The PO of my Mustang had decided to turn her into a weekend warrior and installed at least 4" lift shackles on the rearend. I'm trying to restore her to original or maybe Boss 302 ride height, so I want to know if I can just putthe car on jacks, pull the shackes off and bolt the leafsprings back to the frame rails or do the lift shackles replace a stock component so I'll have to buy some parts? Also any tips for rolling the fenders with a woodenbat would be helpful, I've read how to do it but first handexperience always helps.

 

You'll need to replace the shackles, as they are a moving component of the leaf compression. However, I believe the stock shackles are just about 4" anyhow. Post a pic so we can see what's going on.

 

If you're not too concerned with originality you could redrill the long shackles to relocate the rear spring eye in more or less its stock position and then cut off the unused lengths of the shackles. If anything, it should be a little stiffer and stronger against side loads than OE since the long aftermarket shackles were considerably thicker than the short OE pieces. Or it certainly could be made to be. I did that on my daughter's car and I may still be able to get you a picture and some dimensions. While you're down underneath there, don't forget to inspect the frame rails where the chassis side bolts of the shackles pass through them. It's a known rust area.


Norm

 

Yeah I checked the framerails, driver side is fine, but the passenger side has a good deal of rust around one of the vertical holes it will probably need to be replaced. I'll get some measurements when I'm down there next time, but the shackles extend below the valance, so they'rea real eye sore. I may try to drill them for now.

 

You are trying to drop yours. I am trying to raise mine. Anyone know where to get riser shackles?

 

Here's a couple old pictures of the shackles:





Hey urban_cowboy I know NPD has lowering shackles, not sure about lifts but you couldcheck with them. If you give me the specs you want for the shackles I can check mine and if they match maybe we can arrange a swap.