installing hangers/shackles
 

I know this is a suspension question but since my truck is a 73-87, yeah i figure i'd ask here. How do you install shackles and hangers? Is it easier to do with the bed on or off? What is involved with this? As some of y'all know i'm dropping my truck 2.5 / 4 around easter, control arms in the front, shackles+hangers in the back.

How about the control arms, i bet that's pretty complicated...

I know drops are THE most over-discussed topic, but i hope maybe if we get good ideas here on such a common topic like this, this sort of thread won't get reposted over and over, just bumped up when someone asks.

Thanks in advance e'rybody, i really appreciate it.

just a side note, got a new job, 50 cent pay raise, WAAAY closer to home, over double the hours (gonna be 35-40 a week), plus another side job on weekends, so hopefully things are gonna start coming together quicker.

:metal: :flag: Cliff

Re: installing hangers/shackles
 

The control arms aren't complicated just a lot of heavy grunt work. You can prolly do the hangers with the bed on, but the gas tank will have to be dropped. There is also a good chance on the shackles and hangers that the bolts are frozen in the spring bushing sleeves. That is miserable. Good luck.

Re: installing hangers/shackles
 

It would be easier with the bed off, but not necessary. You'll have to decide if it's worth the time/effort to take it off. Spray all the nuts/threads with penetrateing oil real good a couple days before you start teardown. I got my shackle and spring bolts out by putting the frame on jackstands and jacking up the axle a little to where the bolts felt like they were the most free. I put an impact on them and kind of pulled on the bolt as i ran the impact. They all came out relatively easy for me. I think the penetrating oil was the key.

Re: installing hangers/shackles
 

I am not sure on stepsides, but on fleetsides, you need to notch the cross sill to clear the drop shackles..this is easy to do with the bed off.

Re: installing hangers/shackles
 

Well in all likelyhood the bed will be off anyways b/c i'm building a new one, probably just wait to do the drop as the same time as I do that. So i'm guessing everything just unbolts and bolts up? Do you gotta remove the leaf springs? I guess it'll make more sense once the bed is off. :crazy:

Re: installing hangers/shackles
 

Once again, when you need an article, go to the source. :)

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chas...n/belltech.htm

Re: installing hangers/shackles
 

LOL I think you could completely strip down a truck and put it back together upside down with 73-87.com :-p

Thnx for the link!

Re: installing hangers/shackles
 

That is the goal, a one stop shop for 73-87 do-it-yourselfers. I try to write an article for stuff I do on Yeller, and appreciate it when others want to do it for projects they are performing on their trucks...we can all help each other. :)