Drop Shackles sierra 89

Post by **nick.gooding** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:38 pm

hey guys
iv just picked up my first 4wd a little swb 89 model soft top sierra
more info
i just want it for a weekender
would be willing to spend a few G if the flex is good
and some info on how hard to attach the shackles would be great
and i have a few merchanic mates to help or i take it to guy i no who specialises in 4wds

i have tryed reasearching the drop shackles but havent come up with much

so i was wondering if you could post some pictures of the flex you can get out of the drop shackles and what brand price and if you have any other modes to get this flex
thanks guys

Post by **lockdup** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:50 pm

Forget flex, Just get a locker or two. There is a "show us your flex shots" in the Suzuki section.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic152 ... flex+shots

Post by **nick.gooding** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:20 pm

thanks mate
would it be cheeper to put an air locker in the front and rear
or should i go with just locking the rear and then putting an auto locker in the front

Post by **lay80n** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:33 pm

There is heaps of info here regarding drop shackles. INHO they are pretty average, but its up to the end user. They are not however a bolt on option. You ask what extra mods you did to get flex. Bolting on drop shackels to a stock car will not get extra flex at all, and will probably make it unstable. Acutally changing Shackles is a very simple job to change. But why do you want to change them? There is not need to change factory shackles unless you are doing other mods the the suspension like longer springs etc.

Layto....

Post by **Pyrotech** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:36 pm

if u have the money got air F&R
if not Auto locker Rear - air front
or auto lock both, cheapest option besides welding centres

i run detroit lockers F&R, love them, except for when the front binds up,

but before u get flamed, have a read, there is plenty of threads covering this topic

Post by **Pyrotech** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:38 pm

x2 with Layto,

i have drops in the rear of mine, and the ONLY time i un pin them is to pose on ramp, or for photos,
personaly i dont like them, but thats just my $0.02

Post by **nick.gooding** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:42 pm

i was planning on getting longer shocks and taking out a couple of leafs
would that help
or would i get pritty good flex buy just taking a couple of leafs out and putting in longer shocks
with out putting in drop shackles

Post by **lockdup** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:10 pm

If you take to many leaf out you have to be careful of axle wrap. i wouldnt go taking leaves out if its stock springs. best option if you want you car to be more capable and if your on a budget is to get an auto locker in the rear. About $500 to purchase, and about that if you get it installed. Otherwise you can go airlocker which is $1400 including compressor. either way your looking at over $1000.
As for flex try a set of 2" raised leaves and take a leave out of that, then some shocks to go with. Again your looking at $1000+

Hope it helps

Post by **alien** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:42 pm

theres another topic on flex going right now that might be worth reading before continuing this thread: http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic171584.php

Post by **Gwagensteve** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:10 pm

Don't confuse "flex" with "flop"

Drop shackles provide "flop"... just like something has broken. That's not cool on the track, regardless of how cool it looks.

X2 on what everyone else has said though.

Steve.

Post by **lay80n** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:59 am

nick.gooding wrote:i was planning on getting longer shocks and taking out a couple of leafs
would that help
or would i get pritty good flex buy just taking a couple of leafs out and putting in longer shocks
with out putting in drop shackles

You will find that without longer shocks you will be limited with how much flex you will get. BUT the kicker there is that there is little room to increase shock length using the factory mounts. To get a decent increase you have to factor in shock hoops or simillar mount modification. Is you stay SPUA axle wrap is not so much an issue.

The road to making a zook well cheaply is pretty well troden. All the details are in this forum. Basically 2 inch OME with RUF, 2 inch BL, 31's, gears and lockers F&R will make your car very capable. If you can do this work then the price is quite acceptable. 2nd hand parts often pop up too so keep your eye out.

Layto....

Post by **nick.gooding** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:40 pm

what if i was to put a 2inch body lift in and then longer shocks and take out a leaf

would that be better or the same as getting a 2inch suspension lift

Post by **lay80n** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:33 pm

Search and read the bible. There are answers and pics all over the place showing this. Longer shocks will not get you much extra travel. And they will limit your up travel. Without bump stop spacing you will destroy the shocks. A 2 inch spring lift will not allow you to fit larger tyres. What do you want the lift for. Unless your increasing the tyre size you dont need it.
What tyre size do you want to run. As i and everyone else has said - Search and read the bible, then ask questions if you have a more dirrect question.

Layto....

Post by **mike_nofx** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:14 pm

Cheapest option for more flex:

Stick your current rear springs in the front (search for half RUF, its very simple)

Buy 2 new rear springs (OME 40mm being a good option) and stick em in the back. Cost about $220

Buy 4 new shocks from Supercheap, Gabriel reds. The Hilux - Commodore wagon combo (again, search for correct model numbers). I paid $36 each NOT on special. Cost about $144

Buy extended brake lines. Any brake shop will make them up for you. Cost about $100 or less

Extend your bumpstops by 2". RHS is a simple solution.

Its worked for me so far, I really cant complain about the $/flex ratio at all.

