In AutoKrafters they list 3 1/2 in. shackles for 70-73 and 75-77 mavs but list the 4 in. ones for 74-77 mavs. Will the 4 in. ones work on a 72 mav. I've also seen cheaper ones for mustangs, does anyone know if they will work? Just looking for a little lift.
I think we had this discussion (a rather heated one if I remember) on this board about 2 or 3 years ago. Shackles, in my opinion, are ugly, dangerous, and destructive to the car. If you want a little lift....best thing is air shocks.
AGREE !!!!!!!!! The tackiest, cheapest looking thing you can do to any, that's ANY vehicle is put a set of those god forsaken extended shackles on it. While you are at it, I'm gonna hurt some feelings here, dig up a pair of wide offset Cragar wheels for the rear, with short but wide white letter sport tires, dirty ones at that, and find a set of Keystone Klassics for the front with blackwalls. Oh, and don't forget to leave off a couple of lug nuts on every other wheel. Put a set of glasspacks or Thrush style cherry bombs, all ending before the axle and hanging from nothing underneath. Go to the local parts bin and get that top of the windshield automaker brand of your choice banner. ......... Don't forget the mudflaps with Yosemite Sam...'Back OFF' Geez!
Craig; I think he was talking about the stock shackle kit for the leaf springs. I started the conversation a few years back, and found that the 3.5" shackles worked fine on my car. Got them from a mustang place, for the maverick. However, they are no longer produced. Now, they make another kit, but about twice the money. Looks to me like the same part. I agree that the ape hanger shackles are dangerous, damage the springs, and look like hell. I hope he was talking about the stock ones. Earl
IMO, the correct way to raise a vehicle is w/ different or re-arched springs. Air shocks do not have the proper damping to control the springs, if the air lines are "T"ed together the air will move from one shock to the other during a turn causing even more body lean. Also when using air shocks the shock becomes the load bearing part of the suspension instead of the spring. Most shock mounting points (i.e. upper mount of a Maverick) were not intended to support that much weight and can be damaged. Just ask someone who works in a muffler and brake shop how many cars they've seen damaged by air shocks.
Yes I was talking about the shackles on the rear leaf springs. My car sits level, but I wanted just a little lift so it stays at least level with a passenger. I'd rather have 4 tires the same size than beef up the back ones if possible. The stock shackles are 3.5 in. center to center and the other ones are 4.0 in. I wouldn't think .5 in. would make much difference.
I just bought a set of new shackle for my mustang the other day $35.00 dollars I don't think that is a bad price at all. Why did you think their not making them anymore?
I went to a Mustang place, Melvin's, and they had the Maverick shackle kit as discontinued. They had the Mustang stuff, and I think they are the same, but they had the set designated for the Maverick as not being made. Go figure... Earl
Back in high school I had a used 71' and my friend had bought a used Sprint that came with the extended shackles, he had more problems with the shackles tearing up his car. He was constantly making repairs. The shackles that were on his Sprint were longer to give the rearend a lift, but he thought it was worse thing to put on a Maverick. Just my .02.
When I got my car done and took it for the first time I had two of my friends in the back and my rear tires rubbed the fenderwells. So I took it down to a place here in town called Northside Spring and they said they could rearch the springs and add a leaf. I was very Happy with the result it ended up lifting the car almost 1" and did not effect the handling at all. I think it made it better. Just my 2 cents. I would never you shackles on a car but TO EACH HIS OWN.
I bought the 4 leaf springs and polygraphite shackels from Espo. Quality service, and fit were excellent.
I wouldn't think that 1/2" would make a lot of difference. I'm in the process of swapping the entire rear end from a '77 Mav to my '70. I've already done the front to get the disk brakes, as soon as I connect up the master cylinder from the '77, I'll start on the rear. My '77 parts car is a four door, and it has four leaf springs in the rear, compared to the three leaf springs on the '70. By the way, do I need to replace both whole shackles, or just the nuts and front nuts and bolts?
You can get the whole shackel kit hardware and all and fromt bolts too, fairly cheap at Espo so I'd replace them. http://www.springsnthings.com/
