Front spring shackle replacement

[Cool Hand Lurker]

I am going to replace the front shackles on my 47 Coupe. It has been a long time since I replaced shackles and I don't remember using a spring spreader. Is one necessary for the front spring or just for the rear one?

Just thought I would ask before I killed myself before my time. My wife said she had the date set for my funeral but it wasn't just yet.....

[adileo]

Just did my truck. Lift car and place jacks under frame. Let wheels hang. If same as f1 no tension

[TJ]

I just did the front shackles on a '40 and needed the spring spreader. Had all the weight off the front end and still needed the spreader. I would use a spreader just for safety. Better safe than sorry.

[bosborn38pu]

I took weight off and then used a 4-ton porta-power with V adaptor on each end. Although I would recommend a spreader - safer.

[JSeery]

There is a difference in the spring/suspension setup between the early V8 Fords and the later ones. In the earlier years the spring is used to help control side to side sway and the spring was under tension to accomplish this. In the later years other methods of sway control was incorporated and there is much less spring tension. You should be able to use jacks to support the spring and frame to position it so there is minimal tension on the shackle. But you can use a spring spreader to assist, on the earlier years it is a necessity.

[Cool Hand Lurker]

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Thanks for the replies. I think I will use a porta-power. It will be a help to get the parts aligned if nothing else.

[Bill OH]

I changed the shackles on a 38 Ford in the early 50s using only a Model T jack under the shackle end of the spring - no spreader.

[supereal]

We put a floor jack under the end of the spring and raise it until the tension on the shackle is released, then pull the shackle off. Then do the same to the other side.

[drolston]

Ditto the floor jack. A scissor type screw jack is a little better than a bottle type hydraulic jack, because it is easier to slightly adjust up or down. I just did the front of my '41 that way. Get both sides of the frame on jack stands just behind the front wheel, with the front tires just off the ground. Loosen all of the shackle bolts before you jack the spring. Place the jack under spring eye so that you can still get a wrench on the shackle bolts. Raise the jack a little at a time until the shackles go loose on their bolts; like when you can wiggle the back one by hand. Take the nuts the rest of the way off and knock off the shackle with stick of wood or a punch and a ball peen. Then adjust the jack again until the front one is loose, and knock it off.

I hope you are just replacing the shackles, because if you are doing the shackle bolts, there is no easy way with the spring on the car.

Good luck and Happy New Year.

[philipswanson]

[QUOTE=drolston;1570924 If you are doing the shackle bolts, there is no easy way with the spring on the car.

Good luck and Happy New Year.[/QUOTE]

Why are the shackle bolts hard to change (on the car) if you have the shackles loose??

[cas3]

they are very uncooperative mean and nasty rubber/metal that is pressed in. sometimes have get violent and remove them in pieces, and hack saw the last bit of metal.

[fordor41]

I think drolston is talking about shackle bushings in the spring eyes.

[Cool Hand Lurker]

These shackles have been off recently. I converted my 47 Ford Coupe to tube shocks in the front with a generic kit designed more for hot rods than original cars and the lower end of the shock mounted on a redesigned shackle instead of on a stud in the hole in the axle.
I now have a pair of the original 1948 front shock mounts and want to replace the generic kit with the original mounts and shocks.
This is why I am taking off the shackles but I see now that all I have to do is take off the modified side plates and replace them with original ones.

Thanks for all the discussion. It was really helpful.