Longer RSK shackles
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Longer RSK shackles
Hey, does anyone know of a company that makes longer front shackles for our trucks? I am doing a custom front suspension set up on mine and right now my SKY RSK shackles are just too short. The stock spring hanger position is perfect if I could find some that are about 2" longer. If not I guess I could move the hanger or switch to the bushing-in-hanger style and just run regular shackles, but if someone makes them already then I'd prefer to go that way. I've found lowering shackles for the rear that are 1-2" longer but I don't trust them with the weight of the motor on top of them, especially since they're not designed to be under compression. Any ideas? Thanks.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
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From: Senoia, GA
air bags? since its custom anyways might as well spring for the best! 
to answer your question i am not aware of any shackles on the market that will get you too much higher than what Sky offers. i would suggest going very beefy and no i wouldnt trust lowering shackles, they are meant for the lighter trucks and like you said, they are meant for tension, not compression.
since you are going for some serious length here, i would almost suggest building new brackets and use the existing shackles. it would be safer and more stable. the leverage grows exponentially when you make your shackles longer. it really wouldnt take much at all to fold a pair over if you hit a decent bump and i am assuming thats what you want to do for all the work that goes into that kind of lift.
-cutts-
to answer your question i am not aware of any shackles on the market that will get you too much higher than what Sky offers. i would suggest going very beefy and no i wouldnt trust lowering shackles, they are meant for the lighter trucks and like you said, they are meant for tension, not compression.
since you are going for some serious length here, i would almost suggest building new brackets and use the existing shackles. it would be safer and more stable. the leverage grows exponentially when you make your shackles longer. it really wouldnt take much at all to fold a pair over if you hit a decent bump and i am assuming thats what you want to do for all the work that goes into that kind of lift.
-cutts-
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If I make my own I'd be going pretty beefy, outside and with the crossmember between. The problem right now is that the SKY shackles are limiting the articulation partly due to the length (I'm running rear-length springs up front) and partly due to the design of the shackle (doesn't let the spring move between it at all during articulation). Longer shackle would help with that but I may just switch to the standard style since it's for off-road anyways.
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Hey I got those shackles out if you're interested still. They need new bushings but they're good otherwise. E-mail me at John.Tyler4@hotmail.com
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Johnson City, TN.
Be careful if you go too long with the shackles. If you don't raise the front the same amount you will affect the caster of the truck and it will not return to center easily.
Why not extend the front RSK bracket down to get the lift you need.
Just a thought.
Why not extend the front RSK bracket down to get the lift you need.
Just a thought.
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Yeah I'm aware of the angles associated with shackle lifts, etc. My caster is fine now with the longer shackles, it was a little under before because the short shackles brought the rear eye of the spring up close to the frame. Personally, I'd rather bring that down than the front, so that I'd end up with a little too much angle vs too little.
I know people will rip on this, but I don't think that degree or two of caster is too big of a deal anyways, unless that's all you have to begin with. Your caster changes any time you lift the truck, front or rear, or even load your truck enough to cause the rear to squat. While it is a factor to be considered, of course, specific differences like another inch on one end of a 56" spring won't make a significant difference. And it hasn't.
I know people will rip on this, but I don't think that degree or two of caster is too big of a deal anyways, unless that's all you have to begin with. Your caster changes any time you lift the truck, front or rear, or even load your truck enough to cause the rear to squat. While it is a factor to be considered, of course, specific differences like another inch on one end of a 56" spring won't make a significant difference. And it hasn't.
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