Mike

edit: oh yeh, and a set of extended shackles too

Post by **nick.gooding** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:29 pm

cheers mike

iv looked into your suggestion
and was looking at some some extended shackles
i found these on ebay. and was just wondering if they would suit
they dont have a brand or anything
but there 200 bucks for the 4
so there fairly cheep

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SUZUKI-SIERRA-2- ... 240%3A1318

i was also thinking of putting in a set of 2 or 3 inch extended shackles. (whats best)
and then putting in some longer shocks and taking out a leaf or 2

i think this would be the cheaper option because i can do most if not all myself.

Post by **Highway-Star** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:36 pm

nick.gooding wrote:cheers mike

iv looked into your suggestion
and was looking at some some extended shackles
i found these on ebay. and was just wondering if they would suit
they dont have a brand or anything
but there 200 bucks for the 4
so there fairly cheep

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SUZUKI-SIERRA-2- ... 240%3A1318

i was also thinking of putting in a set of 2 or 3 inch extended shackles. (whats best)
and then putting in some longer shocks and taking out a leaf or 2

i think this would be the cheaper option because i can do most if not all myself.

I did some rough calcs a while ago: 2" extended shackles bring your castor angle to roughly zero degrees on an otherwise standard Sierra. 3" would be murder. 3" extended would also have many other issues. Id suggest keep it 2" or less if you must have extended shackles.

Post by **grimbo** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:42 pm

your not going to bother searching or reading through the bible are you? You're just going to ignore all those suggestions and just keep asking questions that have been answered numerous times and are readily available

Post by **zookprojectfnq** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:59 pm

If your handy with a welder and oxy you could try ruff in front and 3/4 elliptical rear. I welded on diff shock mounts and was able to still use Gabriel hi ace rear shocks. Still not finished but

Post by **Guy** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 3:02 pm

zookprojectfnq wrote:If your handy with a welder and oxy you could try ruff in front and 3/4 elliptical rear. I welded on diff shock mounts and was able to still use Gabriel hi ace rear shocks. Still not finished but

Loose some leaves from that leaf pack.

Post by **Zook_Fan** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:00 pm

love_mud wrote:
zookprojectfnq wrote:If your handy with a welder and oxy you could try ruff in front and 3/4 elliptical rear. I welded on diff shock mounts and was able to still use Gabriel hi ace rear shocks. Still not finished but

Loose some leaves from that leaf pack.

there is no point removing more leafs. it will have massive droop as it is, the only gain would possible be a bit of up travel.

Post by **alien** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:25 pm

and a softer ride... zuks dont need heavy duty leaves unless you're always carrying a lot of weight...

Post by **VR Rodeo** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:00 pm

Will also give you a more even rate of flex instead of getting all the droop/flop from the 3/4 leaf

Post by **zookanator01** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:30 pm

if your looking for shackles, go on tarantula4x4.com you can get them 2" over standard for around $100

Post by **Guy** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:32 am

Zook_Fan wrote:
love_mud wrote:
zookprojectfnq wrote:If your handy with a welder and oxy you could try ruff in front and 3/4 elliptical rear. I welded on diff shock mounts and was able to still use Gabriel hi ace rear shocks. Still not finished but

Loose some leaves from that leaf pack.
there is no point removing more leafs. it will have massive droop as it is, the only gain would possible be a bit of up travel.

You really want you main spring to be doing the bulk of the work. Not the buggy spring, There is WAY more to a good offroad sierra than massive rear flex.

Post by **GRPABT1** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:04 am

I don't know about old mate but the whole point of my 3/4 setup was that I didn't want to run 3 leaves in the rear cause my rig sits flat with 4 and I load it up for camping sometimes but I still wanted a little more flex just to match the front (which is 3 leaf) for balance. He's got similar clamps to mine which can be slid along the buggy leaf to tune how much affect it has and overall droop, it could be left half way along the spring and just add a little overall flex and be at a more even rate when wheeling and then slid all the way forward for ramps days and poser shots.

3/4 has alot more potential than drop shackles.

Post by **Gwagensteve** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:21 am

GRPABT1 wrote: 3/4 has alot more potential than drop shackles.

X quite a lot.

It's acutally controlled travel - just like a normal spring, and is very tuneable.

3/4 isn't perfect, but it is a solution where you're limited to a short spring like the rear of a SWB sierra.

Steve.

Post by **zookprojectfnq** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:49 pm

I have had those leaves out more times then I care to imagine. The set that are in there flex awesome and the car sits level. (damm suzuki lean) I get good up travel to. With 3/4 the flex is very controlled and you get twist in the top leaf as well. I get very good flex in the front and did 3/4 to try and match the rear with minimal weight in there.

Post by **meads02** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:16 pm

zookprojectfnq - Is your tank going back in the standard position at all? I'd like to see a 3/4 setup on a zook with the tank in the original position. Is it even possible?

Post by **zookprojectfnq** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:39 pm

Yeah its back in there. The pipe runs between top bar and chassis. Its a tight squeeze but. It doesn't seam to rub. I'm going to get a custom alloy tank with a bit more capacity and a different filler location in the very near future to replace it but.

Post by **stock.as.arock** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:58 pm

mate used superior engineering they are the best ive seen http://www.superiorengineering.com.au/s ... _29_30_219

Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Drop Shackles sierra 89

Drop Shackles sierra 89

Who is online