming project. He said they didn't need to be replaced however, I'm not 100% sure if it's true or if he's just lazy.

So the question is, I've got the shackle brackets to replace and does anyone know any good but inexpensive places for me to go to get the rivets ground off and the shackle brackets replaced? I'm tired of going to the dealership....

 

No Austinites here?

 

why do the bracket's need to replaced. I'm up in Austin which is about 6 hours north of you. Leaf springs and shackles are not a problem. In fact we were planning on doing a meet in Witchita Falls, TX which is 5 hours north from you. I have air at the house with impacts...we could do the springs and the shackles with no problem. The bracket's I can't believe are bad.....it would take alot for those to be shot. If you have some or could take some pictures of the problem bracket's we could make more of a synopsis...(sp?)

 

yeah, lets see some pics.

 

Misdiagnosed? Some people just don't understand rangers, too.

It's just time consuming for the rivets.

How bad are the shackles?