Hey folks.
here with another noob a** question.
This 80 pu I bought has no shackles up front. This is entirely incorrect am I right?
My front leaves are flat. If i install shackles without replacing the leaves will i get more arch out of them?
Im trying to revamp the suspension on a budget. Ive been debating buying omes but not quite ready to pull the trigger on a full set up yet.
so if i can get a better arch out of the fronts i could throw some bilsteins on and have some fun.
Thanks
Sam

 

We need pictures. There are no shackles on the front of the front leaf springs, the shackles are on the back of the front leaf springs. And putting shackles on will not increase the arc in the springs. The stock front leaf springs are pretty flat, maybe even have a bit of negative arc.

 

Im offshore so no pics til the weekend.
But to clarify: there are no shackles anywhere on the front leaves. The rear eyes bolt to the frame mounts as it sits rite now.
This is my first straight axle truck so just kind of shocked that the po had it set up like this...
(And sorry if this is a double post. Phones a-lagging)

 

So the front spring rear mount is tied into the frame exactly like the front mount of the rear spring?
if so your truck must ride worse than a covered wagon

your best best is to replace the almost 40 year old springs

 

Yea its a rough ride but this truck doesnt leave the driveway.
Im putting a new temp gauge in when i get back to it and if the engine is running at proper temp then ill start investing in suspension.

 

I'd really like to see a picture of this shackle-less suspension just too see how badly someone mauled it! Really how could it even work? As the spring deflects upward the distance between the eyes lengthens or shortens which the shackle then swings out or in. You really have a fixed arch as in the 'Roman Arch' or arch truss bridges.

On the cheap you could get a good suspension shop to re-arch the springs and maybe replace or stick an extra leaf in the front. Note I said 'a good suspension shop', this usually means a place that does heavy trucks that will do light trucks on the side. As said, replacing them may be the better option and its so DIY a couple thumb-less monkeys can do it. Replace the bushings while your at it.

 

I too would like to see pictures of this setup seems odd not to have a secondary pivot point.

 

I'd like to see how rough the ride can get without leaving the driveway! But then I know enough to know how long some driveways are.

 

No pics it didn't happen!

 

Also in for the pictures.

 

Still here. Back on land.
The good news is I do have shackles. I guess because they are so tiny my memory made the problem worse than it is. I cant wait to tear out all this old suspension components.
Ive taken this lil truck to play in the mud and its been eating it up pretty easy so far. Im gonna wait for some heavy rains before i really sing its praises but for a stock truck with some mediocre all terrains im impressed.
I keep looking for an excuse to get rid of this money trap but havent found one yet.

 

Good Luck on getting rid of it! I am on number 6 (or 7). Been driving these POS's since 1986 (yes I am an old ass crotchety old fart