That was actually harder then I thought..

Many of you may remember last Firday when I started replacing the springs on my '53 M38a1. Had some problems (mostly cuz I wasn't observant enough and was getting in a hurry) but have seemed to get most of them fixed. The previous owner did indeed WELD parts of the shackles to the frame on 3 of the 4 shackles...so, I couldn't really use my new shackles....used the old one, just cleaned them up, regreased them and put new rubber seals/zerts on them. They still feel solid enough and at least they now move when the springs flex. Still kind of irritated me that I had to do it that way though....

Anyway, I have 3 of the 4 springs on and hope to get it all finished up this evening. I'd say she sits about 1.5 to 2 inches higher (at least in the back), then it did before the springs. I had a feeling that it would as the origonal springs we're pretty saggy. I haven't really worried much about the pivot bolts. I will replace them with a greasable bolt in the future, but for now I'm just going to use the simple bolts that were already there. I'll take some more pictures tonight (if it gets done) and show some before and after pics. It certainly looks taller sitting the garage now though!!

Dondo

 

Maybe I read this wrong, but the shackle is welded to the frame? If that is the case, the springs won't function properly and the ride will be terrible...

 

gluck to ya bro..let us know.

 

I guess I didn't mention why it was as hard as it was....just lots of old rusty bolts that needed a 3' breaker/cheater bar to break off...errr, I mean unbolt... (I broke almost everything I tried to loosen). There was quite a bit of the ol' stick wrench on the bolt and hit the wrench with a hammer until it starts to move, type of stuff. Couple of flying wrenchs too....At one point as I was trying to squeeze a ubolt, it sprung out of my vice and hit me in the forehead. It was at that point I called it a day and started drinking beers.

That reminds me, could someone post a close up picture of the old style "C" shackle, fully installed? My origonal "C" had a little plate that fit over the outside of them and my new one doesn't. It looks kind of rinkydink on the Jeep. You just kind of wonder how that little "C" can take all the forces applied to it. Almost to the point that the springs looks like it could slide off the bottom of the shackle if things went sideways.

Dondo

 

Cool!

One of the worst things about these old Jeeps is trying to fix (the right way) what other people have fixed (the wrong way). We got one of our latest projects home yesterday and realized that the rear springs were wore completely out and to fix that, the PO put some shackles on it that were about ten inches long.

 

On the threaded shackles, the part that threads on is welded in place. The shackle itself still "swings", but it is impossible to unthread the shackle from the jeep.

http://mtbiker70.blogspot.com/

(first picture)

This one isn't welded in place, but the top half of the shackle (on the other corners), will not turn.

 

Gotcha I was a little nervous for you there...

 

The thought of just cutting the shackles off and replacing them completely crossed my mind......but, I figured they held up this long (the shackles), they should be able to make it another 10-15 years I'd think.

Dondo

 

Springs are on and bolted together (I'll post a pic this evening). Over all, I must say that I'm dissapointed with my 1" Superlift. Part of the problem (which doesn't have anything to do with the springs themselves), was the terriable shape my shackles were in. There really wasn't anything I could do about them, so just regreased everything and will continue to use them. On the springs, the back end is quite obviously higher then the front, so I now have that "jacked-up" look going for me. Also, the front axle is forward just a little bit more then it was with the old springs. Not much, I can tell the difference. The length's of the supplied u-bolts are all wrong (going to have to cut some of the threads off the ends).

I dunno. I kinda wish now I didn't put new springs on. I haven't driven it yet, but will tonight to see how it handles/steers. Just wasn't pleased with the expierence. Now I don't trust my Jeep again.

Dondo