My neighbor just gave our 16yr old son a 2000 Ranger, it had a few mechanical problems so I'm working with him to fix it up into a decent first vehicle. The main problems are suspension related, we just rebuilt the front end and are working on the rear. The driver side rear leaf spring hanger rusted away and the spring was riding on the bed.

I went and bought a new set of shocks, hangers and shackles. I replaced the hanger and was going to bolt up the spring when I realized there was no evidence of a shackle. I checked the passenger side which was still assembled and there was no shakle there either. The eyes of the leaf springs were directly mounted to the hangers. It doesn't seem like this is correct...but the passenger side looks original.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
David

 

have any pictures?

 

Not at hand, can probably get some tomorrow. The hangers were deinately original, they still had rivets. When I put it together without the shackle on the driver side it raised the driver side about 1-2" higher the the passenger side.

 

well the front of the leaves should mount directly to the hangers. The rears need to have a shackle.

 

That's what I thought also. I wasn't positive though because the passenger side didn't have one.

 

my hangar rotted out the other day on my passenger side. I definitely had shackles though lol.

 

it may have been previously modified and just bolted in not the best way but a cheap fix that some people will do!

 

There MUST be a shackle on the rear hanger.......suspension wouldn't work without one....

 

Yea the springs literally wont move without a shackle.. not a temporary fix haha

 

A cheep did it myself lowering job maby? Do the front springs look ok or is there evidence of torched or cut springs

 

Actually, I'm just a dumb as, I looked at it the passenger side a couple of days later and either someone added or I was just tired. Weird b/c I knew there should have been a shackle.

Anyways I put the shackle on the side with the new hanger and all is good. I'll change out the other side when it warms up.

Thanks for the help.

David