Longer shackles and lower hanger question

Hillbilly Heaven · Post by **Hillbilly Heaven** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 7:50 am

Just running something thru my head before I start spending the cash.

The basics: 79 Bronco with D60 Front and 10.5 rear 5 inch H57 fronts. Unfortunately the truck will never see the desert but will see forest roads and fire service roads. Roads are a mix of sand and clay sometimes very loose sand. Biggest problems with stock suspension vehicles is washboards and cross ruts from wash overs. Once a year they close the roads to the public and hold what is called NASA SandBlast Rally. In the past I have run Heavy Sweep for them in a stock pickup. Running the tail end of the stage picking up stranded drivers and clearing the stage for public access. It beat my stock truck to death and limited my speed. I know I am carrying a lot of unsprung weight. Went with one tons because of the HP I am carrying. I hate anything doing with crawling unless I am going to some out of the way place to tent camp. Mostly a daily driver otherwise. If it proves itself locally might travel to other rallies in the east to help out.

The meat: Considering using H58 leafs with a combination of longer shackles and lower hangers to achieve a level ride height. Do not want to cut the floors. Will this help the road conditions I face at speed? What will I lose by doing this? I know my biggest gains will come from shocks in controlling this heavy beast. Those are next.

Tchajagos · Post by **Tchajagos** » Sat Jun 02, 2018 4:36 pm

The reason for longer shackles and deaver springs is to maximize your travel. It lets you flex a lot more essentially. It may be a softer spring than the one you are running. I’m not sure.

The biggest bang for your buck is going to be higher quality shocks. Rebuildable shocks like king and fox have what’s called a flutter stack inside the piston that helps a lot with washboard type roads.

Also, a great way to soak up washboard roads is to simply air down your tires. Going from 35psi to 20psi I noticed a huge difference on washboard roads.

VintageIronFab · Post by **VintageIronFab** » Sun Jun 03, 2018 7:05 pm

I think Wild horses sells a nice multi leaf pack, then fab a rear shock mount just like the 80-96 FSB guys do. Run 2.5” shocks and valved properly the 78-79 can still dance in the rough chop- I’ve got a 78-79 so I speak from experience. Running a longer shock is tricky on these if you have AC - if not it’s a cake walk.

Hillbilly Heaven · Post by **Hillbilly Heaven** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 3:20 am

Spent the early morning hours writing a detailed reply only to lose it.

Using the deaver CSH57 5 inch coils up front. These normally come out 4-4.5 inches. Figured I would use the H58 6 inch leaf instead of the matching H57 leaf. I would use a longer shackle to level the ride height and gain travel.

Yes an underbed shock mount is going to be needed. Upfront I want to use the new Protofab extended radius arms with Johnny Joint. No factory AC so no huge nasty box in my way.

I think shocks are going to be key to the whole thing. I will have to place my trust in a shock expert. Expect plenty of trial and error on the whole setup before it is right.

I feel like the lone ranger with what I want to do. I don't fit in the crawling crowd, mall crawlers, or go fast desert guys. I know there has been some very successful solid axle guys but I have no desire to go that extreme. I enjoy walking out of the house and saying I think I will drive the Bronco today. On the way home make a detour and blast down some forest roads. Something that is a pleasure to drive yet I don't have to baby it.

CrazyBRONCOguy · Post by **CrazyBRONCOguy** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:27 pm

Should be able to answer this in a week or 2 as it is exactly what my 78 will have on it, once they show up.
I am welding on new perches and ditching the stock block at the same time. Yes I should have done this long time ago but they never cracked so I didn't...

VintageIronFab · Post by **VintageIronFab** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:53 pm

Just an idea of what mine looks like on a 2.5” front and really nothing over height rear. Those radius arms I built are 12” longer, with a 12” shock.

CrazyBRONCOguy · Post by **CrazyBRONCOguy** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 2:18 pm

I think the flares Help on yours. As I think that looks good

Hillbilly Heaven · Post by **Hillbilly Heaven** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 9:09 pm

CrazyBRONCOguy wrote:Should be able to answer this in a week or 2 as it is exactly what my 78 will have on it, once they show up.
I am welding on new perches and ditching the stock block at the same time. Yes I should have done this long time ago but they never cracked so I didn't...

It is all your fault. You are the one that put this idea in my head.

CrazyBRONCOguy · Post by **CrazyBRONCOguy** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 5:57 am

I know it will "work" to get the ride height on mine even with the front. I am not sure yet how it will perform. I will likely have to move my shock mounts around on the axle tube. Which this is ok as gets them out of being on the bottom edge. Will have to update with the results.
Maybe worth noting that I have an ok cage, tool box full of fluids and stuff like winch stuff, bubba rope, d-rings etc.... , aluminum floor jack, 35" spare on steel wheel, HF 300 piece tool kit, extra 5 gallon potable water container, 1/4" wall tube bumper, a cooler, 2 5 gallon fuel cans on the bumper, and a high lift jack all in the back of the truck too (its a pig) even with the soft top and a gutted rear gate.

Hillbilly Heaven · Post by **Hillbilly Heaven** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:13 am

Normally I wouldn't be loaded to heavily except when we take off camping. We are at the age now that we can take off and go and we don't have to come back home till we want to. That involves 20 gallons of water, 20 gallons of fuel. fridge, stove, a 3rd battery for running fridge and auxiliary power, and all the camping gear. I have an idea to help with sagging when heavily loaded without losing up travel that will have no effect when unloaded. I consider mine a pig for daily use and a fat pig when loaded for camping.

I am going to put it on the scales at work when finished. I suspect it will be very nose heavy with the Warn Classic winch bumper and M12000 winch and 2nd auxiliary battery. The 460 does not add that much weight considering the aluminum heads and intake. Loaded down with camping gear it will probably equal out weight wise front to back.

arse_sidewards · Post by **arse_sidewards** » Wed Jun 06, 2018 7:55 am

Longer shackles will certainly help even if only slightly because you'll get better shackle angle throughout your range of travel. Obviously a shackle length and mounting location that is specifically chosen to work with your spring pack to get whatever particular spring rate is "perfect" for your application is ideal but also practically impossible to do in the real world. Weight distribution, spring geometry and mounting point locations and a million other things will have an effect on how your suspension feels. This isn't a race vehicle that weighs exactly the same amount every time it bombs down a dirt road. You're gonna wind up running springs that are on the stiff end when unloaded and a longer shackle will make the spring feel softer when unloaded because it won't be moving the rear spring eye down when in compression.

Run the longer shackles and lower spring mount to compensate. If you want a softer feeling ride it certainly won't hurt.

CrazyBRONCOguy · Post by **CrazyBRONCOguy** » Wed Jul 04, 2018 5:15 am

Here is where I ended up. Took longer to get them in then I wanted but said I would update the thread.
H58's in the rear with CSH57 coils up front, Re-indexed the axle with ruff stuff perches no shims/wedge to get the pinion angle correct.

Im right at 1/2" higher in the rear as measured to the trim, wheel center to wheel center. I am using extended rear shackle hangers (from threat for a ttb bronco) but a stock style shackle (wildhorse ones). Have only driven it on the street but I cannot tell a difference between the 57s and the 58s other then the new height.

Hillbilly Heaven · Post by **Hillbilly Heaven** » Wed Jul 04, 2018 8:21 am

Thank you I like the look of it. I think this is the best way for me to go with mine.