1956 rear leaf spring shackle

[my56chevytruck]

I'm having a bit of an issue with my rear leaf spring suspension, and I've found out that having only 4 leafs per side is the reason. BUT, that's not why I'm starting a thread. I'm asking any of you having a picture of the stock rear leaf spring shackles to post your pictures so I can see if I even have a stock rear shackle setup or is this another surprise I'm looking at on my truck. A friend sent me a picture of his rear shackle setup and it's nothing like mine, so your help would be greatly appreciated.

[capnduane]

This pic is of my '55 2nd rear spring attachment. There are 9 leaves in the rear spring.

[mr48chev]

From looking at this page there are 55/56 shackles and 57/59 shackles. Front and rear appear to be the same. http://www.classicparts.com/Chassis/products/143/

[1958Warrior]

I think the 55-56 only had a single nut and bolt running through the shackles to hold them together, now all replacements have the nuts on the pins to keep it together ,some include the nut and bolt in addition also.

Might be easier to post a pic or two of what you do have to identify it.

When I did my axle swap and flip, I removed 2 of the 7 leafs and shortened others , according to the NO LIMITS video I had gotten . The rear hanger can also be flipped on top of the frame to raise the rear after flipping the axle to gain clearance.

[my56chevytruck]

Sorry, I thought I had posted a picture. You'll see that this is far from "stock" and have no idea what it's from. It needs to be removed and put back about 2" to stand up the shackle (according to a spring shop I visited yesterday). This set up has the leafs under the frame allowing for wider tires, (I assume). Can you identify what this is from?? The plate (with the 2 bolts thru it is welded and bolted to the frame, the top runs over and around the top bolt of the shackle arrangement. Thanx in advance for your assistance.

[1958Warrior]

Looks like the eyes of just another leaf spring was used as hangers.

Ive seen a pro street build thread, where they had used the front axle spring mounts on the back to move the springs inward under the frame to put some wide rubber under it.

Im pretty sure I sold my fronts when I did my Camaro clip, but I may have an extra set of rear hangers in my over stuffed garage, let me know if you would want them and ill go take a look.

[1958Warrior]

Is that the front and rear hangers for the rear?
if so the rear would be dancing around especially when on the gas , front of the spring needs a solid mount with no shackle .

[mr48chev]

I think that is just his rear hanger and someone's idea of how to move the springs in and lower the rig bit at the same time. That might be the eye of an old spring but who ever did it has a lot better dril bits than I do or used a torch to punch the holes for the bolts. I'd guess that that bolt on top is pretty loose in the hanger and the spring.

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by 1958Warrior

Is that the front and rear hangers for the rear?
if so the rear would be dancing around especially when on the gas , front of the spring needs a solid mount with no shackle .

that's the rear of the leaf spring in teh back of the truck. It appears to be a front leaf spring set up that was moved to the rear for lowering and allowing for wider rear tires. It actually rides very well, now that I've removed the 2" lowering blocks. Here's a pic without the blocks.

[1958Warrior]

Looks good, what size tire is on the back?
They might have used the front leaf springs on the back as well, I don't recall how many leafs they had up front.
I'm using stock part# front shocks on the rear with my axle flip, travel is just right .

When I saw you were in Hebron I was thinking your only about 40 miles away ( Hebron,Tx) then I saw in your profile your just a little further away than that, would've had to ship the parts to you.

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by 1958Warrior

Looks good, what size tire is on the back?
They might have used the front leaf springs on the back as well, I don't recall how many leafs they had up front.
I'm using stock part# front shocks on the rear with my axle flip, travel is just right .

When I saw you were in Hebron I was thinking your only about 40 miles away ( Hebron,Tx) then I saw in your profile your just a little further away than that, would've had to ship the parts to you.

A friend told me he thought that the front leafs were moved back from my pictures, and I have no idea how many leafs were used, but I bet it's more that I now have on the rears. The tires I have on the front are 215-70 x 15's and back are 235-75 x 15's. I think they're to big for the sidewall, I may buy new ones maybe 65's. that would bring the back end down some. You know there's a Hebron, KY as well??

[1958Warrior]

I looked through my pics found these ,I had 6 springs up front but 1 is a real short one not held by the clips.




Last pic is my stock rear hanger tried to delete it but cant.

[Bruces]

That looks like an old jeep cj5-7 spring hanger to me .

[Bruces]

I will try to add a screen shot of a cj spring hanger

[1958Warrior]

I think you have a winner there Bruces.

[Bruces]

they are a very universal part ,and fairly cheap to purchase .

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by Bruces

I will try to add a screen shot of a cj spring hanger

Bingo, you've made me very happy to see that. I thank you very much. This truck has shown me one surprise after the other.

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by 1958Warrior

I looked through my pics found these ,I had 6 springs up front but 1 is a real short one not held by the clips.
Attachment 1677633

Attachment 1677634

Last pic is my stock rear hanger tried to delete it but cant.

With all those leafs, I can see why people would say, "rides like a truck". Thanks for the pics. And thanks for the picture of the rear hanger, I guess this is what my USED to look like. Thanks 1958 Warrior.
Morrie