Leaf Spring Shackle Replacement 

You are FREAK'IN AWESOME!!! I appreciate the video. I was'nt sure about closing the gap between the spring and chassis. Jack the truck using the frame...man I had a duh moment. Thanks!!!! The tip about using the air hammer was a million bucks also.

Dude ... I like how you get things done, no BS, just dive right in, right to the point. Wish more automotive videos were like this one.

I just had my drivers side Leaf Spring Shackle break. Pretty much rusted through. Great Video.

Happy to know I'm not the only one who's had this shoot through the bottom of the bed.

Good info, thanks! Lots of dirt/rust/sweat involved in replacing the shackle on my '07, but not technically that difficult. An impact wrench, breaker bar, big pry-bar, 3-prong gear puller, air hammer (yea, new tools!), a sawzall and even drilling off the head of one of the old bolts, among other smaller tools and techniques based on youtube examples, were used for removal. Napa's ball joint press, used "creatively" above the frame, greatly aided the install.

Great Video, just made our life much easier.

This was THE absolute best video on replacing a leaf spring shack. BUT.... it's a lot fricking harder than people think. Two man job for most. When your shackle has separated, the top will smash to the top of the bed, or in my case when through the bed of the truck. Getting access to these bolts with a large impact is impossible. These videos will have their trucks up on a lift. Even when jacked up, I did not have very good room underneath. Maybe an impact "universal swivel" would have helped, but they break easily. Prying the leaf spring down is hard. The bushing was the absolute worst part. Taking out I had to use MAP gas to burn and melt until I could pick it out. Putting in a new one with a C clamp was a b.i.t.c.h. Had to box cutter the end to a sharper point to get initial start. It's okay if you leave a little sticking out because you got the other side covered preventing it to extend further through. Make sure you have a 1/2" Breaker Bar 24-inches. That big newer Milwaukee 1/2" fuel impact still couldn't bust a couple nuts! How the F is that possible? Make sure you have some 2"x2" 1/4" metal plates or similar around to use with the C clamp on the new bushing. One guy refused to replace it in his video, so consider that. Get several thick sturdy long lengths of pipe and various sizes of blocks of wood and planks to wedge when pulling leaf springs down. I did not have an air chisel or sds rotary hammer to remove the rubber bushing. I used MAP gas to burn and it still took time to remove.

Got a new sub man, greetings from southeastern KY!

Nice video. I had a broken hanger on my 02 ram 2500. I went ahead and just did a shackle flip instead of reinstalling OEM. The ride seems improved.

Doing one today...got some nice tips from you, thank you very much!

Damn. What a video. Guess I'm buying an air hammer. Versus labor on this job? Might as well get a new toy instead! But this will be my toughest DIY yet. A year ago I was a guy getting suckered by the shops. I finally found my confidence by watching videos like yours. Eventually I just started tearing into shit and working through the challenges. So far I've done alignment, plugs, brakes, various gaskets, throttle body, serpentine belt, transmission filter changes, oil changes, alternators, fuel filters, vapor canisters, vent solenoids, purge valves, inner/outer tie rod ends, control arms, o2 sensors, catalytic converter reconditioning, regrounding with 4 gauge and in the last 2 weeks alone I've changed 2 fuel pumps. I'm feeling pretty good about my newly mechanical self! And rugged ways! Lol.

I had the same duh moment.Putting jack stands under the axles.I figured it out last night to jack it up on the frame to control the alignment but my neighbors wouldn't have appreciated all the noise.I still have to replace the bracket and shackles and the bolt holes where the rivets were don't line up.Back to the smoke wrench to burn new holes in the bracket and frame otherwise using the pre drilled holes will put the bolt too close to the edge at the top of the frame.97 Ford 4.6 4x4 with 5-speed standard single cab XLT.I already did both exhaust manifolds and had to build the broken bolts inside the heads with mig& stick enough to weld nuts on the bolts and got 15 out of 16 out and use Indian head gasket sealer.So far no leak.Only thing I had to remove was the inner fenders.The guy at the parts store said you have to pull the engine to change the exhaust manifolds.damn,other videos had people taking the motor mounts loose and raised the engine.Starting on the body next and then a fresh new paint job.I made the exhaust from 3" stainless_Put a cable and did away with 3 vacuum components to engage the front end.The vacuum moves a lever a half inch.Now I can use low range without having to worry about breaking an axle.

