It's the front shackles keeping me grounded

[ShuttlePilot]

I've been in the process of replacing my spring bushings when I discovered that my front spring shackles are in sad shape. One is bent and the bolt holes are worn so the bushing sleeve slides. The problem I'm having is trying to figure out what front shackle did SMB use on my van. I searched the forum and found discussions on the rear shackle but not the front. I also tried calling SMB West (where my van was built) but no one seems to be answering the phone. Tried my local Ford dealer where the parts guy said,"no problem that is a common ford shackle" so I ordered two but they aren't the same ones. The Ford ones have a 5/8" bolt hole and are much thinner steel and my originals have a 9/16" bolt hole. If anyone replaced the front shackles and could offer up a part number that would be most helpful?



I figure this is a pretty typical 2005 SMB setup. Just a note -these are Deaver springs installed at Deaver in Santa Ana in 2010, but the original shackles.


Original and the wrong one just to compare.

Any help is appreciated
-Eric

[gnty]

I just recently bought new ones from SMB west for mine, i still have yet to install them. I'll run out to the shop when i have a min and see if there are any markings or part #'s on them. Peter at SMB got it all lined up for me and they shipped them up to me.

[ShuttlePilot]

Thank you for the reply gnty. That sounds encouraging. I'll continue to get a hold of SMB West. I figured that my set up is pretty common and spring shackles, at least in my off road experience, are a part that is replaced often. I also really didn't want to go down the road of fabricating some. Around here that ends up being a three month project, made out of Inconel, with Chuck Norris' face hydro jetted in them.

Thanks for the help.
-Eric

[gnty]

I have pics i can send you, they sure look identical to the ford ones you have there. I don't have my micrometer at home with me so i couldn't check hole size. I can do that after work.

[TheLetterJ]

As someone who has bent and broken several shackles over the years, might I suggest taking this opportunity to go with something a bit more stout? If you want to stay with a cross-tied shackle, a quick phone call/email to verify dimensions of something like this DIY 4x :: Suspension :: Shackles - Cross tied (or have them make a set to your specified dimensions) is a pretty bomb proof option. Even cheaper, and without having to worry about the mounting width, would be to just use flat plate type shackles: DIY 4x :: Suspension :: Shackle Sides 6" There's many other online sources for the same type of products, but those should give you the idea.

[gnty]

Sorry for the late response. My new ones I got from smb are 5/8" as well.

[gnty]

Scratch that, my originals are 9/16" and so are the new ones from Sportsmobile.

[Ford_6L_E350]

Can you have some bushings (5/8" x9/16" x 1/8") made up and use the Ford shackles? If I was home I'd make some for you.

Mike

[Ford_6L_E350]

On 2nd thought, are you sure the frame and spring won't fit 5/8" bolts?

Mike