Rear spring perch, broken shackle

[QGolden]

Hi,
While tearing down my chassis for my current build I found a broken rear shackle on the rear drivers side. I pulled the spring, brake rods, etc. dropped the rear end to the floor. Of course the half of the shackle that is broken off is in the rear spring perch on the backing plate. It broke off on the grease fitting side, I was able to get the castle nuts off.

I tried to drive it out to no avail. My question is, can I just drill it out and ream to size, and install a new shackle. I can see the grease hole in the center so starting a drill should not be a problem, looks like the broken shackle is mild steal. I was not planing to take the rear end apart, and hope not to have to.

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

Can you post a picture of what it looks like?
It' hard to image that it can't be driven out, but I may not be picturing what it looks like.
Have you tried wd40? Is there any part of the shackle face left that you could get some vise grip pliers on to turn?
Neil

[Tom Wesenberg]

Have you tried to rattle it out with an air chisel? You might have to make a tool by grinding the point to a blunt surface on one of the bits.

[Drive Shaft Dave]

Using Tom's suggestion , a little heat with the blue wrench should help.

[pat in Santa Cruz]

I would try the air hammer. I have had success using a rivet tool to drive shackle bushings out. Perhaps you might have to drive out both the broken shackle and the bushing together. If it broke off like that, it probably bound to the bushing.

Once you get it out, be aware that repro shackles do break ( see Vince's site on this) The best replacements are the old aftermarket shackles that do not quite look original, and have threaded grease fitting bores.
http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/brokenshackles.htm

[QGolden]

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Thanks for the replies. I will post a photo or two later. When I shut down for the night last night I put AeroKroil on it to set up for the night.

Related question, how high can I raise the frame with the rear end on the floor without removing the Wishbones from the transmission? It's a 31.

[Tom Wesenberg]

The wishbone (radius rods) are bolted to the torque tube, and not a problem. The limiting factors are the brake rods and the coupling around the U-joint. You should be able to raise the frame 6 inches or so.

You may have to unbolt the rear shocks from the frame, if they are connected.

[QGolden]

Thanks for the replies. Attached are a couple of photos of the broken shackle.

Any idea how much I can lower the rear-end below the frame, Well actually the rear-end is on the floor and the frame is jacked up, before I stress the u-joint coupling? Right now I am about 15 inches, which is actually only 5 or 6 inches below where the rear-end usually sits if the springs are attached.

Thank you in advance.

[Keith True]

Quint,just put the nut back on and turn it.When it bottoms out the shackle should break loose and spin in the hole.You might have to heat it.but once it spins you should easily get it out.I bet it broke because it was stuck there to begin with.Something had to give when the spring bounced up and down,that was the weakest spot.

[tbirdtbird]

"I bet it broke because it was stuck there to begin with"
Exactly.
that baby is gonna need some heat

[Tom Wesenberg]

I see some serious rust on all the parts pictured. You are going to do a complete teardown, sandblast and rebuild, aren't you?
For the broken shackle I would use a sleeve with an I.D. just a hair larger than the shackle, then tighten the nut against it to put pulling force on the broken part, then heat the outer part of the perch with an ox/acc torch, then use an air hammer on the broken end to push. Hopefully these 3 in combination will get it out.
I didn't realize this was a chassis that has been setting out for a long time and not driven. I suspect you will have a time with the brake levers also.

[fordcoupe]

Looks like my old ones lot's of heat/soaking/hitting and time they will come out

[QGolden]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I see some serious rust on all the parts pictured. You are going to do a complete teardown, sandblast and rebuild, aren't you?
For the broken shackle I would use a sleeve with an I.D. just a hair larger than the shackle, then tighten the nut against it to put pulling force on the broken part, then heat the outer part of the perch with an ox/acc torch, then use an air hammer on the broken end to push. Hopefully these 3 in combination will get it out.
I didn't realize this was a chassis that has been setting out for a long time and not driven. I suspect you will have a time with the brake levers also.

Yes I am. Hence what i have done so for. It's funny because the rest of the chassis is nowhere near as bad as the rear end. All of the hardware comes apart real easy, most of it is nicely painted. The engine looks great, nice green. runs good.. Inside the fuel tank looks good. I drove it (1000 ft driveway ) and it drives and stops nice. It looks like the rear end does not belong on the rest of the chassis. Or someone did a lot of work a few years ago and quit when they got to the rear end.

[JBill]

If the rest of the car is in a lot better shape than what's in the photograph, then I'd be tempted to just replace all that. It's not that hard to find pretty good used backing plates, brake lever arms, even shackles that are in a lot better shape than those. This is just my opinion. If you try to salvage these, then I admire your fortitude.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by JBill

If the rest of the car is in a lot better shape than what's in the photograph, then I'd be tempted to just replace all that. It's not that hard to find pretty good used backing plates, brake lever arms, even shackles that are in a lot better shape than those. This is just my opinion. If you try to salvage these, then I admire your fortitude.

LOL, that's exactly what I was thinking when I saw the picture, but didn't want to say anything because I like to see as many parts saved as possible. Plus, sometimes things aren't really as bad as they look.

[QGolden]

Thx guys, I really don't think it is as bad as it looks in the picture. The brakes are free, and stop well. Spring came off easy, the shackle on the other side came out with no effort. I do know where there are a half dozen rear ends and I was tempted to swap it out, but I will try to work with this one first. There is Mud and rust stuck to it, I have not cleaned it up yet.