are superoir drop shackles legal on qld roads?

Post by **MUSS** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:24 pm

just tryin to find out as im plannin on tryin them out soon.... if anyone has any hard info on my question it wood be geartly apprediated and if you have been pulled up and told they arent legal what where the "scalies" reasons be hind there decision? i am plannin on puttin this to QLD TRANSPORT any way very soon.....

Post by **beebee** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:39 pm

For a hilux, there are illegal on Queensland roads. In the closed position, they are still longer than a standard shackle. I think it may have been my engineer that also told me that any "hinged" shackle is illegal - someone did anyway

Post by **MissDrew** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:47 pm

They not legal in NSW either.

Anybody else notice Otis doesn`t have em on anymore? I`ve heard it was because they couldn`t get it engineered with them on. But I don`t know this 100% its only what I`ve heard.

Post by **humphey** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:51 pm

I agree with bee bee

Post by **RUFF** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:04 pm

Guts wrote:They not legal in NSW either.

Anybody else notice Otis doesn`t have em on anymore? I`ve heard it was because they couldn`t get it engineered with them on. But I don`t know this 100% its only what I`ve heard.

I thought they were still fitted to the rear at Woodpecker.

Did you happen to notice how much sideways flex were in his extended front ones :shock:

Post by **MissDrew** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:10 pm

Didn`t get to see it run at all :cry:

Like I said ruff its ONLY what I have heard, not what I have seen and know for shore.

Post by **beebee** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:19 pm

I don't think he was running them in the photo in the last mag

Post by **MUSS** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:44 pm

i know theres heaps of side flex in em when extended.... can any engineers on the BB shed some light on this for me?

Post by **mike** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:40 pm

My understanding, from talking to the manufacturer, is that no, they are not engineerable on QLD roads because of the change in the (locked) length.

I'm told that the Climax's are engineerable because the locked length is unchanged from STD. My Engineer scratched his head and said "maybe?"

Havin said that I wouldn't mind trying the Superiors on the rear, just to compare...

Post by **MUSS** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 10:28 pm

mike wrote:My understanding, from talking to the manufacturer, is that no, they are not engineerable on QLD roads because of the change in the (locked) length.

I'm told that the Climax's are engineerable because the locked length is unchanged from STD. My Engineer scratched his head and said "maybe?"

Havin said that I wouldn't mind trying the Superiors on the rear, just to compare...

hmmm now mike this looks promising keep me posted :armsup:

and ill be talkin to matt bout this asap

Post by **hypo** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:37 am

mike wrote:
I'm told that the Climax's are engineerable because the locked length is unchanged from STD.

rong unless they have changed the design but the last lot r bout 30mm longer than standard wen in the lock posi

Post by **4sum4** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 6:00 am

superior drop shackles are $500 EACH :shock:

Post by **fatassgq** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 7:33 am

WTF has that got to do with if they are legal or not?
Jake no they are not approved for on the street and I don't believe they ever will be.
It is a 15 minute job however to change them back to something that is

The legalities of them are more to do with the fact that if a silly driver forgets to put the pin back in on the street they are considered 'unsafe' for road use. The shackles themselves are only a small amount over in actuall length when closed, and there is no dramas with strength as they are bulky bastards!

P.S $500 a pair sounds more like it :finger:

Post by **bj on roids** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 7:47 am

Seems expensive for the product. But I have plenty of flex with stock springs and stock shackles.....

According to an American website I read, the massive movement allowed by the shackles causes spring wrap and pinion breakages. Not something I would want to happen, very unpredictable movements, apparently.

Post by **GRIMACE** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 8:32 am

I have to agree with BJ

I see their minor benifits but I also see their flaws :roll:

Post by **grimbo** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 8:53 am

Drop shackles are just gimmicky ways to get wheel travel. We watched a guy in our club destroy a set of springs in one day using these type of shackles. For the money spent you could get a quality set of springs. Sort your suspension out with good springs and correctly matched shocks and don't worry about these things.

Post by **Area54** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 9:15 am

I agree with grimbo. Jake, have a look at your driving style and see whether they would make a difference to the way you would approach obstacles or give you more control in some situations. Some guys have them fitted to their rigs and swear that they are great - which is awesome - but everyone is different. Build it simple, strong, reliable, controllable and dependable. With a lot of time and effort, getting geometry correct and so forth, you may be able to get them to work, but you could also look at a coil conversion with less hassle. Mate of mine is having problems getting his superiors to work correctly on a 75. To date, he's torn an airbag, experimented with countless 75 series spring packs, converted to hilux spring packs, damaged 2 rancho 9000 rear shocks, and spent countless hours thinking of ways to get the whole system to work properly (the shackles still don't open fully - even with a crowbar levering the diff down) and now that the spring packs are so light a trackbar is needed to prevent axlewrap - and this is still only a spring under configuration. I don't think they are worth the trouble for a gain in unforced suspension extension.

