2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Rear spring shackles, check yours ASAP!!!!

[KBrennan]

I checked mine and they were bad. How bad? The shop told me that as they were pulling them out the folded in half just about. The figured the stress from putting the 5th wheel on the back would have done them in. $200. 78 and three hours they were replaced with thicker beefier shackles that should out last the rest of the truck now that I am in NM.



I would say anyone that sees any rust in obvious places i. e. doors and quarter panels should take a close look at the shackles. I never had a truck this long or put this many miles on one before I sold it so I am in unchartered waters.

 

[Extreme1]

Thanks for posting this. I crawled under mine last weekend and found mine to be in good shape. The paint is flaking off and they have surface rust, but they're still solid. A pleasant discovery here in the salt capital of the world.

They might be rusty if you actually DROVE the truck, Dave. :-laf

 

[CCiatteo]

Passenger side Done - with pics

Well I set out to do the passenger side today. And on my way back from getting the morning coffee, the shackle broke.



So here's some pics of the passenger side being replaced:



The starting point. Shackle rotted through in the center and finally failed at the outer edge, simple ripped in half.

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Removal of the old hardware. I used a 24mm box wrench and an 11mm on a 1/2 drive breaker bar to loosen the nuts.

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Nuts are removed and at this point you just drive out bolts with a drift pin. Surprisingly, the nuts broke free pretty easy and the bolts drove out without much difficulty.

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This is a shot from the bottom looking up. You'll notice (kinda faint/fuzzy) a rivet used to fasten the crossmember to the frame rail. This rivet head on the top side of the frame rail just barely catches the head of the upper shackle bolt as you are driving it out. So you may have to use some extra persuasion to get it over this rivet head. Drive side had same problem.

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Side by Side of New stuff versus the old stuff. In my case I could have probably re-used the hardware, but I didn't want to risk it.

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This is it going back together. Upper first. I was working alone, so I used the C-clamp to pull the new bolt over that pesky rivet, while I used my other hand to align the shackle. An extra set of hands might help here, but if not the C-clamp worked. It doesn't take herculean force to get over the rivet, but it does take some extra ummph.

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This is how I jacked up the truck to raise the body so the lower bolt would align with the spring eye. I made a futile effort to pull the spring down, but that was not going to happen and probably dangerous if it had gotten away from me and smashed my hand against the bedframe.

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All finished and back on the ground. I tightened everything snug, but did the final torque with the truck on the ground and the suspension loaded. Haynes Manual said 210 ft/lbs for my 1997, so I worked up to it in 3 increments and used plenty of anti-seize on everything as well.

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Total time to do one side, maybe 30-40 minutes, working at a reasonable pace and the old hardware cooperating (big bonus).

 

[ALepley]

I've seen this more commonly on the ford pickups but what else is expected haha

 

[Fireman Dave]

They might be rusty if you actually DROVE the truck, Dave. :-laf

Wadayamean? 18,000 miles in 11 years is a lot!

 

[Hootguy]

are there heavier duty ones,,,,my pass side was developping a hole in the center this winter,,i didn'want to start messing with then so i made a new steel reinforcement plate and welded it in,,just checked my driver side,,and it's still really strong,,

 

[KBrennan]

are there heavier duty ones,,,,my pass side was developping a hole in the center this winter,,i didn'want to start messing with then so i made a new steel reinforcement plate and welded it in,,just checked my driver side,,and it's still really strong,,

The shackles the spring shop used appeared to be thicker than the stock shackles. If you had enough rust to make a hole I would strongly sugest getting a new set to be on the safe side.

 

[GreggNoble]

guys i can add to this issue , i was delivering a full pallet of beer(very valuable cargo 168 dzn coors light) with my 2001 3500 flat deck i jumped up on the deck to start unpacking and it just dropped . geez i`m sure glad it didn`t happen on the highway, so i had to replace both sides then.

i don`t understand why they use the same shackle for the 3500 s the 2500 ,should be heavier! this is a very valuable thread!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JKosten]

So looking through all of this, did you consider flipping the shackle over while you were in there? I can tell you the ride quality is 300% better and it gives about a 1" lift the back.



