Leaf Spring Install Advice - Won't line up, shackle angle

[Juan Cano]

Hello, and thanks in advance for all the sage advice.

1986 C10 2WD 8FT Bed

I decided to remove and refresh the rear springs based on advice from the shop that did work to my front end.

I got through all the insanity of removing, removing bushings, etc. Wire brushed the leafs and painted them. Replacing the bushings with urethane one. I am also replacing all the bolts, U-bolts, plastic pieces and got new shackles.

It was an ordeal to get the front spring eyelet in, son of a ... but it's in. Then putting the new shackle was equally hard as it's supposed to go down to go in and it's a super tight fit and you have no way of hitting it from above.

So current issues are:

• Is my shackle at the right angle? Seems to me it should be more 90 degrees? It doesn't move, I'd have to somehow take it out and put it back in "straighter" which I am not sure I can.
• The center bolt on the leaf springs is 2.5" away from the bracket on the axle. I am not in the ballpark. Why?

Could I have the leaf springs backwards? They are not symmetrical, one half is shorter than the other. When I removed them I made a note that the 'short' side went towards the front and the long side towards the back. But maybe I am wrong.

Basically I don't know what to do to correct it. Help!

 

[Rustisbest]

When it's drooped out the axle and shackle move forward. Once you get weight on it it'll be right. Make sure the bolts for the springs aren't tightened up until you get it on the ground or they can bind up

 

[Juan Cano]

Thank you for that info, helps a lot. The shackle, I looked at photos before I removed, and it's closer to being vertical than slanted forward (like the one I installed). I will adjust it. I just installed the other shackle and made it more vertical. What a royal pain to install.

 

[Grit dog]

If you put the same springs back in, in the same direction, nothing is wrong.
Take the driveshaft off, bolt the axle up and set it down. Or just slide the axle forward. From the pics it looks like the axle moved back.
The axle doesn’t move 2.5” front to back in suspension cycling. It’s much less than that.

 

[Juan Cano]

Thank you for all the tips. Yes the axle had moved the driveshaft back (I had no idea that could happen). I pushed it forward, wrestled with the whole situation in the 90 degree sun for a couple hours, and now the spring is all back together fitting right. I have torqued all the bolts after putting blue permatex. Ran out of steam but in the next day or two I will put the shock absorbers back and install the wheels.

Thanks again! It was a life saver.

 

[SquareRoot]

I pushed it forward, wrestled with the whole situation in the 90 degree sun for a couple hours, and now the spring is all back together fitting right.

Must be nice. Ours days start at 90 and only get worse from there.

 

[idahovette]

In the future a "come along" would be your friend, for pulling that AXLE back into place...............ATTENTION Spelling police!!!!! @SquareRoot

 

[Juan Cano]

Geez that would've been so much better!!! The axle kept moving back then I would push, then it came off the jack, LOL!!! Thanks!!

 

[pduffyd]

Juan Cano, just looking at your completed setup, looking nice for sure. One thing I noticed, please make sure the axle spring purch is sitting flat with your springs.
Looks like you need to rotate the axle a bit clockwise (pinion shaft end up a bit), as the axle spring purch doesnt look flat with the springs. Just loosen the U bolts and rotate the axle then retorque.
Might be my eyes though! Lol
This is a shot of the springs sitting flat on the purch.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Grit dog]

Juan Cano, just looking at your completed setup, looking nice for sure. One thing I noticed, please make sure the axle spring purch is sitting flat with your springs.
Looks like you need to rotate the axle a bit clockwise (pinion shaft end up a bit), as the axle spring purch doesnt look flat with the springs. Just loosen the U bolts and rotate the axle then retorque.
Might be my eyes though! Lol
This is a shot of the springs sitting flat on the purch.

You must be registered for see images attach

Dude you’re right!
Good catch.
And Juan, after you straighten it up and re torque, re torque it a couple more times after driving it around some.
Lookin good