Post by **Liam** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 10:29 am

There's yet to be a set of climax's knocked back for engineering. Theres quite a few sets getting around qld. They have been passed. The product is a profesionally manufactured and ENGINEERED item. Before some stoner says all longer shackles are illegal- No they're not- homemade bodgy peices of crap will never get passed. The materials report shows these to be more than 20 times the strength of the original part, and when pinned , no change whatsoever in handling characteristics- trust me, they'll pass.
Otis had a pair of shackles rejected for engineering in NSW. These were NOT climax's. He could have have purchased a set of climaxs but didn't wantr to pay for them. It is now running extended shackles- LEGALLY for phuck sake.
Climax's do not require you fit wheel spacers, they dont break pinions and theres lots of folks legally ( and happily ) running them.

Post by **Wendle** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 10:54 am

grimbo wrote:Drop shackles are just gimmicky ways to get wheel travel.

Kinda the same theory as a 3/4 buggy leaf I would have thought..

Post by **grimbo** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 11:35 am

I'd agree in most cases on the 3/4 buggy setup, BUT on mine with the spua I seem to get nice controlled travel not just a sudden drrop. Could be a factor of low weight, low power and the spring under. have seen same setup but spoa and heavier vehicle cause all sorts of problems.

Obviously this must hold true for certain vehicles with certain setups with drop shackles i just haven't seen it

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 11:51 am

Liam wrote:There's yet to be a set of climax's knocked back for engineering. Theres quite a few sets getting around qld. They have been passed. The product is a profesionally manufactured and ENGINEERED item. Before some stoner says all longer shackles are illegal- No they're not- homemade bodgy peices of crap will never get passed. The materials report shows these to be more than 20 times the strength of the original part, and when pinned , no change whatsoever in handling characteristics- trust me, they'll pass.
Otis had a pair of shackles rejected for engineering in NSW. These were NOT climax's. He could have have purchased a set of climaxs but didn't wantr to pay for them. It is now running extended shackles- LEGALLY for phuck sake.
Climax's do not require you fit wheel spacers, they dont break pinions and theres lots of folks legally ( and happily ) running them.

Under QLD law it is illegal to fit extended shackles. So if they are longer than std they would not be able to be engineered in QLD, regardless of the extending shackle being illegal also. Note that Jake, who posted the thread is in QLD.

Post by **fatassgq** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:27 pm

Yep thats right.
even if you do get something 'engineered' in qld I have been told by a blue plate dude that you still have to get it approved by transport. Which is where the trouble starts. Much harder!
I can only speak from my own experience and there has never once been a time when I have experienced this uncontrollable drop you are talking about Grimbo. If you set it up right from the start (unlike old patski 4wdm) you should not have dramas with pinions or spring wrap either. Yep you will spend a fair amount of $ but I can tell you now if you think you will spend less with a fully sorted coil conversion on a 75 then you are WRONG.
All this comes from someone who drives a truck that directly relates to Jakes situation! Me

Post by **Liam** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 3:42 pm

You really are like a pack of seagulls around a chip- everybody squaking but no-one with any facts.
Show me one set of climax's that havent been passed or shut the hell up. Like I said- no engineer has ever had a problem with them- the Hilux one ( i stand corrected) is only 8mm longer than the stock shackle.
If any one can't get them passed I hapily give them their money back- hows that for a claim for an 'offroad use only' part. no takers???? end of arguement.

Post by **mud4b** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 3:46 pm

getting STROPPIE in his old age........isnt he..

Post by **redzook** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 3:46 pm

Liam wrote:There's yet to be a set of climax's knocked back for engineering. Theres quite a few sets getting around qld. They have been passed. The product is a profesionally manufactured and ENGINEERED item. Before some stoner says all longer shackles are illegal- No they're not- homemade bodgy peices of crap will never get passed. The materials report shows these to be more than 20 times the strength of the original part, and when pinned , no change whatsoever in handling characteristics- trust me, they'll pass.
Otis had a pair of shackles rejected for engineering in NSW. These were NOT climax's. He could have have purchased a set of climaxs but didn't wantr to pay for them. It is now running extended shackles- LEGALLY for phuck sake.
Climax's do not require you fit wheel spacers, they dont break pinions and theres lots of folks legally ( and happily ) running them.

