I'm wondering how difficult of a job is this with hand tools...i found a write up (http://www.performanceaccessories.co...tions/1702.pdf) on how to do a shackle leveling kit. I believe that all I will really need to buy besides the kit is a good floor jack, a good bottle neck jack, and jack stands. I really want to save the money on installation and use that towards the tires which will be 315 75 r16 trailcutter radial r/t. I just don't want to go tackle this and really mess it up...do those directions sound easier said then done?

 

Those directions look pretty good. There's not really any reason to disconnect your batteries, though. All that will do is make you loose your clock and radio presets. You're not messing with anything electrical.

Plan for it to take double or tripple the amount of time you think it will since it's your first time.

I would take the tires off before you set the frame on the jack stands. Then you won't have to worry about the tires touching again when the suspension unloads.

 

im figuring 6+ hours for this task...i have the hand tools to remove everything...bottleneck jack is for slowly decompressing the shocks off and compressing the shocks to get them back on right...and i saw something on this forum about having ratchet straps handy to pull something back in line but i guess i will see when i get there...is there anything else i would need to complete this?

 

you won't need a jack for the shocks.
Ratchet strap is probably for muscling the axle around to line up bushings and stuff for the shackle install.

 

Its really not as complicated as it seems. A second set of hands really help, in my case my father in law. We did it in under an hour or so, no biggie. You don't need to remove the shocks, theres enough spring in them to do the job without unbolting. Real simple, jack the truck up in the front, put some jack stands under both sides where the axle is hanging of sorts. Keep your jack in there also for extra protection. Loosen the shackle bolts a bit then get the bottle nose between the frame and spring, start putting tension between so you can pop the bolts out then remove the old shackle and pump the bottle a bit more to get your new longer shackle in there, alighn the bolts and torqe down. Just remember the longer part of the shackle goes to the top.

 

should jacking it up max out the shock and it be easy for removal?

 

Those instructions I think are over the top. All I did was disconnect the sway bar links loosen the leaf spring bolts, put a bottle jack between the spring and the frame and jacked up until the new shakle would fit in, then reverse to assemble.

 

anybody got a link to the shackles?

 

You mean this one?

1999-2004 FORD-F250-350 2-1/2 SHACKLE LIFT KIT THE BEST: eBay Motors (item 330446607501 end time Jul-26-10 18:57:12 PDT)

 

Basically you taking most of the pressure off the springs so you can have minimal resistance, those springs are under some load. Forget about the shocks , if thats what your talking about, they'll be fine, you can leave them connected, you only want to take most of the load off the springs so you can swap out those shackles and with the little bottle nose jack you can pump the leaf spring down to get the bolt thru your new shackle since its longer, real easy.

I agree, if you follow those instructions you'd be there all day, lol.

 

Hey Mike, if you unloosen something wouldn't that be like tightening it?

 

You know I'm going back and fixing that, right, lol..

 

Has anyone had those shackles on for awhile?

I had thought about getting some also, and wondered how they have worked out for others.

Thanks, Ken

 

I've had those sandersons shackles on my e99 250 about 7k miles now. They are holding up very well. They are nice thickness and well built. If you do it yourself and are going to jack the truck off the ground. Make sure you disconnect the track bar first....you'll have a hell of a time trying to get those shackles and the frame lined up when the suspension is unloaded, believe me, i know

 

I got a second hand set from a guy here. They are still sitting in my garage. I gave up after about 2 hours because I could not budge my track bar bolts. Those suckers are tight. I could not align the springs with the shackles with the track bar on. I'll probably sell mine and get the rough country kit for $315.