XJ Shackles?

[neohic]

I'm looking to go up more with my truck: spacers and drop brackets for the front and SOA in the rear. The truck is already about 3.5" up in the front and 2.5" in the rear. With the spacers, it'll go to about 5.5" over stock but the problem is in the rear (a literal pain in the arse!) as it'll put it at 6.5-7" up over stock. I've got five leaf 1700 lb leaf spings that have two overload springs on the bottom so I figure I could lose one of them (making them standard MJ springs) but that'll only bring it down to a solid 6.5" up. On top of this, I've got longer shackles already that measure 6.5" eye to eye and the stock shackles are long gone.

 

So, my question is, could I use XJ shackels to drop it another 3/4-1" making it around 5.5" up? Any other suggestions would be appreciated too, but I was hoping to use what I've got instead of going and buying different springs. Thanks!

[dasbulliwagen]

Yes you can use XJ shackles, but being shorter that may not give you as much movement as before, especially if you offroad alot. But it may just be what you need in the short term. Good luck.

[mvusse]

I wouldn't. I have tried it, and under full droop the shackles are pointed forward so far that when the suspension cycles back up the shackles flip up in the forward position instead of swinging back. Cherokee shackles are simply too short for Comanche springs.

[neohic]

One yes... one no... any tie breakers?

[89eliminator]

if your gonna wheel, don't use them.

[comanche09]

You can use 2wd MJ springs and lose and inch there. I want to go SOA too for better clearance, but don't want 6+ inches of lift back there. Keep us posted on your results!

 

What size tires are you planning on using? Are you going to re-gear?

[89eliminator]

You can use 2wd MJ springs and lose and inch there. I want to go SOA too for better clearance, but don't want 6+ inches of lift back there. Keep us posted on your results!

 

What size tires are you planning on using? Are you going to re-gear?

 

yes. i run 2wd packs and they are super flexy. they suck though for towing or hauling heavy loads because they sag too much, but i couldnt care less about that.

[neohic]

You can use 2wd MJ springs and lose and inch there. I want to go SOA too for better clearance, but don't want 6+ inches of lift back there. Keep us posted on your results!

 

What size tires are you planning on using? Are you going to re-gear?

 

I've got an issue with getting rid of brand new springs as they have got maybe 8000 miles on them. I thought about lighter packs right away, but I'm trying to use what I've got.

 

Right now, the truck has 4.10s and looking to go with 33s.

 

yes. i run 2wd packs and they are super flexy. they suck though for towing or hauling heavy loads because they sag too much, but i couldnt care less about that.

 

There's my problem with 2wd packs... I use my truck as a truck more than I wheel it. Unfortuanately with the truck sitting for so long and with a ton of more important things happening over the last few years, I can't even say that I have ever taken my truck on the trails more than a handfull of times! All I can go off of right now is that I like to think that I'll find the time over the next few years to have more fun with my truck, but as of now I use it as a truck.

 

If shackle travel or angle turns into the issue, can I redrill to increase the angle like this guy did?

 

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[neohic]

... or maybe just an experiment... I've got heavier packs that don't flex as much as their 2wd brothers, maybe the springs won't droop far enough to invert the shackle? Hu... maybe just mock it up and see... :dunno: