Rusty spring shackles
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Joined: Mar 2003
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Rusty spring shackles
Got a '93 F250, 460, 4X4. 68k. New car to me. Probably could have been a tad more careful in the inspection -- after that fact I discovered some rust in the area where the back spring attaches to frame (rearmost attachment point). Flaked some moderate rust off the shackles (I think about one-third rust, one-third dirt and one-third undercoat material) as well as the bracket that is riveted to rails. Metal seems pretty sound. I plan to clean further rust off and treat with rust-inhibiting paint. Anyone care to rate the level of concern over this? Low? Moderate? Severe? And...anyone REPLACED that whole shackle assembly, including the chunk attached to the rail?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
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From: West Cornwall, CT
Level of concern = Low.
You are doing the did the right thing by removing the rust and painting it to prevent further corrosion.
I'd suggest using one of the rust converters as an undercoating and then using a rust inhibiting paint as a top coat.
Replacing the shackle is relatively easy. Replacing the shackle mount involves grinding the heads off all the rivets, driving them out and using bolts to attach a replacement mount.
The bolt that attaches the shackle to the rear leaf spring and the one that attaches the shackle to the mount might be rusted. If you remove them, I'd have replacements bolts and nuts on hand before starting. You might want to check out the rubber bushings at the same time.
Lou Braun
You are doing the did the right thing by removing the rust and painting it to prevent further corrosion.
I'd suggest using one of the rust converters as an undercoating and then using a rust inhibiting paint as a top coat.
Replacing the shackle is relatively easy. Replacing the shackle mount involves grinding the heads off all the rivets, driving them out and using bolts to attach a replacement mount.
The bolt that attaches the shackle to the rear leaf spring and the one that attaches the shackle to the mount might be rusted. If you remove them, I'd have replacements bolts and nuts on hand before starting. You might want to check out the rubber bushings at the same time.
Lou Braun
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Very reassuring; thanks! Further inspection and clean-up indicates level of damage really is pretty low. I'm spot-cleaning with rust remover and a stripping flail on a drill, and will use Rust Bullet or something similar, then a top coat of black underbody paint.
