Help shackle install/removal

like i noted earlier, put your helmet and goggles on, shit will come out of there hotter than a hooker in church...or just explode...

 

definitely helps to remove the leaf pack from the truck, as long as you have another way to keep it immobilized while you work on it. I was able to get enough leverage this way to turn the bolt enough to break it free, but unfortunately, it just ripped through the rubber. If that happens you'll still have to contend with that metal sleeve others have mentioned.

 

for real though. i'm lucky i have both my eyes. my pry bar hit me just below the eyebrow, and my glasses went flying.

 

one more thing, if you can get enough of the metal sleeve out of the spring to get a pipe wrench on it, you should be able to work that back and forth enough to get it the rest of the way out.

 

IDK but I have been checking this thread all day as I know all to well the frustrations that wrenching can bring me....come on @xtyfighterx , you got this!

 

If this dude lived by me , i would leave work "sick" and get some beers and go help this guy

 

I was thinking the same thing. Idaho is a little far.

 

Thanks fellas so I took out a leaf pack and they are siEZed I ordered new poly stuff from coach.

I worKed it back and forth sledged it you name it I burned it out and I’m getting the sleeves pressed out so I’ll install the new poly stuff and new shackles and everything should go smooth appreciate all the help today I really didn’t plan for this to be that difficult lol

 

Well hey , you got it done-ish

 

Ya I should of ordered them anyway when I got the carrier bearing drop

 

I'm not doing anything to my truck (not right now anyway) but I was interested in why this thread was 3 pages deep. I was literally pulling for the OP and wishing I was close to lend a hand.

Now all we need is pics of the finish.
Glad you got it worked out. So far.

 

Things never seem to go as easy as they should. Just like watching your favorite wrenching show on Velocity....remove a couple bolts here and there, pull this out of the way and whala engine removal in 5 mins completed....I'd like to see the full episode when they start swearing and throwing tools at the wall.

 

Man, I feel your pain. Just did my +1 shackle this afternoon. Everything was going fine until I needed to press those bushings out. Thought I could cheat with a C-clamp and piece of round stock I had lying around. Boy, was I wrong. I had to stop what I was doing and rent a ball joint press from Advance. I wish I had done that earlier. Bushing number 1 came out like a bullet. Bushing number 2 wasn't going without a fight. Rubber internals pressed out, but left the sleeve. Was about to set fire to the truck, but 12 ounces later, I returned with the Sawzsall and cut the bitch out. Cleaned up the holes, lubed the bushings, and pressed everything together.
Poly makes a difference. Glad I went with the 2 -1 level setup. Looks great in the dark, but don't we all?

 

Ya man it’s retarded torch and air chisel worked wonders just waiting on bushings now.

 

Got my poly bushings yesterday took the plunge and installed what a PITA. I have to cut out the stock shackles then I used a ball joint press my press to get the passenger said out but the driver side wasn’t having it.i have to torch out the middle then cut the outer sleeve with a sawzal and then chisel it out after all that everything went smoothly. I removed my 1in block and added these 2in shackles and what a difference night and day. Rides like butter! Thanks everyone for the help I’ll post pics up later today

 

Dang man , sorry that was such a bitch. Glad you got it done

 

Ya wasn’t expecting that at all lol but hey now I know. If the ball joint press would of worked for the driver side it wouldn’t of been to bad. Cutting out th shackles wasn’t to fun but the sawzall got it pretty good. Just glad it’s done and on the road again my father in law let me borrow his raptor to ride around in for the time being thankfully.

 

Any idea what a shop would charge to install the +2 shackles? Sounds like a pain and maybe this job is worth handing off.

 

I think you would be ok living in AZ the road salt and crap in winter is what ruined mine. But idk maybe a couple hundred. I’m sure it’s $100 an hour. With the right tools shackle and bushing install id say is a two hour job or so....just shackles I bet you can do them in an hour if yours come out easy without issue.

 

I got mine installed last week and the shop charged me 1.5 hours which came out $128. I got mine ripped of. Lol normally $85.

 

I had a shop simply press out the bushing on my driver side leaf pack, which i had removed myself and carried in to them myself. Then they pressed in the new bushing. I was charged half hour of labor, $47.50. I did all the rest of the work on the shackles and shocks myself. If I had to do it over again, knowing what I know now about how stuck in the leafs the factory bushings get running around on salt-treated roads, I'd have gladly paid $128 to have the whole thing done for me.

 

I’m glad as well and true that. Since I am no mechanic. Lol

 

Glad to hear you won the battle Nice job!!!

Some of these trucks are so corroded its a job and a half getting OE parts removed, one of the many reasons we machine from billet and use finishes that are designed to last.

*** Ball Joint Press Tool Tip ***

When setting the ball joint press tool up on your leaf springs remember to oil the threaded rod, so many times we see this tool bone dry and dirty making the threads lock up under light torquing. if the threads are clean and lubricated you're able to easily torque down on it
applying more pressure directly onto the OE rubber bushings. Also don't be afraid to cut your OE shackles in half or cut the bolts off ( sawzall or cut off wheel ) if the lower bolts are seized into place. you're replacing everything in there anyways.. its just not worth spending any extra time fighting them.

 

I have +2's sitting on the workbench as we speak and have read every thread and watched all the videos. Ran across this story today and man, now I feel bad for the OP. I live in MN so I'm anticipating a battle-royal with the OEM bushings. Wish me luck. I'll report back on the process.....

 

Yeah...we'll be your support group. Good luck!

 

If you have not already... spray the OE rubber bushings and all OE shackle hardware with penetrating oil and give it a few days of soaking. Oil the threads on your Ball joint press before using the tool and push those babies out! If you get stuck during your install remember you're always welcome to call, We've seen it all and have all kinds of back up plans if needed.. You got this!

 

Haha - ya I've been hitting them with PB blaster for 2 weeks. Def. will lube the press threads. I have air tools, torch etc. I'll report back and reach out for help if needed!

 

One of my bushings seized in the leaf spring and the bearing press wasn't working. I rented a gear puller, and with a little cursing I was able to push it out. PB blaster is your best friend here. Love the poly bushings.

 

Thanks coach I actually called and talked to you last Thursday....I cut the shackles off the truck with a sawzal then pressed out the passenger use some 30wieght oil on the threads like you suggested. The driver side wasn’t cooperating at all I have them both soaked in PB for about 6 days to. But hey it’s done and your bushings are now pressed in I didn’t need the carrier bearing drop tho I don’t have any vibes. Do you suggest doing it anyway?

 

Did you get poly bushings to? Or gonna try and use stock?