Shackle Reversals

[beking]

Looking for advise, opinions, and suggestions for a shackle reversal kit for my 84 CJ7. I am considering a reversal along with a 4" suspension lift. Currenly stock with 30" tires. Looking to go with a 33". Thoughts

[BajaEdition]

reversals have both their positives and negatives. depending on how you want the rig tio ride on road and offroad. also you will need to be positive about the front drive shaft fit.

[Old Dog]

Originally Posted by beking Looking for advise, opinions, and suggestions for a shackle reversal kit for my 84 CJ7. I am considering a reversal along with a 4" suspension lift. Currenly stock with 30" tires. Looking to go with a 33". Thoughts

IMHO I don't like shackel reversals.
4" lift with 33's sound good though.

[BajaEdition]

if it is going be a dedicated trail rig, I would think about it, but not if it was going see the street.
they nose dive to much,
but they have a softer ride
but you need a long travel drive shaft and make extra clearance for the tires as they move so much forward and backward.
but then the chance to bend a spring is less
they tend to bulldoze an obstacle
but bump steer is decreased
so you see they do have advantages off road, but on road they seem to have more disadvantage

[beking]

Thanks all. FYI, won't be doing any serious off road mainly just playing around at the local mud hole on the weekends and is not my primary vehicle to get to work. Sounds like maybe just the lift and tires may be the way to go.

[Old Dog]

Originally Posted by beking Sounds like maybe just the lift and tires may be the way to go.

You will also want to get longer break lines, new stock lenght or 1/2" lift shackels, and new spring and spring hanger bushings. And maybe shocks depending on the kit you choose.
I would do a tie rod and draglink flip instead of a droped pitman arm, might as well get them out of the way.
I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

[BusaDave9]

Don't get a shackle reversal unless you need it. And there aren't many reasons why you would need it. In some cases they are better on road. In almost all cases they are not as good off road. Let me explain.
I once drove a flat fender jeep that had terrible wonder on road (it didn't have a shackle reversal). We weren't sure where the free play was but for the sake of discussion lets say it was in the front shackle bushings. With the shackles in front, if their bushings are loose the leaf springs may not always be pointing exactly strait ahead. With the steering linkages also mounted up front this can create a looseness in the steering. I think this jeep would have drove better on road with a shackle reversal. Why? If the front of the springs were mounted more solidly (without shackles) then the steering linkages would work better. The steering linkages are in front of the axle and as they push to steer the front wheels they work much better if the front of the axle is very solid. A better solution would be to fix the loose shackles or whatever has the slop.
Shackle reversals are worse off road because they work against the 4 wheel drive. Lets say one of your front tires is up against a rock and you give it some gas. The front tire will try to drive forward as it goes up over the rock. That motion is normal with a standard leaf spring. On the other hand if you have a shackle reversal the front tires would want to go back as they go up.
That's an important difference. With a shackle reversal the front tires go back as the suspension compresses. The previous owner of my Jeep installed a shackle reversal and that has lead to many other necessary modifications. BajaEdition has made some good points. For one you will need a long travel drive shaft up front if you have a shackle reversal. If you don't then expect your transfer case to be your bump stop. I know of an off-road mechanic that has seen many smashed transfer cases due to a shackle reversal. The front axle goes back as you hit a bump and if the drive shaft doesn't have enough travel it smashes through the transfer case. If your drive shaft has enough travel then, as BajaEdition pointed out you bulldoze over it because the wheel can move back. This is one advantage to the shackle reversal off road, especially if you hit a rock faster than you should.
Another problem I saw on my jeep was the front tires move back into my fender as the suspension compresses. It would have been better to mount the springs an inch farther forward when installing a shackle reversal.
I am not a fan of shackle reversals and I would strongly recommend against it.

[BusaDave9]

Oh and one more modification that was nessisary on my jeep due to the shackle reversal. When I bought my jeep I noticed the front shocks had strange dents where I thought they were protected by the axle. Actually the axle made those dents.
On a CJ the front shocks are mounted on the spring mounts just under and behind the axle. Since I had a shackle reversal the axle moved back as the suspension compressed. Now the top of the shock is in front of the axle and the bottom of the shock is just behind the axle getting smashed into the axle. One day the shock actually ripped off the bottom shock mount.

[BusaDave9]

One more thing to add: All these detrimental effects of a shackle reversal are worse with a suspension lift.
On the other hand if you don't have a suspension lift and your front springs don't have much arch to them then there aren't many problems with a shackle reversal. Then the front tire wont move back much as you go over a bump.

[bobby0872r]

I had asked the same about my jeep it had it done when i bought it... i was given this link hope it helps you out.
MAF Technical Info