1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

H shackles or not?

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by evanjm, Oct 6, 2006.

  1. Oct 6, 2006
    evanjm

    evanjm Yeah, it's got an F-head.

    Leesburg, VA
    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2006
    Messages:
    408
    Just wondering what everyone's opinion of this is:

    The original 'U' shaped shackle on the old flatties and early 5s looks pretty scary by today's standards. How well do those things hold up? I'm guessing they're better than they look if they made it through WWII on the MB.

    I mean it's obvious that the later style 'H' shackle is stronger, but is it really worth it to change it over? I've never had any problems with my original shackles.

    Also when did they switch over to the H's?

    - Evan
     
    evanjm, Oct 6, 2006
    #1
  2. Oct 6, 2006
    NoFlyZone

    NoFlyZone Member

    Ridgeville, SC
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2006
    Messages:
    578
    It would all depend on what you use your jeep for. Have you seen how pictures there of soldiers working on Jeeps? I made my own shackles when I installed the aftermarket springs. If my original springs weren't broken I would have kept them.
     
    NoFlyZone, Oct 6, 2006
    #2
  3. Oct 6, 2006
    speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

    Living the Good...
    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2004
    Messages:
    1,270
    If you use the jeep for recreational off road use, I wouldn't worry too much. If you really want a trail rig, replace them with the M.O.R.E. greasable shackles. Just my .02 ;)
     
    speedbuggy, Oct 6, 2006
    #3
  4. Oct 6, 2006
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
    Messages:
    12,381
    The threaded part is actually stronger since it's thicker than the 7/16 bolts.
     
    Glenn, Oct 6, 2006
    #4
  5. Oct 7, 2006
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2003
    Messages:
    4,538
    I broke a threaded shackle on my '54 Utility Wagon. I'd say they're great when they are new. But with time they'll fatigue and break as they only have support on one side. If they were truly better that the typical shackle of today, you'd see them being used everywhere.
     
    Posimoto, Oct 7, 2006
    #5
  6. Oct 7, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    X2. :agree:

    IMHO, it isn't the diameter of the bolts, it is the combined strength of the two uprights that minimize the stresses. When was the last time anyone had a shackle BOLT fail?
     
    w3srl, Oct 7, 2006
    #6
  7. Oct 7, 2006
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
    Messages:
    8,525
    I've seen that several times Steve (I still carry 1 kit for field repairs)
    not with H shackles though.....
    I actually ran the U's for many,many years, never broke one
    then I changed to the ECJ5 type shackles, probably went 10 years on those....
    then I went with what I have now..H shackles, with a slight lift
     
    jpflat2a, Oct 7, 2006
    #7
  8. Oct 8, 2006
    evanjm

    evanjm Yeah, it's got an F-head.

    Leesburg, VA
    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2006
    Messages:
    408
    wait a second.... what's the difference between the U shackles and ECJ5 shackles? My '48 2A and my '57 CJ5 both seem to have the U shackles... are you talking about something else?
     
    evanjm, Oct 8, 2006
    #8
  9. Oct 8, 2006
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2003
    Messages:
    2,706
    The early early 5s had U shackles. I am not sure when but the factor changed over to the H shackle by 1960 since mine had H shackles.
     
    mb82, Oct 8, 2006
    #9
  10. Oct 8, 2006
    Dummy

    Dummy I kick hippies

    Escondido, CA
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2004
    Messages:
    646
    Last weekend there was a 3A on the trail with C-shackles. He had taken a pair of stock H shackles, drilled them out for the C-shackle bolts, and installed them on the inside in conjunction with the C-shackles to make sort of a "H-C" shackle. Thought it was interesting.
     
    Dummy, Oct 8, 2006
    #10
  11. Oct 9, 2006
    evanjm

    evanjm Yeah, it's got an F-head.

    Leesburg, VA
    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2006
    Messages:
    408
    that's pretty cool. if you see that guy again you should snap some photos! It'd be cool to see what that's like.

    - Evan
     
    evanjm, Oct 9, 2006
    #11
New Posts