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How
To Build Dodge Front Shackles
THE
RIGHT WAY!
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*Disclaimer* This is provided as a free service
and for information purposes only. There is no warranty, promise or responsibility
given by us to you that if you try this all will go perfectly. It all has to be
EXACT!!! Not close, not pretty good. EXACT! Also, I didn't go into cleaning the
metal before welding, grinding down edges for full penetration, stepping up hole
sizes in the drill press or the like. If you need us to tell you that stuff DON'T
TRY THIS AT HOME! Best to take the drawings to a welder and have them
make these for you. Now that you are thoroughly paranoid about screwing it up
lets proceed.
It doesn't get any easier than this folks. No
welding or special tools required. You can cut eh steel with a hacksaw if need
be and hand drill the holes. The perfect starter project!
Here's what it takes to do this
job.
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What materials you'll
need
- 4 6" x 2" 3/8" thick
cold rolled steel bars
- 4 4 1/2" long x 1/2" Bolts,
washers and locknuts,
The steel we got from IMS in Irvine, CA.
All our bolts and such came from McMaster-Carr Supply in Sante Fe Springs,
CA. |
What tools you'll need
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Additional Parts Needed
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Shackle
Template |
This is an easy one. Cut the steel bars
to 6" long. Lay the template over top and punch your holes. It's pretty
important that you get them all exact. No drill them to 1/2". that's
it. |
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Shaggy's liked things to look nice and be
a good working part. Rounding the corners did that. You can clip them at a
45° angle if you like. Just something to make them look a bit better than
just straight. This is optional though and you can just leave them
straight cut if you don't have the tools to shape them.
The bushings will fit all aftermarket
springs and the stock frame shackle hole on all but Cummins powered
trucks. The black bushings have the highest durameter rating and should be
used instead of red, yellow or blue bushings. Those don't hold up as well
in a full-size truck. Make sure you sure you use a lot of lube when
you assemble the whole thing. You don't want squeaks! |
That's it! A piece of cake, huh?
If you are wanting to get started working with steel and fabricating parts this
is a good place to start.
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