CJ Shackles?

npca-mcsoo · Post by **npca-mcsoo** » Sun Oct 21, 2001 1:57 pm

Does anyone know they width of the leafs at the mounting point front/rear? I wondering if shackles from a CJ would work on a Patrol. Or maybe FJ40 shackles?

npca-grant · Post by **npca-grant** » Sun Oct 21, 2001 2:49 pm

I dont *think* CJ or FJ stuff will fit without some rework. If you need the specs, ironman does have a nice web page with specs for many vehicles. From that you may be able to determine what *might* work. Here is the web sight: http://www.ironmansuspension.com/leaftec.htm Good luck, and let me know what you find out, in that Im in the market for new leaf springs myself. Grant P.S. ironman has not responded to my emails, nor have they responded to thier US suplier. Thus I think they may be out o business or something... Need to get up in the middle of the night and just call them to see what the real deal is. But they have a nice web page with good specs, worth copining for future use.

npca-shaved-ape · Post by **npca-shaved-ape** » Sun Oct 21, 2001 9:54 pm

no they wont fit, cj as all jeeps have much narrower leaves, unfortunately nothing off the shelf will fit because of the greasable feature on the nissan. you have to remove the metal bushings from the spring eyes, then you can use chevy or lancruiser aftermarket poly parts. i have landcruiser poly bushes and homegrown shackles.

npca-grant · Post by **npca-grant** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 10:07 am

Hey shaved-ape >>unfortunately nothing off the shelf will fit because of >>the greasable feature on the nissan. Hmmm ok. >>you have to remove the metal bushings from the spring >>eyes, then you can use chevy or lancruiser aftermarket >>poly parts. i have landcruiser poly bushes and >>homegrown shackles. Cool, say, Im not too hip to the jargon... what is poly parts? And, could you give me me more detail on what chevy or landcruiser parts work? Year, Model, or even part number? Oh, and any more details on those home made shackles.. Oh, one more thing, what did you replace the metal bushings with? The orginal patrol grease ones? Ah, heck, could you just describe the whole process in more detail? Im desperate here, in that the only thing holding me up right now is the leaf springs. Thanks a mill! Grant

npca-mcsoo · Post by **npca-mcsoo** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 4:09 pm

Poly - Polyurethene. Better suspension response? I guess. I have poly bushings on the a arms of my Pathfinder. Nothing but squeakin going on there... I guess home grown shackle are it...

npca-xpatrolx · Post by **npca-xpatrolx** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 7:23 pm

I have been researching new springs with a little lift. On the ironman site (yeah the ones who never answer) they have the specs of the fj40 which are about 1/2 inch off from the Patrol in the front, however, I haven't found anything close on the rear. I have talked to a 4x4 shop here in Utah a few times and the owner called around on Rancho, Skyjacker and others and couldn't find a good rear match. So, to keep it "simple" I am going to switch (sorry to all stockers) to cruiser springs all around and weld in new mounts in the rear. As the rear springs are significantly shorter, we anticipate that the axle will sit slightly farther back which is a bonus to me for a longer wheelbase, yet could require a longer driveshaft. I wanted to get something that, in case of breakage, will be easy to replace. Wrangler springs are all one size, and too short for the matter, and other options just don't look as good. I even considered having springs made by a local shop...but they won't be so local in Moab.

npca-mcsoo · Post by **npca-mcsoo** » Mon Oct 22, 2001 10:22 pm

When you switch the springs, be sure to email me (mcsoom@hotmail.com) with pics and the springs you used, etc... All the details. All I can think of right now is haveing the springs re-arched for a couple of inches of lift.

npca-shaved-ape · Post by **npca-shaved-ape** » Tue Oct 23, 2001 10:18 pm

probly the easiest to do, without all the mods and welding would be to give ALCAN SPRING out of california a call, sorry no #. they will make a set of new springs , any length/width/eye. you would be surprised on the price, their price was better than the new ones i bought for my cruiser, but it was too late when i found out. i would have them make some springs to the width and length of the patrol with common eyes , chevy or landcruiser would be best. if all you want is longer shackles, you have three choices,, 1: use landruiser shackles, they are a bit wider, but a couple washers will fix that, at least the bolt size is close. 2: make some, go to a hardware store and get some G8 bolts the same size as the patrol pins, then cut some 3/8X1 1/2" steel flat sock to whatever length you want, remember you get about half the lift of the shackle length. 3: knock out the patrol metal inserts from the eyes, measure the inside eye and find bushings to fit at the 4x store or online. also on the poly bushings, dont get the colored ones, only the black ones are able to be graphite impregnated and thats only more recently that they have been doing that, i run them and dont have any squeeks. ohh and keep in mind, if you are looking into lift springs, the cheapy lifts like rancho and such dont use longer leaves for mild lifts, wich will make them a bit shorter than original or "advertised" length. so if you find a spring that says 52" with say 2" lift then you will probly be in the 50" range you need for the rear end. but i think i would go with alcan. hope this helps some,

npca-mcsoo · Post by **npca-mcsoo** » Wed Oct 24, 2001 2:09 pm

Wow.. you are definitly a help. Can you send me some pics of your rig? I want to see this thing... What kind of axles are you running? All your mods.. etc.