I am in the process of changing some things around on my rear suspension. The PO changed the stock rear to a Dana 60, then flipped that rear axle over the springs intending to lower the truck. But he never did any work on the front. With the axle flip, It made the truck sit low in the rear so to level it he added air shocks. It has been working OK that way but rides very rough and noisy at times depending on the road you sre on. I have always wanted to flip the rear back to its stock position. So while gas prices are high this summer, and I am getting almost too old to do this work anymore I thought I would finally tackle it. The rear spring packs are 9 leafs, and I mocked the truck back up and with the axle below the springs my rear end raised almost 5 inches. I like some rake but that is way too much. So now I am pulling out every other spring and hopefully will end up with around a 2 to 3 inch rear lift which should be plenty.
As I am doing this I am changing out the main leaf bearings, driving in new spring pins and adding poly liner. But I have found something I am not sure how to handle. It seems my rear shackle brackets are pretty worn. Before I dissambled them it seems like there was approximately 1/8" of side to side slop of the Y shackle on the spring rear shackle bracket pin. All in all I would like to replace them but, nobody has them now. Not Mid-Fifty (they used to make their own, but now can not get the steel. Dennis Carpenter, does not have them anymore either. I have talked to several other vendors and all are saying they used to stock them, but now no more.
So I guess it leaves me running them around to welding/fabrication shops to see if they could help me with them. I wonder if they can get the inside of the shackle bracket and smooth and square the surfaces the shackle rides against. If they can maybe I could just put shims between the shackle bracket sides and the Y shackle to get the needed 2 inch clearance.
Here are the pictures:
Drivers side:


Right side:



As you can see, one is worn out approx 3/32 over and the other is 1/16th. I know there might be a lot trucks on the road that may have the same issue. I did order new Y shackles. I don't want the extra clearance getting the new ones torn up. Who knows? Next time I might not be able to get those either!
Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated!

Thank You!

 

I'd check with machine shop to true-up the insides and have shims made to take up the gap.

 

Thank You Lead!

i just dropped them off at a Machine Shop/Fabricator this morning with the new shackles and pins and asked them to do pretty much what you suggested. I will let you know how they turn out.
I really appreciate your reply!

 

Sounds like you got your issue resolved but if you run into more issues I have just replaced my complete rear suspension with an 8.8 and a four link so I have everything I took off available for a new home...springs (5 leaf), hangers, shocks, 9 inch rearend, shock brackets (MidFifty flip kit), etc....

 

Hey Charlie!
Thank you for the heads up on that. If those rear shackle brackets come back with a non or botched repair (hopefully I will know later this week) I will be in touch with you.
Thank You!
Stu T.