MorRyde HD Shackle Upgrade

Well, the new Cerko HD shackles, bushings and wetbolts are installed.
Only time will tell how long they last. All the old bushings were completely worn through.

Plan to grease them twice a year, suspending each wheel and then lifting its weight off the suspension. Hopefully then the grease will be able to get all around the bushing.

Do find it odd that the hangers don't get as worn as the shackles, but the forces involved the tandem axle suspension with an equalizer are beyond me.:h

This is what it looked like last time it happened to me (I think). I paid a lot closer attention until I upgraded.

The original equipment shackle problems are caused by using cheap imported steel that is 5mm thick instead of the 1/4" that the suspension was designed for. In addition, the holes are punched out rather than bored. This punching process causes a shear and break that has only about 40% of the hole available for engagement with the splines on the bolts. If the bolt is not completely retained, the movement will cause the wear seen in the OP's photo. Look how the steel is rolled towards the hole in the photo, this is no way to produce the shackle and expect it to last.

I made my own shackles from heat-treated alloy steel and bored the holes properly. I have no clue if the thicker HD shackles are made properly. If the holes were punched in an even thicker plate and the bolt splines were put in the bell-mouthed side, failure could happen just the same.

If the wet bolt kit used actual bronze bushings, rather than oilite, they probably wouldn't split and chip like mine did. Unless a grease channel is cut inside the bushing there is little chance of lubricating it on the loaded side. Cut a figure 8 inside with a Dremel tool before installing.

myredracer wrote:
The Dexter ones are super thick at about 1/4" or more - etrailer says they are 1/2". The Mor/ryde ones look to be 1/2" too. The standard OEM shackles are very thin in comparison. The standard plastic bushings they use wear out quickly too.

Too bad the equalizers won't work for you, they are nice.

We have the complete Dexter setup. I expect the shackles to outlast the rest of the trailer by decades...

The local CERKA shackles are a good 1/2" too. At least twice as thick as the originals. Not too worried about the cushioned equalizers as the Northwood frame already comes with shocks, and the ride has been outstanding so far.

But I wonder about the bronze bushings. Their wall is about the same thickness as the original plastic bushings. Is bronze that stronger than the plastic? Considering how the 1/4" steel shackle was deformed, I'm not surprised that the plastic bushings are also worn. But will bronze be any better? Or does the grease somehow take the pounding and protect the bronze bushing?

(and by the way, IIRC all Northwood frame shocks are mounted on the outside of the frame, not inside; and with absolutely no problems. Will know for sure tomorrow when I get back to the trailer.)

The Dexter ones are super thick at about 1/4" or more - etrailer says they are 1/2". The Mor/ryde ones look to be 1/2" too. The standard OEM shackles are very thin in comparison. The standard plastic bushings they use wear out quickly too.

Too bad the equalizers won't work for you, they are nice.

We have the complete Dexter setup. I expect the shackles to outlast the rest of the trailer by decades...

My original shackles and bushings probably should have been replaced after 4-5K miles. (True for most trailers?) The original tires (Marathons) are still going strong. There's something wrong with that.

That shackle in the top picture looks better than mind did. Mine failed completely and left me stranded in Gila Bend AZ. I got new shackles and bolts at a supplier in Phoenix and fixed the broken shackle in a truckstop parking lot. As soon as I got it home I ordered the Dexter EZflex and installed it myself. Easy enough, just take your time, use several hydraulic jacks and jack stands for safety. I am extremely pleased with the Dexter system.

My new toy hauler has Equa-Flex rubber cushioned equalizers by Lippert but not wet bolts or thick shackles. I'll be looking to replace them in the near future.

I did the Dexter upgrade on my driveway - it wasn't hard.

ford truck guy wrote:

...
I did the conversion on my last fiver myself and that was a bit of a challenge , only because of the weight of the trailer and my hot blacktop driveway.. But it was fine

Think I'll avoid any potential problems by having someone with all the proper equipment do it. Especially as we want to leave for Florida in a few weeks. A local spring shop figures they can do it in 2.5-3 hrs at their going wage rate. I'm happy with that.

brulaz wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
I just upgraded my shackles and bolts to the Mor/Ryde HD and wet bolt kit... The shackles are almost twice as thick as the stock....

Yes that's why I want them.
Did you do it yourself? If so any suggestions?

I was converting my brake system to the Tiatn Disc Brake system... While the installer was doing that I asked him about the wet bolt and shackles....it cost me an additional $80.00 labor to swap the bolts to wet bolts... The old shackles to the HD... And the equaflex to the Mor/Ryde SRE 4000... Worth every penny!!

I did the conversion on my last fiver myself and that was a bit of a challenge , only because of the weight of the trailer and my hot blacktop driveway.. But it was fine