Comanche Leafs and double shackle
So for a while i was considering getting the shackle box relocation kit but didnt have the funds available yet. I have had a pair of comanche springs sittin in my side yard for awhile that a buddy gave me and started thinking about useing them. Now today i have gone full throttle into the idea and ended up with using the comanche springs and double shackles with the combo of stock cherokee shackle and comanche shackle which im hoping in the end with give me a net total of 6.5 inches of lift.
First started by removing my RE 3.5 springs and 2" longer shackles and bolted up the comanche springs



The comanche springs are going to move my axle back about 2 inches which is ok with me because my axle was pushed forward before do to my bad shackle angle
Now for the fun part. I made brackets to cap off my shackle box and mounted them by bolting them up and welding them in place.I had to cut out the little bulge on the side of the shackle box on both sides in order for my bracket to sit flush.




In order to clear the double shackle coming out the back i made angled cuts on the rear bumper


Ill i have the finish project up hopefully tonight. and friend and i are gonna head up to ruff stuff when hes off work so i can get my tabs to weld on to my brackets for the shackle to hang off of
First started by removing my RE 3.5 springs and 2" longer shackles and bolted up the comanche springs



The comanche springs are going to move my axle back about 2 inches which is ok with me because my axle was pushed forward before do to my bad shackle angle
Now for the fun part. I made brackets to cap off my shackle box and mounted them by bolting them up and welding them in place.I had to cut out the little bulge on the side of the shackle box on both sides in order for my bracket to sit flush.




In order to clear the double shackle coming out the back i made angled cuts on the rear bumper


Ill i have the finish project up hopefully tonight. and friend and i are gonna head up to ruff stuff when hes off work so i can get my tabs to weld on to my brackets for the shackle to hang off of
its done more on toyotas and samurais from what ive seen but every truck my friends and i have built when we have done chevy 63s on the truck we end up double shackling it for more down travel. I love the set up and if done right works great. ill probably and up making a some type of limiting strap on the first shackle to keep it from opening up on the street when loading on the brakes or making sudden turns


where my fingers are ill have tabs welded to my shackle box cap for the first shackle to bolt up too


where my fingers are ill have tabs welded to my shackle box cap for the first shackle to bolt up too
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 958
Likes: 0
From: Effingham, N.H.
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Terraflex doesn't make a double shackle they make a specially enginered revolver shackle. Bolting two shackles together and driving it on the road just doesn't sound safe to me. But the shackle relocation is a great idea, I want to do this myself.
Yes they do.. they are called revolvers. But they dont have the top shckle in the position you have yours. I think you are going to have issues with them loading and unloading with out notice.
I hope your single bolt mount is up to the cantilever design you have as well. I think you have some good ideas, but you need to put some more design and engineering into it. And think about the stress loads and how things work in relation to other actions.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville, FL
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Tera Flex is not exactly double shackles but it does move like one with the twisting motion. I was also thinking of a double shackle set up. Mine is diff than yours but same basic idea. What you need to do though is weld on a stop so when you flex out it wont fold backwards. Make it so the two shackles are stoped right before they are in a straight line and it will always fold back to the right position.
Weld it up Im interested to see how it works.
Weld it up Im interested to see how it works.
Last edited by 89whiteXJ; Jul 30, 2010 at 10:22 PM.
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: san diego
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2002 WJ 4.0
i would use poly bushings in the shackles so that they move more easily. both the outer shell and the inner sleeve are bonded to the rubber bushings so that could limit travel. the poly bushings usually aren't bonded to anything so they flex much better. good luck on this.
zedpapa
zedpapa
lol really??? is anyone looking at pictures or reading?? yes they are bolted... AND WELDED... they are perfectly safe. A lot more safe then revolving shackles.... revolving shackles have no safetly lock for street driving and nothing that keeps them from inboarding... mine will have a quick disconnect for the top shackle to lock in place for street driving and ill have a brace on the second shackle to keep it from reversing...
What I see in the pics is where you cut the spring pocket, then made a slotted bolt hole for the bolt with at best a grade 5 washer... SO REALLY.
WHy not just build a long shackle.. will do the same thing except be safer.
WHy not just build a long shackle.. will do the same thing except be safer.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville, FL
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Well I guess he could build a longer shackle and move it forward and it will lay more flat causing it to not lift but to still flex down.
LEts keep in mind that the more the axle flexes forward, the more the axle wil wrap causing other issues. As you pointed out.. angling the shackle forward will give him the same benifit of added flex, while not giving it the chance to invert.
I am not trying to talk him out of doing it.. I just want him to think it through.. all the pluses and minuses. I wil be the first to do something when ppl say it wont work.. or it will break. Just look at my doubler thread.
I am not trying to talk him out of doing it.. I just want him to think it through.. all the pluses and minuses. I wil be the first to do something when ppl say it wont work.. or it will break. Just look at my doubler thread.



I don't know about the whole double shackle thing........ Are you driving this on the street?