2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Rear leaf spring shackle

[Don Bellamy]

I have a 2000 2500 and the rear shackle is about rusted in half. could someone that has replaced these explain the proper proceedure in taking them off? With the top bolt having to come out toward the frame side, the hanger that the shackle mounts to is in the way and there is no hole for the bolt to be removed as is for the bottom bolt, thanks for your time.



Don

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Does this help?



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...85-rear-spring-shackles-check-yours-asap.html

 

[Don Bellamy]

Yes I read that and did a search on this project. I was sick when I read the dealer gets $165. 00 when the complete kit including both shackles bolts nuts and washers are available for $89. 00 with free shipping. I can't figure how the rear of the truck was jacked up using the hitch and allowed the top bolt to be removed on the drivers side as the hanger that supports the shackle is rivited to the frame and there is no hole to back the bolt out and if you wanted to remove the leaf spring the fuel tank would have to be removed to remove that bolt on the front shackle.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

PM CCiatteo

 

[CCiatteo]

Yes I read that and did a search on this project. I was sick when I read the dealer gets $165. 00 when the complete kit including both shackles bolts nuts and washers are available for $89. 00 with free shipping. I can't figure how the rear of the truck was jacked up using the hitch and allowed the top bolt to be removed on the drivers side as the hanger that supports the shackle is rivited to the frame and there is no hole to back the bolt out and if you wanted to remove the leaf spring the fuel tank would have to be removed to remove that bolt on the front shackle.

I'm not sure I understand your question. But I'll take a shot. Because my shackles actually broke while still installed on the truck, it made the job pretty easy. Once the shackle broke, the spring sprung up towards the bottom of the truck bed. This allowed me to remove the upper shackle bolt and drive it out over the top of the frame. There is a rivet head for a chassis cross-member that might cause some difficulty, but not too much. So with that done, the upper portion of the shackle is off the truck. Removing the lower portion is straight forward.



To re-install I attached the shackle to the spring (still pinned up near the truck bed) first. Then with the shackle attached to the spring, I jacked the body/frame (using the trailer hitch as a lift point) up until the lower shackle eye was aligned with the mounting bracket (which is riveted to the vehicle's frame). As I mentioned, my initial thought was to pull the spring down to align lower shackle bolt, but that wasn't gonna happen by myself in my driveway on my back. And there was the very real possibility of the spring getting away smashing your hand against something.



If your shackles are still in one piece on the truck,then I would remove the lower bolt first, and allow the spring to articulate up until it is against the bed of the truck. Then you could remove the bolt and drive it out over the topside of the frame like I did. Just be careful removing that lower bolt as the spring will be under tension and when it lets loose you don't want your hands near it.



Hope that helps??

 

[Don Bellamy]

Yes mine are both in one piece they are just looking bad. I see where if the top bolt was near the bed above the frame it would allow room to be removed. Relieving the tension to remove the bottom bolt and allowing the spring to spring up would be the question as how to do that in a safe manner? Thanks for sharing your knowledge concerning this mess.

 

[Don Bellamy]

I have now found that the bottom bolt

can't be backed out account the hitch

frame is in the way? Any other thoughts?

 

[RByrum]

Will this work?

Cut old bolts and install new in direction to your convenience

 

[Don Bellamy]

Yep either that or remove the hitch, I elected to cut the bolts.