Here are some before and after. If this has not been covered here I can do or get a write up.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

interesting I know I found these for replacements they are build with a 1 inch raise decent price. I have used this company before I have the traction bars from them. .





Dunks Performance

 

[HEMI®Dart]

same spot mine was showing I bought the truck in missouri and it was there for 3 years before I brought it to Oregon. but I bought replacements through these guys.



Dodge Ram 2500 Leaf Spring Shackle Kit, Dodge Ram 3500 Leaf Spring Shackle Kit (2 SHACKLES), Rear of Rear, OEM# 52038664AB, fits 3" Wide Leaf Spring **FREE SHIPPING**



they do have all combos of leafs for all of the years and models of dodge

Thank You. I bookmarked the link.

 

[JKosten]

interesting I know I found these for replacements they are build with a 1 inch raise decent price. I have used this company before I have the traction bars from them. .
Dunks Performance

Those shackles look longer than stock. If that is the case, they will only be useful if you have a shackle flip. Otherwise you would be lifting the spring closer to the bed.

The shackle flip process costs under $30 depending on how you source the hardware. Basically all you need is 8 grade 8 1/2"x1-1/2" bolts, 8 metal lock nuts and 16 graded washers. Then grind out the rivets, flip plate over, mark the 2 new holes. Drill to 1/2", paint and install. Torque bolts to standard torque and then put springs back in. after driving it for a week or so, recheck torque.

Here is a step by step write up for more questions.

Shackle flip write up

 

[DIESELWRKS]

sorry I was just posting those up if anyone wanted to see them. I'm not doing the flip, I redid mine from the company that I posted on page 1. but I do like the write up on the flip.

 

[Joe Mc]

I'm in Hamilton Twp/Trenton right near the White Horse Circle.

Chris - Just now getting to my shackles. One has a hole right thru it. Parts arriving this Friday (I hope) so the plan is this weekend.



I know right where the circle is. I'm around what they call "5-Points" in L-Town.



We should connect up for a coffee or adult beverage sometime. I'll send a PM since it's been a while on this thread since anyone's posted.

 

[CCiatteo]

Chris - Just now getting to my shackles. One has a hole right thru it. Parts arriving this Friday (I hope) so the plan is this weekend.

I know right where the circle is. I'm around what they call "5-Points" in L-Town.

We should connect up for a coffee or adult beverage sometime. I'll send a PM since it's been a while on this thread since anyone's posted.

So how did the shackle project go? We'll have to get together, Levittown Parkway back in the day was one of the cruise spots we liked to hit, ya know, where the Taco Bell used to be?

Chris

 

[JR]

So how did the shackle project go? We'll have to get together, Levittown Parkway back in the day was one of the cruise spots we liked to hit, ya know, where the Taco Bell used to be?



Chris

Gosh i didnt know other diesels existed in that area! We were just up in Levittown area visiting my wifes famiily (she grew up there). Everywhere we went, everybody looked at my truck as if we were from another planet. We spent several days in Levittown and 4 or 5 days in Wildwood NJ and i only saw 2 other diesels the entire time i was there! I even had my 2 sons on the lookout for other diesel heads i was really startin to feel lonely! Good to know your out there!

 

[KrisKringle]

... Gosh i didnt know other diesels existed in that area! We were just up in Levittown area visiting my wifes famiily (she grew up there). Everywhere we went, everybody looked at my truck as if we were from another planet. !

In Levittown? You should see how they react here in Germany! Most of the men have whiplash, and the women looks of disdain...

 

[DODGEDADDIE]

MWILSON. .

Hey "HOME BOY"... I'm down here in Searsport

And JUST like the pictures ,,mine looked just like that ,

My right side was the worst,

Speaking of WORSE I had to take my RESSE HITCH off ,,so as to slide the shackle bolt out,,,that was the worst part of the job as they were all rusted an no nut or head to get wrench on,



LOVE THE MAINE "ROAD SALT WINTERS?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I ordered JUST IN TIME!

Hope they get here quick!

 

[DavidC]

Yep, you guessed it, right rear shackle snapped off from corrosion.



Everybody that runs in the winter road salt and calcium better be looking them over!!!!!



Thanks for posting part numbers, we are all going to need them. :-laf



Mike.

Not me, at least from corrosion. Don't want to rub it in.