Hello, should stock height XJs have leaf shackles? I have been doing some research because I am looking to replace my rear shocks and leaf springs due to a harsh ride. While looking under my jeep, I notice that there are no shackles connecting the rear of the springs to the frame, but that the leaf eye is just bolted to the frame itself. So my question is, should I order shackles or are they unnecessary to use on a stock ride height? Will using shackles improve ride quality? I have done many YouTube and google searches and I cannot find an example of an XJ with no rear shackles, but I have always thought that they are only used for lift kits. Any help is appreciated, thank you.

 

In order for a leaf spring setup to work, one end of the spring must be able to move freely forward and backwards as the spring is flexed up and down, a shackle is the most common way of achieving this. If both ends are fixed in place the leaf spring can't move and you basically have no suspension, your axle is solid mounted. Shackles will for sure improve the ride of your Jeep.

 

It's amazing the bolt hole even lined up to get the bolt through. It might spring a little when you pull the bolts. Does it squat a little in the rear? Seems like it would. I hope you decide to get new schackles.

 

Please shoot the previous owner that did this. Yes, go buy some stock length shackles.

 

Thank you for the replies. It angers me that previous owners have done this. I've been daily driving on this setup for the 2 years that I've had the jeep, and as you can imagine it rides like dog ****. Just ordered stock replacement shackles.

 

Surprisingly, it doesnt squat at all. Just ordered the shackles though.

 

Are the front springs chopped? I wonder if the previous owner tried lowering it. Careful on trying to get that bolt out, as it's likely under some tension.

 

I really don't think so. Here's a side view

 

Should I jack the axle up a bit before taking out the leaf spring bolts or should I let the axle all the way down? I would want them to come out as easily and least violently as possible lol.

 

My first though is the leaf spring would be a little long. Personally, I would set the rear frame on jack stands and adjust the height of the axle with a floor jack until the bolt "seems" loosest - and one at a time.

 

Will try that tomorrow. Thank you for the input.

 

Consider that you don't know the history of those leaf springs. They may not be original to that vehicle. The circumstances that would get someone to removing the shackles are suspect, such as your XJ had good stuff that someone wanted. Although it can be a pandoras box of problems, replacing the leafs might be prudent, but reinstalling the shackles is obviously the priority.

 

For sure. I'll reply if I have any wierd issues but it should go smoothly

 

Consider that the rubber spring bushings are damaged from not having a shackle. Consider replacing them. the rubber had to flex a lot as it was the only thing that absorbed rear axle motion. That rubber was pushed and squeezed massively at each bump in the road.

So if you reuse those springs, id get new bushings, replace all four. They had to have taken a beating set up like they is.

good luck

 

Also make sure that the bolt hole is not ovaled out, if so, a fix is to weld a beefy washer with correct diameter hole around the ovaled bolt hole
It is critical the bolt hole is not ovaled, else the bolt will flex, and hole will become even more ovaled. You got to have a nice tight fit between that hole and the shoulder of the bolt

I welded a thick Unistrut square washer around that hole on my rig, as mine had ovaled a bit.