Has anyone ever used shackles to lift the front of a 4wd. Either building your own or buying some. I would like to get mine level and can't afford springs. But I do have plenty of time, scrap metal and a welder.

 

I've done it to a '78 4x4 1/2 ton before. Used three 1" thick to give it an extra 3". Requires new U-bolts, and before you go too high, you might need a longer steering shaft; it also creates higher stress on your u-joints. PM me for more info.

 

I plan on doing this to my truck soon. The 4" lift springs up front are slightly longer then the stock ones and are hitting the frame under compression. I am only going to make them 2"s longer then the stock ones. Witch should give me about 1" more lift. Here is a good link that I found.
http://www.offroadexchange.com/proje...o_shackles.htm


cootz: Why do you need new u bolts? I thought the only thing you messed with is the shackle itself.

 

I just lifted mine to within an 1.5 inches of being leveled. I added a long leaf and a short leaf to the spring pack. The springs were a gift from a early model International pick up rear. The long springs neede a little trim on one side to keep them from hitting the eye. I had to have new u-bolts made and I used some grade eight bolts to hold the springs together. The studs were replaced on the passenger side with 9/16 grade eight machined cap screws that went almost to the bottom of the holes after running a bottom tap in there for clean up. The springs are just about straight and the ride is a little stiffer but the truck handles a little better. Please don't skimp on the ubolts. They are of a high strength material for a good reason. A spring shop made them for me for about forty bucks including the nuts and washers. Just from looking I would say that just adding length to shackles on the front could lead to handling issuses. It would change the caster requiring a wedge of some sort to return it to spec.

 

I made longer shackels for the front of my truck several years ago out of 1/2 inch plate. Drilled extra holes in them for adjustment purposes and they work good.