rear shackle specs?

[alpinecowboy]

I have read in a couple of places on line that folks had successfully used shackles designed to lift Toyota tacomas to lift their Delicas. For those of you who have a shackle lift in the rear, does anyone know the specs for the shackles on their lift kits? Also, are most of you using just shackles or a combo of blocks/shackles, add a leafs/shackles, etc?

Thanks in advance

[jessef]

Blocks = bad

Shackles + spring re-arch = good

2" lift over stock height in the rear can be done with a set of shackles that are 4" longer than stock one's and have a center reinforced bar to prevent twisting.

It will depend on the condition of your springs.

If they are sagging 1" below stock. Then effectively you are only getting 1" above normal stock height.

I would never ever use blocks on the axle underneath the springs.

The only exception would be angled spacer to change the pinion/yoke angle on the differential in comparison to the yoke on the transfer case. That's usually when you go in excess of 4-5"

[SquamptonRyan]

Ok folks and now the big questions. Where does one buy these shakles and is it a carport + 6 pack + cut knuckle job to install or is it better left to a shop?

[jessef]

I make them.

Shackles + Ball joint spacers + Grade 8 hardware = PM me if you'd like a set made up. I'm not into advertising, nor pumping these out for a lot of people. Just Delica and Pajero owners

I can refer you to a shop in Langley that has done a number of Delica installs. Ranges from $500-1000 depending on the amount of extra work that is/not needed.

Job is moderate depending on tools/skill.

I've posted this before somewhere as well. Search will find it.

You'll need to take the spare tire out to get to the bolts on the shackles.

Jack up rear of Delica and toss under a pair of jack stands.

Jack up the rear pumpkin, loosen stock shackle bolts. remove.

Remove rear shocks and replace with 2" longer stroke shocks.

Relocate or remove L-bracket for rear brake line to prevent stretching when rear end articulates.

Remove rear sway-bar (optional)

Install new shackles.

Replace rear spare tire carrier is still needed.

Jack up Delica and remove jack stands and lower.


To even out the front :

1" balljoint spacer + torsion bar reindex, level out and then align (alignment shop).

This is more involved than the rear.

Depending on the rear leaf packs, you may need to lower the transfer case (driveline angle) to match up with the rear pinion. This will eliminate or close to eliminate driveline vibrations caused by the lift.


There is also another thing.

When doing this type of work, you or the shop doing the work may come across worn parts that need to be replaced :

inner/outer tie rods
balljoints
suspension bushings
brake lines
leaf springs

These are some of the parts that 'may' need to be replaced/repaired before putting everything back together depending on their condition. Most alignment shops won't touch a vehicle that has bad tie rods/balljoints.

Note to anyone DIY. I advise against reinstalling a non/poor functioning suspension component. May result in more problems down the road.

Jesse

This is what the lift looks like with 31x10.5x15 tires on 15x8 rims with 3.75" backspacing :

[patty]

i bought my kit from jesse^ and am very happy with it.
i did mine with my buddy, neither of us had ever touched anything like it before.probably called jesse 40 times during the 7 hour installation ( i know really long) but we kept messing up and we were only using a stock jack ( thats right that tiny ass one in the back of the deli) and yes we did have a couple near back/neck/knee breaking experiences with a jack on top of a pile of wood. my only excuse for being so stupid is hey im only 18.
i bet you could do the job ALOT faster then we did,specially with a good jack and a set of jack stands.also it rained the whole time and we were in an open parking lot.
id say the lift makes delies look about a gajillion times better specially if you get the offset wheels after like jesse...so gelous!

[Golf Cart]

did mine with my buddy, neither of us had ever touched anything like it before.
kept messing up and we were only using a stock jack ( thats right that tiny ass one in the back of the deli) and yes we did have a couple near back/neck/knee breaking experiences with a jack on top of a pile of wood. my only excuse for being so stupid is hey im only 18.

Patty, I would say thats pretty darn resouceful. And as for being stupid, na , far from it. Thats just a lack of experience. I know people that probably have underwear older than you, and they are dumber than a box of rocks. Good for you !!