Coachbuilder shackle problems

I have a 2016 SR5. I installed some 3" Coachbuilders a few years back. I had an alignment done and the tech observed my leaf springs on each side were twisted inwards and both sides are pushed against the spare tire.

I have not started my long drawn-out email exchanges with them yet. I was hoping this might be an easy fix. Does anyone have any knowledge or input on this?

 

Probably because your spare is large and there's no place for the shackles to articulate to in that direction. What size is spare?

 

seems like just getting the bolts flipped around to where heads of the bolts are towards the tires should give the minimal amount of clearance so they don't rub on the tire

 

It's 34", why would they be articulating while parked?

 

I'm not worried they are touching. I'm concerned they are twisting and not aligned.

 

ah I misread the post, thought you were talking about the bolts on the shackles touching the tire, that's my mistake

 

Think about physics and a solid rear axle for a minute. One side goes up on a curb and the other must come down. If the wheel traveling down can't because the shackle can't move forward, the axle will pull toward the side that is traveling up which results in horizontal force to the size traveling up. Stack 4 strips of something together and pull the bottom one sideways and see what happens.

 

Unless if there were some sort of previous damage to the rear end?

I don’t see how your axles can be twisted. Would be hard to tell too since the leafs will shift side to side slightly.

 

This all is true.
I'm guessing the reason its not noticed more often is that despite many of us moving to larger tires very few also do the spare and the shackles provide plenty of side to side clearance with 2" less tire to work with underneath.

 

As long as you aren’t crab walking

 

Or deflate the spare, put a ratchet strap to reduce circumference. Or just put it in the bed, worst option is change shackles

 

why aren't the leafs lined up?

 

Maybe the shackle and frame bushings need to be inspected/replaced?

 

When you articulated the suspension with the spare blocking travel they twisted accordingly. I quit running a spare underneath once I moved past 33s.

The stock springs are very soft.

 

Another example of these springs twisting -

 

I agree with @memario1214 , i just installed the CB shackles this week and notices that they were touching my spare when the nut is installed toward the spare tire. Also, i got the shackles with one washer missing from Coachbuilder so i had to reuse the old one from the factory shackles. Also had to look at whole bunch of pics on line to find out if the "coachbuilder" lettering should be on the inside or the outside and figures out that there is going to be a right and left.

 

I assumed parked on pavement they would line up normal. So this is no issue then?

 

I would reverse the installation of that bolt rubbing against the spare tire. Bolt head close to the spare tire, bolt nut away from the spare tire. There is a sweet spot where the shackle bolt will slide on and off easily. No need to remove the rear tires. Just remove the spare tire, jack the frame of the truck and watch the suspension relaxed. There'll be a point where the pressure on the shackle will be light and the bolt will slide out easily. As it is coming out, stick a screwdriver on that hole where the bolt is leaving so in case it gets misaligned, it will be easy to line it back up using the screwdriver. Actually, 2 screwdrivers. The other one you put on the other side of the hole once the bolt completely comes out. Then, remove the other one, as that's the end where the bolt will come in.

I've used the +3 Coachbuilder shackles in the past on my RCSB. If you can't jack the frame high enough, then, remove the rear tire one side at a time. Leave the other side on. That way not much movement. Hope this helps.

 

Hmm, I put one of my old 295/70-18 Ridge Grapplers on my stock spare rim and mounted in the stock location. It fits, but the Coachbuilder shackle bolts are touching or nearly touching like the OP's. Now I'm thinking after reading this maybe I should remove that wheel? It's really my second spare, I carry a full size in the bed.

 

I would ask David with @Coachbuilder1.