1999 XJ with a 4.5 inch RC lift. When installing the lift, there were no shackles in the lift. So ran the leafs right into mounting point with no shackles. With My ignorance didn't realize how brutal (and noisy) the ride would be. That being said, with running it like this, I still had to put 2" spacers in the front coils just to level it out it had so much rake. My question is this: is there any way in hell to introduce shackles WITHOUT it lifting the rear any higher? Any insight is much appreciated.

 

They make no lift shackle relocation brackets

 

Yikes.

How much lift did you get from the rear? Is it possible you have 6.5" springs instead of 4.5" What front springs? Something isn't adding up.

No. You could get around it by using leaf spring sliders instead of a shackle, but those are a whole other thing that IMO shouldn't even be considered for your situation.

As the previous poster mentioned, they make no lift shackle relocation brackets, but you're still going to get lift from adding the shackles.

 

hopefully you aren't driving it around without shackles.

they make no lift shackle relocations but you'll get lift since you currently dont even have shackles. i'd consider new leaf packs if you dont want to add height to the front.

 

Please do not drive like that anymore than you already have.

 

I dont think the leaf can compress to ride height being fixed at each end. So chances are it does will settle down aome once a shackle is on.

 

Yeah... umm... no shackles is a bad idea. At least it sounds like it. I haven't tried that before. The geometry of a compressed leaf spring makes those eyes of the leafs (leaves?) go farther apart, which is what the shackles allow to happen. Shackles will reduce the amount of lift... read on....

Keep in mind that if you get a 4" shackle, it will lift it only two inches because only half of the leaf is being raised and the front of the leaf spring is the pivot point... hopefully that makes sense.

But also, keep in mind that your leaf springs are not compressing much, if at all. Like I said, the eyes of those leaf springs go farther apart as the spring is compressed, and since that is not being allowed to happen, the leafs aren't compressing. Installing shackles will allow the leafs to compress with the weight of the vehicle, and thus reduce the amount of "lift" that it has been given when you set the vehicle on the ground.

 

Definitely add shackles, and loosen all the spring mounting bolts, put the weight of the Jeep on the ground, jounce the suspension several times, and tighten the bolts with the weight on the springs.

 

This makes total sense. I know people in here think I'm an idiot for running it this way. It has not been wheeled at all, and I went against better judgment. I'm kinda new to this process. I appreciate the break down

 

I don't doubt you had to raise the front which puts the front at 6" plus. This is on a long arm I hope, or your castor angle will be terrible as well as tie rod issues due to flexing them at their limit when at full droop, or you will probably pull the roda out of the shocks. The leaf spring changes length with compression and needs the shackle to accommodate that. And, to compound matters you probably have a driveline vibration. If you don;t have one already, you will want a slip yoke eliminator