Shackle eye welded?

JAKRANCH · Feb 27, 2020

Been fighting this rear shackle trying to drive new bushings in. Found the eye has been welded shut. Is there any chance this is factory? Seems unlikely to me. If so any tips on getting bushings to fit well enough to mount to the hanger? Thanks in advance

79jasper · Feb 27, 2020

I doubt it's factory, when I did the poly bushings, I drove a wedge in to open the eye a little.
Are you using oem style bushings?
Is it just a tack, or a full weld?

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JAKRANCH · Feb 27, 2020

Energy polys, naw its a full on weld. I'm gonna see if I can cut it without wrecking the shackle. Maybe I'll just get some new ones

79jasper · Feb 27, 2020

That's odd for sure.

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ifrythings · Feb 27, 2020

There is two types of shackles and two energy Suspension kits also, one has a molded in bushing and the other is a press in bushing, I’ve never seen the press in one myself. You have the molded in one which most guys burn out, myself I just bought new shackles as they are pretty cheap.

aggiediesel01 · Feb 28, 2020

JAKRANCH said:
I'm gonna see if I can cut it without wrecking the shackle. Maybe I'll just get some new ones

I don't think I'd cut it. That weld is there to keep the shackle from being hammered by your rear axle as you drive down a washboard road. This is the set I got for my rears a couple years ago. Even has the rear, rear spring busing as well.

https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-5720-722-004.aspx?year=1994&make=Ford&model=F-250&parttype=Suspension%20-%20Leaf%20Spring%20Shackle&origin=YMM

JAKRANCH · Feb 28, 2020

I wonder if a previous owner did just that and the dormans not quite oem sized bushing? That's the big challenge is I cant get the factory bushing fitted and seated in the hanger

aggiediesel01 · Feb 29, 2020

Back to what was mentioned earlier;

ifrythings said:
one has a molded in bushing and the other is a press in bushing, I’ve never seen the press in one myself.

I haven’t seen the press in version of the rear shackle either. My OEM rear shackles were molded and I replaced them with the dorman version which was also molded. The part I linked to was the molded version along with an additional bushing for the rear, rear spring eye. The dorman shackle use to be available by itself as well but I couldn’t find the part number. Hang the dorman rear shackle with the molded bushing and your problem is solved. Or put your poly bushings in a lathe or drillpress and turn/sand them to fit. That would be better than cutting the weld on your shackle.

aggiediesel01 · Feb 29, 2020

JAKRANCH said:
Energy polys

JAKRANCH said:
I cant get the factory bushing fitted and seated in the hanger

Hang on; are you having trouble trying to put poly bushings in the rear spring hanger or are you trying to press OE style rubber bushings in? Or are you saying the OE spring eye bushing doesn’t fit in the shackle?

JAKRANCH · Feb 29, 2020

The spring eye bushing doesn't fit in the shackle eye, or rather i got it to partially fit but it wont compress enough to fit in the hanger. I may just take a bfh and try to make the shackle fit into the hanger. I dont think I can remove the bushing from the shackle eye without ruining it anyways

aggiediesel01 · Feb 29, 2020

JAKRANCH said:
The spring eye bushing doesn't fit in the shackle eye, or rather i got it to partially fit but it wont compress enough to fit in the hanger. I may just take a bfh and try to make the shackle fit into the hanger. I dont think I can remove the bushing from the shackle eye without ruining it anyways

Sounds like you're saying the spring eye doesn't fit in the shackle and the shackle doesn't fit the hanger? Maybe your shackle is wrong altogether? The steel tube running through the spring eye bushing isn't going to compress. The links on the sides of the shackle may flex some to match up with tube going through the spring eye bushing but it shouldn't be much. The same is basically true for the fit of the shackle in the hanger. The hanger sides may flex a bit to for the shackle to be fitted but the steel tube through the shackle is also not going to compress. A BFH might help some but if the steel tubes are too long, take a grinder and shorten them just a touch.

Maybe a picture of your troubles would help us understand a bit better.

JAKRANCH · Mar 1, 2020

The issue is all around the shackle to hanger bushing. It is too large for the shackle eye I have. It seems like I have aftermarket shackles with smaller diameter eyes. They are off a donor truck whose history I don't know. I have poly bushings that wont fit all the way inside the eye because the diameter appears wrong. It's possible beating it in may compress the poly material enough seat the shackle down into the hanger. Tube fits fine. Question is centered around shackle eye oem being welded as part of its design. If this wasn't welded shut i'd have had these puppies mounted a long time ago as they're barely smaller diameter than the bushings in the kit. Pry the eye open and voila seated bushings

2stroke · Mar 5, 2020

I have a fleet of f250 and/or 350 The bushings are as follows. The spring eye is not welded it will expand to except the bushing. The shackle is welded with the bushing installed at the factory. If you can get the bushing after market you will have to cut the weld then insert the bushing and then clamp the gap shut as best as you can and weld it shut. Be quick welding so you dont burn the rubber.I have done this often with no problem.

JAKRANCH · Mar 5, 2020

Good to know thanks

Shackle eye welded?

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