Do new shackles make a difference in ride performance like smoother on bumps ?

i know mine is dry rotted and only the passanger side is making noise when it is moved and sounds like it like my tail gate is slamming and the rear is hopping the leaf spring looks fine should i just start with the shackles then if that dont work replace the springs

Also, important tech tip: Everything needs to be torqued with the suspension loaded with the normal weight of the car/truck (wheels on the ground). Torqueing in the extended position can lead to premature bushing failure.

Big big big help!!!! Thanks!!!

great vid thanx , doin my 2nd gen 2500 ram today . * putting in my request for a waylon jennins vid .

Would it cause it go thru the bed if they go bad. If not what would cause it?

Amazing help!

Awesome presentation............tnx....Cheers.

Question, is the shackle at the front of the leaf spring the same as the shackle at the rear of the leaf spring ??

Thank you

Awesome vid

You don't want to torque down the bolts while it's still in the air. You need to preload them by getting the nuts hand tight then lower the vehicle to ride height and torque them there. Otherwise the bushings will wear out and tear.

Great video. First time watching. clicked the thumbs up. Quick question, on my application I am doing the front of the vehicle. (74 J10) . I am sure it the same concept but did you put jack stands down? worried if i unbolt that the front end will fall.

I put the bushings in the freezer the day before installation. Safety glasses are best used around rusty stuff.

Brother I liked your name that’s why I suspscribd 😂👊🏽👊🏽

Thanks, Your great, gonna save me a lot of time.

Good video thanks

Could I leave the old bushings in?

Great video. Appalachian DIY so I have to do this for my 99 Dakota...I was going to jack it up and then put on stands using the frame. That relieves the tension on the leaf? My top separated from the bottom like yours so not sure if there really is any tension and in the end I just jack up the rear using diff to bring the bottom closer to the top for bolting. Is that correct? Other side is a different story and they are attached. Since bottom and top are attached, is it still the same process where I have the frame on stands so I can remove the bolts without the leaf spring jumping up through bed once removed? Sorry for the barrage of questions but will be doing this for the first time. I’m going to leave the brackets alone, looks way too rusted in but still there.

Not sure if it was mentioned before but for people DIY'ing this you can torch the leaf spring end to remove the bushing and it can be done with a cheap propane torch, don't need a OxyAcet torch or air hammer.

Excellent video. Short and to the point. Too many people think we want to watch 30 minutes of their not funny comedy. This past year I noticed the driver side rear corner sitting higher than the passenger side. Quick peek with a flashlight showed me a totally rusted and separated shackle. Anyone know the proper torque settings once I sit it back down on the ground? Thanks again. Great video.

I need mine done how much you charge for both sides

Do you have any suggestions where or if i can get only the bushings to be replaced? 2003 Ford Explorer sport trac?

So you can do his with the truck on the ground? Are the leaf springs not storing a ton of energy from being compressed?

any Man with fishing poles on the wall is good with me, better in the hand,.. great vid thank you.

Same exact just happened to my van. Didn’t catch it until later in the day once it forced the spring up into the van box.

Great video!!! But make sure that you tighten everything down after you put the weight on it or else it’ll twist the bushing.

Smart to wear ear protection when pounding bolts.

Did you need to apply heat to the end of the spring first before driving the bushing out with the air hammer?

You didn't show how you tightened the top of the shackle. How did you secure the T55 end to keep it from spinning? There doesn't seem to be enough room to get a torx or hex head on it.

I noticed on the video that you got the same rounded torx bolts that were previously on there. How are you or anyone else going to take them off next time if they fail? You put those torx bolts on the inside..... I replaced mine with regular bolts and nuts. I win!!!! J/K,,,,,, Great Video!!!!!

I need my done how much for both sides?

When I try to close the gap by lifting the frame the shackle/leaf goes up with it ? Any help?

