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Suspension Doesn't Move

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by Brew88, Mar 7, 2017.

  1. Mar 7, 2017
    Brew88

    Brew88 New Member

    MI.
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    I have a 4" trailmaster lift the shackles are 6",the shackles slant to the back at about 5 o'clock all the jeeps i look at the shackles slant to the front at about 7 o'clock. Any suggestions ? I'm trying to figure out how to post pics.
     
  2. Mar 7, 2017
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    All of the shackles, front and rear, should slant away from the center of the JEEP. rear // center \\ front

    Not quite sure I'm getting what your asking but maybe this helps. We had a discussion some time time ago about how many degrees the shackle should have on it. Try searching the topic or maybe just "shackles."

    You should be able to load pictures to an album here on the site. Click on "your media." Load your pictures then use the camera icon to bring them up at the bottom of your screen while viewing a thread. Click on the picture and it should embed in your reply.

    You can also use and picture hosting site like photo bucket.
     
  3. Mar 8, 2017
    Brew88

    Brew88 New Member

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    I tryed to post some pics but it says there to big
     
  4. Mar 8, 2017
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Correct starting shackle angle about 15-20 degrees and can be greater once the springs wears in a bit............6" shackles may be a bit long......

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Mar 9, 2017
    Brew88

    Brew88 New Member

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    Thanks for your help tarry99
     
  6. Mar 9, 2017
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    Shorter shackles may help, but if your shackles are angled towards the jeep (or inward), reducing the shackle a couple inches won't get it right. Taking a leaf out of the spring and thus softening and reducing the arch in the spring (and loosing some lift height), may also be part of the solution. I have this problem on my cj - I think I have a rancho kit that had some additional arch put into and it shortened the eye to eye length too much to get the correct shackle orientation as shown by Tarry. In the long run, my solution will be to get some new springs with the correct lift (arch) and correct length that will provide optimal shackle orientation and thus more flex.

    Here is a thread I started on this awhile ago: Question about Shackles
    Here is another recent thread that might be helpful: Spring/Shackle Questions or Opinions
     
  7. Mar 10, 2017
    Brew88

    Brew88 New Member

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    Yes sounds like you got the same prob.Only difference is, is when i jump up and down on mine it doesn't move at all. Tarry has some good info ,well i appreciate all your help thanks.
     
  8. Mar 10, 2017
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    Just to ask - how tight are the shackle bolts? If they are over torqued, it will squeeze the sides of the shackle so tight against the upper shackle hanger or against the sides of the spring eye that nothing can move.
     
  9. Mar 11, 2017
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    I was wondering that, too, James. Also, what is the age of those Trailmaster springs? If it's an OLD lift kit, from before the days of rock climbing and flexy suspensions, then I can understand the suspension not moving when you jump on it. Those were some seriously stiff set ups. The only goal back then was raise the vehicle to fit bigger tires. Not much, if any, concern for ride quality or trail performance. Just a thought.....I haven't heard the Trailmaster name in a while.
     
  10. Mar 11, 2017
    Brew88

    Brew88 New Member

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    I will check the bolts today and let you know, as for the lift springs they were installed in 1985 and the build has never finished .Thanks for your repls
     
  11. Mar 11, 2017
    Oldriginal86

    Oldriginal86 Member

    Pasadena, Md.
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    I have the same lift kit on my '61. Wheelie hit the nail on the head. It was designed to lift, not flex. The reason for the shackle angle is the main leaf length. It's too short. I believe it's a stock length leaf that is bent to give the desired lift. My shackles after 25+ years are about vertical and the ride is harsh at best.
     
  12. Mar 11, 2017
    Brew88

    Brew88 New Member

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    That sounds about right ,so i'm thinking i will have to get the right size springs. Any suggestions on which ones to go with ? Should i order them or do i take the chassis to someone ? Thanks again
     
  13. Mar 11, 2017
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    There are many opinions on who makes the best modern lift kit for our old JEEPs, although fewer and fewer companies offer them. I would think that any of them would be far superior, in every way, to the old springs you have now. The topic has been covered here, many many times. A quick search should turn up plenty of reading material. In any case, whatever kit you buy should have a correct length main spring which may very well solve the shackle angle issue as well.
     
  14. Mar 11, 2017
    Brew88

    Brew88 New Member

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    Thanks for the reply Dave,I was in your neck of the woods a couple years ago i was working at Peach Bottom Nuke plant.
     
  15. Mar 11, 2017
    Brew88

    Brew88 New Member

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    Well i loosened the bolts ,got up on the frame and jump up and down and still does not move.
     
  16. Mar 12, 2017
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

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    The Subject of lift springs and a less than comfortable ride has been covered many times. A lifted spring that is designed to carry the weight higher because of clearance needs does just that........and will never be a spring that is compliant to a soft ride..........Period!

    If you want tire clearance and a soft ride the chassis and the vehicle body above have to be modified around that need......................There are plenty of Jeeps out there , that have a low COG and a very compliant comfortable flexy ride and still run 37-40" tires.............but they are built that way.

    Lifted higher arched springs have a much longer mechanical length not eye to eye but along the curved spring surface itself as compared to a factory OEM spring..........yet in most applications this same spring is supposed to fit in the factory eye to eye mounting dimensions which is where the problem lies and longer shackles are sometimes required...................a longer eye to eye spring can be made to complement , both lift and ride....but changes have to be made in the mounts and body to accommodate that.

    The angle of the shackle is an important part of what allows the spring to do its cushioning job............shackles at or near vertical can act to increase the spring rate and offer little to complement the ride..........only when the shackle is beyond 90 degrees does it soften the rate.

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Mar 12, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    I can drag and drop, but you may have to be over some post threshold. If you have pics, put them on Photobucket or similar site and link to them. You can also "hot link" where you embed the picture in the post using the image icon in the bar above - the thing that looks like a landscape. If the site still complains that they are too large, use some freeware like PixResizer to make them smaller.

    Stiff springs are part-and-parcel of the early CJ-5 design. There are compromises you can make for better ride or performance or safety, but the Jeep will never ride like a passenger car. As stated above, this topic has been covered over and over again on the forum - you can search and have many many old posts to read.

    site:earlycj5.com softer ride - Bing

    hth!
     
  18. Mar 12, 2017
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    Brew88,
    You issues are likely related to the springs you have under your Jeep, but there could another issue. Try disconnecting one end of each shock. I had a friend with the same issue as yours; rock-hard suspension. It turned out the shocks were nearly siezed and would't compress.
    Fresh shocks made the suspension work, but it was still pretty stiff from the lift springs.
    -Donny
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  19. Mar 12, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

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  20. Mar 12, 2017
    Brew88

    Brew88 New Member

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    021 (800x600).jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 12, 2017
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