Reverse Shackles

[onlyinacomanche]

I really have very little idea what reversing the shackles does and I'm trying to figure out all of my options for my CJ-7, now that I've got the Comanche lifted and painted. Just wondering if any of you guys could fill me in in any way. Thanks and Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays.

 

-Will Dement

[pingpong]

Well this is a comanche site, but I will tell you what I know about them. Basically you move the shackle part behind the axle and mount the fixed point at the front of your jeep. The advantage to this is a smoother ride, and generally better flex. Down side is without a long travel front driveshaft, you will seperate you driveshaft halves. Also it will require much longer brake lines, and shocks to work properly.

 

 

 

Patrick

[DirtyComanche]

It also saves you from hosing springs all the time, at least while moving forewards. Departure angle will also be somewhat better, as the shackle won't be in the way.

 

 

 

 

Now, funny thing is some of the guys with old Kaisers (I think) seem to be reversing their shackles, so they're like the CJ/YJ/TJs were stock.

[Bounty Hunter]

Approach angle will likely be the same, as the spring hanger will have to be in the same position the shackle was in to provide the same steering geometry.

 

You get a smoother onroad ride, but you lose traction while offroad. The tire will move slightly rearward as an obstacle is encountered and the spring compresses, unloading traction from the tire. In stock trim, the tire moves forward as the spring compresses and improves downforce and traction on the obstacle.

 

Give and take, you want a better road ride or more traction offroad?

 

The right way to do this is to sleeve the frame behind the axle to hang the shackle from, merely bolting a shackle hanger below the frame doesn't cut it. Mounting the shackle too low will greatly reduce your ground clearance, FUBAR's the steering geometry, and is downright FUGLY.

[Cooter]

..also, SRSs are real hard on the frame of a CJ- it was never meant to have the spring mounted solid to the front frame horns.

 

Putting a tire up on an obstacle will be more difficult as stated above, you will have more bump steer, and in addition to the possibility of separating the driveshaft, the greater concern is what happens when the shaft bottoms out- it has been known to break 231s in half on YJs...

[bpm4x4]

you wil get more travel out of the front end by doing that. On my friend's YJ he had to get a longer front driveshaft because of that. it should ride a little better too.

[Cooter]

Travel will stay the same, all else being equal.

 

FWIW- almost all suspensions I have seen have been limited by shock length/bumpstops, not the shackle position. Shackle length, on the other hand...