Sulastic shackles

[CToney]

In my adventures perusing the Internet looking up topics related to my 2020 3500 I came across these.

https://www.sulastic.com/Big Horn 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.4L 8cyl 8A)-1

Looks like they replace your rear shackle and soak up most of the minor bumps to improve the ride of our leaf sprung trucks. I’d be up for a better ride. Less vibrations to the body will no doubt make things last longer.

Anyone see them or use them before?

 

[AEdelheit]

They have been around for a long time , I know probably 15 people that have used them with mixed results. About half the people noticed a better ride while the other half did not but I have not heard of any issues with them.

 

[CToney]

 

[lpennock]

Had them on my 06. They helped some with road vibration. Not sure I would do them again.

 

[CToney]

My 2003 2500 is the same as a 3500 SRW except for cab lights and overload springs on the top of the spring pack. It road smoother than my 2020 3500. But the 2020 3500 doesn’t have an overload above the axle. The springs would be a lot stiffer as it has a higher payload than my 2005 3500 DRW (overloads above axle).

Had them on my 06. They helped some with road vibration. Not sure I would do them again.

How was your 2006 SRW? I had to add timbrens to my 2003 2500 to keep rear from sagging with a load.

Our roads in rural Saskatchewan are pretty bad, smallest population with most extensive road network of anywhere in the world. Driving my 1500 with rear coils has left me a bit spoiled for ride quality.

 

[AH64ID]

The main leaf pack on the 05 DRW and 20 SRW should be the same, as I haven’t seen any info on different spring rates for those. 3 main 1 lower overload.

The 3rd gen SRW’s all uses the same main pack (4 main 1 lower overload) and the 3500’s got the overloads . 4th gen all 3500’s use the same pack and the DRW’s get the upper overloads, aside from the auto-level’s which are the same SRW and DRW (and worth it for the ride).

 

[lpennock]

My 2003 2500 is the same as a 3500 SRW except for cab lights and overload springs on the top of the spring pack. It road smoother than my 2020 3500. But the 2020 3500 doesn’t have an overload above the axle. The springs would be a lot stiffer as it has a higher payload than my 2005 3500 DRW (overloads above axle).



How was your 2006 SRW? I had to add timbrens to my 2003 2500 to keep rear from sagging with a load.

Our roads in rural Saskatchewan are pretty bad, smallest population with most extensive road network of anywhere in the world. Driving my 1500 with rear coils has left me a bit spoiled for ride quality.

My 06 was a 3500 SRW. With the camper on, the Torqlift Stable loads (the ones that extend the bumps stops for the upper spring pack) were putting a lot of load on the upper spring pack. The loaded vs unloaded didn't change significantly with the Sulastic. I'm familiar with Saskatachewan roads as I've gone fishing up a Missinipe with a friend of mine from Regina a few times. I think the shackles probably gave the best improvement on the logging road between La Ronge and Missinipe as that is mostly dirt road.

 

[SnoKing]

The main leaf pack on the 05 DRW and 20 SRW should be the same, as I haven’t seen any info on different spring rates for those. 3 main 1 lower overload.

The 3rd gen SRW’s all uses the same main pack (4 main 1 lower overload) and the 3500’s got the overloads . 4th gen all 3500’s use the same pack and the DRW’s get the upper overloads, aside from the auto-level’s which are the same SRW and DRW (and worth it for the ride).

I believe the third gens had more that one spring package during their life cycles. In the beginning 3500's had an overload leaf. Later ones had heavier duty main leaf's.

 

[AH64ID]

I believe the third gens had more that one spring package during their life cycles. In the beginning 3500's had an overload leaf. Later ones had heavier duty main leaf's.

I believe that change occurred with the 4th gen, at least that’s when I first noticed it.

Every 3rd gen 3500 SRW I’ve looked at has the 4/1 leaf pack, like a 2500, plus the upper overloads.