they do if u want to use all the travel other wise the tyres will rub on the tub

Post by **greg** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 3:55 pm

redzook wrote:
Liam wrote:There's yet to be a set of climax's knocked back for engineering. Theres quite a few sets getting around qld. They have been passed. The product is a profesionally manufactured and ENGINEERED item. Before some stoner says all longer shackles are illegal- No they're not- homemade bodgy peices of crap will never get passed. The materials report shows these to be more than 20 times the strength of the original part, and when pinned , no change whatsoever in handling characteristics- trust me, they'll pass.
Otis had a pair of shackles rejected for engineering in NSW. These were NOT climax's. He could have have purchased a set of climaxs but didn't wantr to pay for them. It is now running extended shackles- LEGALLY for phuck sake.
Climax's do not require you fit wheel spacers, they dont break pinions and theres lots of folks legally ( and happily ) running them.

they do if u want to use all the travel other wise the tyres will rub on the tub

I suspect that this situation would be specific to a sierra with certain tyre size and wheel offset though redzook.

I'd expect that Liam is not being car-type specific in his post.

Post by **Area54** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 4:00 pm

Liam wrote:You really are like a pack of seagulls around a chip- everybody squaking but no-one with any facts.
Show me one set of climax's that havent been passed or shut the hell up. Like I said- no engineer has ever had a problem with them- the Hilux one ( i stand corrected) is only 8mm longer than the stock shackle.
If any one can't get them passed I hapily give them their money back- hows that for a claim for an 'offroad use only' part. no takers???? end of arguement.

Well, to help the thread along with accurate info, do you have any record of people in QLD that have had their extending shackles (Climax or otherwise) passed by QLD transport? In QLD it is one thing to get something engineered, a totally different thing to have it passed by qld transport as an allowed modification. Individuals may know of a few people that have these fitted, but you as a retailer must know how many people have them fitted, and would have more info on their legality than the average bloke. Jake is wanting to know (among other things about extending shackles) if they are legal in QLD, a lot of people have said they are not, so if you can supply concrete evidence from QLD transport that they are legal, then you will have helped this thread with accurate info.

Post by **fatassgq** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 4:30 pm

Well said Area54,
As I said in a roundabout way earlier 'engineering' means SFA in qld when the d.o.t guys pull you up!

Side note. Most(all?) cars with GOOD flex will require the tyre/wheel combo to be moved outboard a little or else it will rub chassis. Either offset wheels or spacers. Nobody was specifically having a go at Climax but liam got a little hot under the collar. I ain't no seagull :finger:

In fact I couldn't give a fuck what people do with their trucks but we all try and help out when someone asks for info.

Post by **redzook** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:16 pm

greg wrote:
redzook wrote:
Liam wrote:There's yet to be a set of climax's knocked back for engineering. Theres quite a few sets getting around qld. They have been passed. The product is a profesionally manufactured and ENGINEERED item. Before some stoner says all longer shackles are illegal- No they're not- homemade bodgy peices of crap will never get passed. The materials report shows these to be more than 20 times the strength of the original part, and when pinned , no change whatsoever in handling characteristics- trust me, they'll pass.
Otis had a pair of shackles rejected for engineering in NSW. These were NOT climax's. He could have have purchased a set of climaxs but didn't wantr to pay for them. It is now running extended shackles- LEGALLY for phuck sake.
Climax's do not require you fit wheel spacers, they dont break pinions and theres lots of folks legally ( and happily ) running them.

they do if u want to use all the travel other wise the tyres will rub on the tub

I suspect that this situation would be specific to a sierra with certain tyre size and wheel offset though redzook.

I'd expect that Liam is not being car-type specific in his post.

he said u dont need to fit wheel spacers as in all cars including suzuki sierras with 31's

so what is your point?

Post by **Josh_GQ** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:58 pm

I run superior drop shackles on the rear of my GQ. "gimiky things that unload uncontrolably and dont offer any more usable traction" that is absolute BULLSH!T !!!!!!! mine have never unloaded uncontrolably and i can now drive through ruts that i wouldn't have even thought about before because of the extra TRACTION i get. yah they do cost a bit to set up my costs so far are

$499 Shackles
$160 custom shock mounts top and bottom.
$240 rancho 5000's
$380 3" wheel spacers

this cost is alot less than other suspension set ups i have seen which dont work any better

now i have to lift my tray a little because the compressed wheel is hitting it so hard that it stops the other side from dropping fully.
in the photo under my name the shackles are only open half way because i didnt have spacers on at the time and i am still running standard length shocks on the front.

i have no complaints with them

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are superoir drop shackles legal on qld roads?

are superoir drop shackles legal on qld roads?

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