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Hd offroad shackle boxes and IRO shackles clearance question
I'm on the last step of putting in my HD offroad no lift shackles boxes and iro boomerang shackles and I have two questions about some clearances.
The grade 8 bolts they gave me seem almost too big for the shackle bushing, like you have to turn em with a ratchet to get them to twist in and they're leavin thread marks on the sleeve.
I tried the stock shackle bolts but they have a fair amount of play inside the bushing. I just wasn't sure if it was better to have a snug fit or play. I figured snug but wasn't sure.
The bolts they gave me fit the leaf spring to shackle eyelet almost perfect diameter wise..
Another thing is the top of the shackle has about a total of a 1/4" of play side to side up inside the shackle box. Should I use a washer on either side to take up that space or will it be fine with I tighten everything down?
No problem with the bolt being snug. As for using washers, all you're going to do is tighten them against the poly bushing and tear them up. The bracket should pull in some when you tighten the bolt.
No problem with the bolt being snug. As for using washers, all you're going to do is tighten them against the poly bushing and tear them up. The bracket should pull in some when you tighten the bolt. FYI, no need to make two threads.
Okay cool, I just didn't want to have them be too snug and tear apart the bushing. And I know about the two threads I tried to delete the one but I couldn't figure out how on my phone haha so sorry about that
Tried to tighten them into the metal sleeve and once the bolt reached the smooth section it stopped feeding in. I checked the diameter of it and it's .556-.557.
The I.D. of the bushing sleeve is .550, I'm gonna try to turn the smooth section of the bolts down to .548-.550 on a lathe tomorrow at school to hopefully get them to fit
Do not turn the bolt down. Either use a 9/16 (.5625) drill bit on the sleeve or get a 9/16 reamer to run through it.
That is what I did to my Rusty Lift Shackles when I installed my HD Engineering Shackle Re-locators. Took a drill bit and drilled them out so the bolt was snug but could be turned by hand with a little effort.
Sorry for never getting back to anyone recently on here, I never get emails or updates when my threads get replied too, but I did end up turning them down for a solid fit, but the jeeps still not on the road yet.
So if you guys think I should still the steel bushing out or reem it and just replace the bolts I turned down I'll go ahead and do that. Don't want to have those bolts fail on me especially on the street
I don't think modifying the bolt is the best option. You are changing the load characteristics of that bolt and it is losing it's true round shape.
I would get new bolts that same size and drill out the shackle bushing and lube the bolt, inside the sleeve and the sides of the bushings with GC-LB grease or at least vasoline.
As far as the play side to side, that doesn't sound like a very good design. I had to beat my shackles in my LII brackets with a rubber mallet for a perfect snug fit.
I don't think modifying the bolt is the best option. You are changing the load characteristics of that bolt and it is losing it's true round shape. I would get new bolts that same size and drill out the shackle bushing and lube the bolt, inside the sleeve and the sides of the bushings with GC-LB grease or at least vasoline. As far as the play side to side, that doesn't sound like a very good design. I had to beat my shackles in my LII brackets with a rubber mallet for a perfect snug fit.
They tightened up side to side as soon as I started to tighten the bolt.
But as for the bolt I'll have to go pick up new ones then and a drill bit the same size. And for the inside of the sleeve and bolt I already used anti seize, should that be fine? The shackles have a zerk fitting but I haven't greased them yet since it's still sitting on jack stands
They tightened up side to side as soon as I started to tighten the bolt.
But as for the bolt I'll have to go pick up new ones then and a drill bit the same size. And for the inside of the sleeve and bolt I already used anti seize, should that be fine? The shackles have a zerk fitting but I haven't greased them yet since it's still sitting on jack stands
Ehh, not really the best lubricant. I am talking about reducing the friction from the bolt rotating in the sleeve and the outsides of the bushings where they contact the inside of the bracket. I would rub lube on the bushing before you install it. This will help prolong the life of the bushing as well as eliminate squeaks.
The reason I didn't go with a smaller bolt was because I didn't want it too loose to where the shackle had play around the bolt, I couldn't find any bolts that had a decent fit. Maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough. I was rushing before but now that I have some time I might as well explore my other options
Hd offroad shackle boxes and IRO shackles clearance question