Every 4th gen 3500 SRW I’ve looked at has the 3/1 leaf pack, like a 03+ DRW, but without upper overloads.

The upper overloads were kinda useless on the 3rd gen 3500 SRW trucks. Mine never engaged until I was above the RAWR and factory tire rating. Even when I went 19.5’s the truck had to squat too far to make them useful, especially with airbags. I contemplated upper stableloads, but never spent the money.

 

[lpennock]

The upper overloads were kinda useless on the 3rd gen 3500 SRW trucks. Mine never engaged until I was above the RAWR and factory tire rating. Even when I went 19.5’s the truck had to squat too far to make them useful, especially with airbags. I contemplated upper stableloads, but never spent the money.

You should have done the upper stable loads. With a 4K camper I didn't even need bags. Had much less sway than bags also.

 

[AH64ID]

You should have done the upper stable loads. With a 4K camper I didn't even need bags. Had much less sway than bags also.

I installed the airbags early in the trucks life, and have been an airbag fan for a long time.

If I hauled a big camper like you do I would have done both.

The empty ride where they might bounce off the extensions was a big reason I avoided the stableloads. I do a lot of back road driving where the suspension gets heavily cycled. On occasion I’d bounce off the OEM mounts and that was jarring. It would happen a lot more often if they were extended.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I was convinced when I added Bil’s and bags on my 11 HO DRW. I ran them at 30psi loaded. Didn’t change the loaded ride height. It made an amazing towing improvement.

 

[AH64ID]

They make a huge difference when properly inflated, unfortunately I see people run them overinflated all too often.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Yep it’s crazy when I see a 2500 with AZZ higher than unloaded height towing a 5er nose high.

must be a tough ride.

 

[CToney]

The Shackles finally arrived and I installed them. It took ~3 hours. Truck is noticeably smoother. Washboard doesn’t bounce the truck around. Better eat your wheaties before your install, cracking bolts takes some effort.

 

[SnoKing]

I believe that change occurred with the 4th gen, at least that’s when I first noticed it.

Every 3rd gen 3500 SRW I’ve looked at has the 4/1 leaf pack, like a 2500, plus the upper overloads.

Every 4th gen 3500 SRW I’ve looked at has the 3/1 leaf pack, like a 03+ DRW, but without upper overloads.

The upper overloads were kinda useless on the 3rd gen 3500 SRW trucks. Mine never engaged until I was above the RAWR and factory tire rating. Even when I went 19.5’s the truck had to squat too far to make them useful, especially with airbags. I contemplated upper stableloads, but never spent the money.

Look at the late 3rd gens. 4 heavy leaf of 3500s and 5 lighter leafs on 2500s.

 

[AH64ID]

Look at the late 3rd gens. 4 heavy leaf of 3500s and 5 lighter leafs on 2500s.

I don’t believe that started until MY10 with the 4th Gen. Every 3rd gen I’ve seen is like I mentioned above.

The 3/1 spring pack you have you your 15 was only offered on DRW 3rd gens, which also had the 2 leaf upper overloads.

 

[DonFitzwater]

The Shackles finally arrived and I installed them. It took ~3 hours. Truck is noticeably smoother. Washboard doesn’t bounce the truck around. Better eat your wheaties before your install, cracking bolts takes some effort.

What part number kit did you install?

 

[CToney]

SA07-3/4HD I believe. Text Alejandro 210-315-7336 with questions

 

[SnoKing]

I don’t believe that started until MY10 with the 4th Gen. Every 3rd gen I’ve seen is like I mentioned above.

The 3/1 spring pack you have you your 15 was only offered on DRW 3rd gens, which also had the 2 leaf upper overloads.

I kicked a lot of tires in that time frame. The 3rd gen 3500 had several rear spring configurations. Early ones had an upper overload leaf. Later ones just 4 really heavy duty main leafs and the 2500 in the vintage had more lighter duty leafs.