So I bought a set of RC shackle relocation brackets because, while my shackle angle with my 3" RC springs is decent, it's not perfect..

RC claims the bolt-in brackets can add up to an inch and a half of lift, depending on where you mount the shackle.

Everything I've read agrees with that.

Yet... I installed them... and did not get that result.

I knew part way through the job that it wasn't going to be right, but since it was easy to do (and all of my bolts were anti-seized when I did my lift kit so they were EASY to remove), I finished the job anyway and set it on the ground, just for curiosity sake.

It sat up an ADDITIONAL 3" higher than my 3" lift - a total of 6 inches of lift.

I suppose that would be cool for some people, but I don't want my back end sitting up that high while my front only has a 3" lift.

I installed them according to the instructions. Changing which hole I put the shackle in would make little difference (and throw off the shackle angle, ruining the entire point of this).

Here's the thing. People have been recommending a shackle relocation kit AFTER you install your lift to get your shackle angles right (if the springs are too short).

But this kit provided the same amount of lift that the springs themselves did!

What am I missing? What key piece of information did I surely skip over when I was researching the relocation brackets?

 

Hmmm, I could see how you'd only gain 1.5" IF you had a 90 degree angle before.

If the angle were decent to begin with then you'd only be adding to the height. Kinda like running a longer shackle.

I've always thought they'd add a good bit of lift.

Not sure what you should do here.

How about some before and after shackle angle pictures?

 

something is definately amiss.

i dont know offhand how much exactly the bracket drops the mounting location from stock, but i wouldnt imagine it being more than say 3 or 4".

And if you had the same shackle with the same crappy angle with the brackets you will only gain half of that difference from the shackle relocation point (so 1.5-2") then, if you dialed in your shackle angle to about a 45 degree angle that height would be cut in half once again (assuming you used to have a 90 degree (or so) shackle angle. making a total of .75" to 1" in added lift height.

Did you tighten the leaf spring bolts with the weight of the vehicle on the springs? (not on a jack) How old is the lift?

 

Making sure I'm thinking about this correctly.

Let's say he had a 70 degree shackle angle without the brackets.

Then he installed the brackets and maintained the 70 degree angle.

Would that not simply lift the Jeep the same distance between the old mounting point and the new mounting point? (Around 3"?)

The only real thing that counteracts the new mounting location is the new shackle angle, correct?

I'd like to see the new and old shackle angles.

 

I installed the lift in May. Left everything loose when I set it on the ground (since I knew I'd be taking it back apart anyway).

The thing I don't get is this... The new mounting holes for the shackle are at LEAST 3" lower than the stock location. Even if I completely removed the shackle and just let the mount rest on the leaf spring (for demonstration purposes), it would still be way too high.

So I guess what I'm thinking is that the relocation kit is intended for stock springs? In which case it would be unnecessary because the shackle angle would be correct anyway...

I don't know. Something isn't right at all though.

 

Could you post a picture of you're angle and how the jeep is sitting?

 

Yes you're right on the money. Maintaining the same shackle angle simply lifts the vehicle that 3" or so between the original mounting hole and the new one.

I can't do pictures of before and after because I (obviously) took the things back off and put it back to normal. My current shackle angle with my 3" lift kit (full leaf packs) isn't right, but it's not quite 90* either (which I'm told is bad). I originally thought they were at the correct angle until I realized that that hockey-stick shape they have doesn't really mean much.

I'll snag a pic of the current shackle angle when I get a chance, I'm on lunch at work so I don't really have time for that right now. Right now she sits awesome.

For reference though, here's how she sits normally with my lift:

 

So when you put the brackets on, you put the shackle at a 45* angle correct?

 

for you to gain 3 inches of lift, the rearmost spring eye on the leaf spring has to be 6 inches lower than it was before. which i don't see happening.

 

Correct. Didn't make up for that additional 3" of lift that the dropped mounting hole created. At least, it didn't make up for it enough.

RC's instructions say it COULD provide an inch and a half of lift depending on which hole you mount the shackle into.

Maybe they should be more specific on what they mean by "could".

Either way, my ride isn't all that stiff. I can live with the wrong shackle angle until I can afford another set of springs from a company that actually makes them the correct length.

All this time I was happy with RC's product - didn't get why people bashed them so much. Now I'm beginning to understand. I mean, I'm happy with my lift, but the more I think about it.. If I'm buying your product, it should work as advertised. If your leaf springs are too short, you should send me a new set that are the proper length. I'll gladly send the short ones back.

 

6" is an exaggeration, but it DEFINITELY jacked the rear end up 2 or 3 additional inches. Are my springs just too new?

 

Good to know. I was going to do this with some boomerang shackles, but I don't want thatn massive extra lift...

 

Are you running boomerangs? If so, your shackle angle is probably fine the way it is.

 

You do realize that "boomerang" shackles absolutely nothing to do with the angle... right?

 

if you had a good shackle angle, why would you get relocation brackets?

the 1-1.5" of lift comes from taking your shackle from vertical to 45* by using the brackets. The actual gain will depend on what hole you use, and how long of a shackle you are running.