Hinged Spring Shackles

[suzyted]

has anybody tried themon a 1.3 sierra wide track with any success

anything to get more whel travel

[alien]

i made and am running my own... they work pretty well - but i found that when they do droop theres not really much weight down on the wheel to get that much traction - but it helps.

they also twist a fair bit under full articulation, nothing too bad but its a little scary when you first see it.

personally i wouldnt buy them, but i made em for $120 incl laser cutting, pins, the lot for all 4 corners and works great.

the lasercut file is also available for download at: www.suzukiinfo.com

[SiKiD_01]

i made and am running my own... they work pretty well - but i found that when they do droop theres not really much weight down on the wheel to get that much traction - but it helps.

they also twist a fair bit under full articulation, nothing too bad but its a little scary when you first see it.

personally i wouldnt buy them, but i made em for $120 incl laser cutting, pins, the lot for all 4 corners and works great.

the lasercut file is also available for download at: www.suzukiinfo.com

hey alien, can you get pics on how they look and how they work?

maybe a couple of flex shots? do you have a Shackle reversal on your sierra, seeing as you said you had them on all corners.

thanks
Steve

[alien]

Nar no shackle reversal, hence shackles are on the 4 corners, not just the 2 back corners =P

No flex pics im afraid, but if you can imagine it, heres how it looks flexed:

2" lifted spring, opposing wheels articulating, a 215/75r15 tyre has about 4 inches of space between the top of the tyre and the bottom of the side skirt on the front end. the rear is severely limited by the springs for some reason and top of tyre sits 1" below skirt. (this is with shockies off)

QUOTE FROM DECEMBER 10 2001:
"Recently i designed some 'drop shackles' or missing link suspension for my suzuki... i have since had it laser cut and welded together to form my final design, which has now been in testing for 2 days... (put them on sat arvo).

They have since survived a rather severe bashing... lol... ive been airborne and hammered them through some VERY rough terrain.

*UPDATE* 2/11/02
Everything is still holding together great and working superbly!!

Details:
4mm mild Steel
high tensile steel pins
middle pin = 14mm high tensile pin w/ nyloc nut
top and bot pins = standard suzuki pins (12mm) - these are now new 100mm long high tensile pins as the stock suzuki ones were a tad short and i didnt want them coming undone!!"

piccy of them a few days after fitting - still has whiteout on em!!! haha


Wow i cant believe i made them nearly 4 years ago!!! crazy. best part is they are still on the zuk and working! although need some work to make them operate, cos i have tightened the centre pin to lock them shut and all grease has been washed out of the hinge.

[SiKiD_01]

thanks for the pics alien.

when you get some flex shots, can you post then, as i'd like to see how they are when extended.

and also, what springs are you using front and rear? are they standard suzuki ones?

thanks
Steve

[alien]

theyre lovells 2" jobs front and rear....

no pics of it flexin' as im going lux fronts all round soon - and im giving the shackles away to a lucky person on suzishop forums for posting a cool picture =) hehe

none of the flex shots i have have them opening up cos my shocks severely limit them - they only opened 10mm =(

but with shocks off tis insane.... + 4 inches of travel instantly.

[sierrajim]

I've got a set on the front of my car. The problem is that they load/unload too easily.

I only fitted them as a temporary measure until i fit the hilux springs in the front (maybe lazyness).

Have already busted one in under 5 trips.

I'm also going through hanger bushes quickly, perhaps because of the hinged shackles.

I have picked up more travel and with MQ diffs, 15x10 beadlocks and 36" Simex's have a bit of unsprung weight pushing them down.

I'd suggest playing around with different springs ie, RUF or hilux rears in the front.

[alien]

sierra jim - you running my ones or climax or ???