So my new ones have large gaps around the bolt. I filled it with washers, but the fame mounted end shifts from side to side and pops around turns. The shackle mount on frame isnt flat. How is this moving when the shackles are identical in shape to original

Could you grease the bushing before you insert it so it might slide in easier?

Are those shackles in backwards. I just did mine, one side at a time and mine went the other way. 2001 Silverado.

how did you get the top bolt out? that part hit the editing floor !!!!

Ear plugs to keep the rust out of your ears. A hat to keep it out of your hair. And a face shield “not glasses” to keep it off your eyes/face. 3 must haves for working under a Chevy lol 😂 Beat the frame with a hammer a few times before you crawl under too! Rust, rocks, sand, salt in the eyes is not fun! A magnet stick or 3’ roller makes cleanup nice too.

My shackle is rusted out and so is the spot on the frame where new shackle bolts into. It has punched itself up thru bed of truck. I don't know what to do i need to get to work. Still driveable for few weeks?

How to fix my shackles that are touching the brackets ? Thanks

The one I did today was all nuts & bolts. The lower bolt was rust seized on to the metal tube that was part of the rubber bushing. Had to be torched out.

What if I wanted to remove the actual bracket from the frame?

How the hell did it come out that easy ? Iv been tryin to use an air hammer on this thing for two hours and it won’t budge

Awsome videos Donyou have the name of the song?

Great vid but where the hell you get the new bushing?? Tried Napa, Advance and the dealer... no one can get it.

Is there a way to do this without an air compressor?

Forgot in your video: PB BLAST SOAK EVVEERRRRRYYYTHING

need to check mine

You did not show how to keep leaf spring from hitting underside of bed?

A little PB Blaster goes a long way dude. All that dry impacting would go a lot better, and less likely to twist off the bolt.

Easy for you, you can use air tools.

Idk how you could use a gloves but thanks my 2001 dodge dakota shackles is literally making a hole on the bed of my truck

Song name ???

cant believe how tightly the bottom bolt on shackle is rusted onto bracket . and the stupid round headed bolt with torx at center doesnt give you the capability to put a socket / wrench on it to get more power into it than the torx bit . heat / pb / hammering to break rusty bond / air chisel to break bond / etc , nothing has budged it yet . guess have to cut bolt and shackle in half from rear with a torch then i can get a pry bar on the bolt

1:49 'deez nutz' .... good vid, although most DIYers dont have air tools, music is a bit loud

--if only I had the air tools---I'll figure sumpthin out--

Damn all that rusty shit in high snow areas.

And a hydraulic lift

I’m pretty sure You put the shackle on backwards.

G clamp

It's easy until you realize the shackle bolt was rusted to half the frame😂

1:49 deez 🥜

and for those of us who own zero power tools and zero compressors to run those power tools we're just SOL right. it would be nice to see where you put the jack stands. where you jacked it up at and several other things. everyone else thinks this is great vid but I think you left out too many details. this doesnt help me.

Bolts are easier to take off when you torque them to spec with a torque wrench instead of using a impact just saying. Lol jk

Might not want to use that socket on an impact

using that crappy swivel on a impact is asking for problems. When i was early in my career 15 years ago there was a guy that was using one of those on brakes and i broke and knocked out 2 of his front teeth. They have CRMO impact swivels that are rated for more abuse. Not trying to talk crap about your video, just was looking out..

LOOSEE THE HILLBILLY TUNES TOO LOUD AND ANNOYING OTHERWISE GOOD JOB

App-uh-LAH-chun ... Or you ain't one

Weak. I've never used heat or power tools. I don't enough have a breaker bar. They're come off or they snap off. And I'm changing my spring on a 30 yo truck that I've broken half the bolts on. New bolts time.

Deez nuts

Please do not instruct people to use a hardened steel socket and a Torx bit with an 1/2" impact wrench! The socket (and Torx bit) can shatter - use only the proper impact socket when using an impact wrench and a standard ratchet wrench on the torx bit. To make things worse, you did so without any eye protection! My son works on cars and he has lost sight in his left eye. I sure wouldn`t want to have him loose sight in his right eye by using un- safe practices like this.

Not even close to that easy.