Front shackle reversal
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 2
From: CASA GRANDE AZ
let's try again ?
all of the 4x4 trucks chevy , dodge , ford from the 70's had the shackle on the rear , ford redesigned the front axle in 1980 (TTB) and so was the need for the front shackle !
ford was the first truck to have a independent front suspension !
the jeeps , land rovers , land cruisers , suzukis , and all the rest of foreign 4x4 in that category had a SHORT wheel base and with the shackles in the rear they would nose dive in a panic stop and unload the weight in the rear causing it to loose control and ended up into a slide and some would flip over !
the longer wheel base trucks do not have that problem !
the reason i use the ( ! ) is that my left fingers know where it is , my right fingers seems to only know where the ( , ) is , i have never been any good at proper punctuation hated writing in school never need to much of it in the construction business !
all of the 4x4 trucks chevy , dodge , ford from the 70's had the shackle on the rear , ford redesigned the front axle in 1980 (TTB) and so was the need for the front shackle !
ford was the first truck to have a independent front suspension !
the jeeps , land rovers , land cruisers , suzukis , and all the rest of foreign 4x4 in that category had a SHORT wheel base and with the shackles in the rear they would nose dive in a panic stop and unload the weight in the rear causing it to loose control and ended up into a slide and some would flip over !
the longer wheel base trucks do not have that problem !
the reason i use the ( ! ) is that my left fingers know where it is , my right fingers seems to only know where the ( , ) is , i have never been any good at proper punctuation hated writing in school never need to much of it in the construction business !
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: In the garage
Full size Jeeps (J20, Wagoneers,) also ran shackles up front throughout the 70's, not just the short wheelbase vehicles . Ford ran front shackles on their full size pickups up to '67 and then went back in 1980. Chevy Napco conversions also ran front shackles. So, no, front shackles aren't just for short wheelbase vehicles... and if I remember right, Toyota ran rear shackles on their lil' pickups. Out of curiosity how does a truck not unload a shackle in a panic stop? If a longer wheelbase vehicle isn't capable of unloading a shackle, why run limiting straps? All shackles have a break over point, short, medium, or long wheelbase. Maybe it's harder to unload the shackle, but the possibility still exists.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: CASA GRANDE AZ
in my opinion any truck with a rear front shackle will ride better , and if you look at the older trucks that ran in dessert races they had rear shackles ! better handling at that time ! some of the jeeps had rear shackles for better suspension at higher speeds ! ya you can go back in time and find and find any thing that a person wants to find to prove a point or try to ! so lets all go back to buggy springs and wooden wheels , or solid rubber tires ! engineering has come a long way since the 40's or 50's or 60's ! what worked way back then may not be the best for today !
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: In the garage
LOL, if that's the case you better put some A-arm IFS on your truck!
Edit: I'm not disputing that a reversal shackle rides better. However, for every change you make, there is an effect. People should be aware of how their suspension systems work before changing it. Front shackle and reverse shackle both have their pros and cons, just like adding a blower to your motor has pros and a cons.
Edit: I'm not disputing that a reversal shackle rides better. However, for every change you make, there is an effect. People should be aware of how their suspension systems work before changing it. Front shackle and reverse shackle both have their pros and cons, just like adding a blower to your motor has pros and a cons.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: CASA GRANDE AZ
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
That's the point I am trying to make. If someone says the rear shackle is superior in every way, it makes me suspicious when the factory engineers did it on purpose the other way.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
I have done 4 RSKs on my trucks. EVERY ONE got a better ride out of it.
One truck reused the original springs and just moved the shackles using a RSK. 2 others used SD springs which are longer along w the RSK and made the ride even better. the 4th was my 96 CCLB which got the RSK and 4" lift springs and even with the lift springs, the ride was better than stock. That is proof to me that the RSK WORKS!!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: CASA GRANDE AZ
ford used rear front shackles from 68 - 79
chevy used them , dodge used them !
so why does one think that ford engineers did it on purpose the other way ?
could be they got rid of the solid axle and went to the TTB that required a different set up ! and then why did ford switch back ?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Portage Des Sioux, Mo
I know it been awhile but! If you read Sky's site they mention you can use their kit on a TTB. You just have to drop the axle pivot. I am hoping to do this on mine soon. My pivot is already dropped. I just want the reversal for ride and to get rid of the home made lift PO put on it. Along with all new bushings it should tighten the steering up. 
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,006
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From: CASA GRANDE AZ
I know it been awhile but! If you read Sky's site they mention you can use their kit on a TTB. You just have to drop the axle pivot. I am hoping to do this on mine soon. My pivot is already dropped. I just want the reversal for ride and to get rid of the home made lift PO put on it. Along with all new bushings it should tighten the steering up.
the springs with a solid mounting pint at the rear help keep the TTB axes from being pushed back while driving !
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,006
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From: CASA GRANDE AZ
a solid axle will work better with shackles on the rear !
a TTB wont work as well with rear shackles as it does with front mounted ones !
troll ?
just pointing it out ?
any specific details as to why you think that i am a idiot ?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Casa Grande
It works better on the rear with a solid axle because it lets the axle move rearward when rolling over and obstacle in stead of pushing into it. Can't for the life of me see how that would matter with a TTB as it's anchored in the middle and shouldn't move forward or rearward.