shackle replace

Use jack stands to support the frame in front, and behind the axles, there is no need to lift much, and use a bottle or floor jack to remove tires, a floor jack or two helps doing both axles one side at a time.
Being 18 years old, I would consider replacing springs, equalizers, and shackles with new ones. I have always used Dexter, or MorRyde products for the axles weight rating.

2oldman wrote:


Yellow arrow points to what I know as a spring shackle.. hope that's right. It's coming apart at the top. Although I have driven (without my knowledge) with one of these having completely failed, I really don't want to hit the road knowing it's failing.

Is this a DIY with sockets, the proper wrenches and a bottle jack?

Yep these fail because they are designed for occasional use> they are too thin to support the weight if used often.

Get a heavy duty shackle kit with wet bolts and be done with it.

Boy that looks sturdy! thanks

MORryde SRE4000 & heavy wet bolts, zerks are inside so it can be greased w/o pulling wheels. Brakes puled for disc upgrade
Click For Full-Size Image.

I replaced the suspension on my triple axle and it wasn't hard to do.

Like already stated, it's time to toss those crappy, thin shackles into the trash along with the OLD equalizers...

For about $500 you can get into the Mor/ryde SRE4000 and an additional $100-$150 for the HD shackles and wet bolts..

SRE4000 from Tweetys

HD shackles and wet bolts-Tweetys

You just have to know your existing wheelbase to get the proper kits

Take a look at this thread for detailed explanations and pictures of the process for upgrading the equalizer and shackles.
Barney

great writeup.. too bad the pics got 'bucketed'

+1 to get the HD kit. It is a lot of hard physical work to tear it all down and replace. Not technically difficult but physical. Did mine over two weekends. I jacked up the entire trailer frame onto jack stands, removed the wheels for better access, and used the jack to support one axle at a time during the swap. I was replacing my flatted springs at the same time so no shortcuts. Possibly one shackle could be done with a single lift point but really best to do the whole thing. OK to just drag it to a shop if needed.

time2roll wrote:
+1 to get the HD kit. It is a lot of hard physical work to tear it all down and replace. Not technically difficult but physical.

Probably not something I'll be doing. As memory serves, I've only had to replace these things 2 times in 18 years, this will make 3, and just two at a time. That really doesn't seem like a big maintenance headache.