Dodge van Spring Write up

is the boomerang shackles a MUST or could i get by with my RC lift shackles? i've finally got my springs after getting the run around for a week,
 
it's a must unless you are going to alter your shackle boxes (the mounts). otherwise at flex it will just hit the body and tear it up.
 
has anyone modified their boxes? i'm really not wanting to spend another 125 for new shackles. i dont think anyone has any for sale
 
I Need to bring this back. I have a few issues. I think i need to add another leaf. The front sleeve is too big for the bolt ontly by a little bit, i dont think it will be a problem, dont know what options i have for that. Sleeve the sleeve to make up the difference or is there some kind of bolt with a larger diameter to make up the diff? Also, I need new bushings for the shackle ends. Cirrently, the bushings are just the van ones cut down, no sleeve and i would like to make them gresable. So i need to start looking for a greasable shackle set, but i need a universal one for the 2.5" wide springs. The diameter of the main sye of the spring is smaller than the xj one. This is the stock bushing here. Maybe a yl or a cj?
 
Ok. Well a few things to report. The rear bushing used in the van pack is too long and just rubber, no sleeve. A dodge dakota spring eye bushing is the same size. I used a 1990 one. It needs to be 1" od. and big enough for a 2.5" spring. The inner sleeve comes out to be 2 7/8" so a little grinding on the inner sleeve is needed. This uses a 1/2" bolt where as the stocker is a little bigger. You could drill this out and weld a sleeve in there to get the 1/2" hole, but i bolted it up and it was fine. Im going to leave the front eye alone, and will be adding a couple of leaves in to get a little for arch as it seems it is sagging. Will be the project for the weekend, i will take pictures.
 
i got my springs in the yard still. i'm going to build them up after a get a SYE and D.B.s.. so the bushing that is needed for the rear of the spring is the 90 Dakota? ( cause it has the sleeve?) no wonder i thought the stock bushings looked funny and out of place. i'm going to try and build my pack at 5" then the 1.5 shackle will help with the rest
 
userbmx1315 said:
i got my springs in the yard still. i'm going to build them up after a get a SYE and D.B.s.. so the bushing that is needed for the rear of the spring is the 90 Dakota? ( cause it has the sleeve?) no wonder i thought the stock bushings looked funny and out of place. i'm going to try and build my pack at 5" then the 1.5 shackle will help with the rest
Click to expand...
Yea i have to add some leafs in to get sme arch back amd a little height. Yep. Went to the spring shop and told them i need a bushing to fit this spring but also for an xj shackle. Took a little looking, but thats what he came up with. Will be putting these in sat or tomorrow.
 
how much lift are you trying to get? what sprngs are you using? my stock main leafs seem the have a slight bow in them from the s10 pack. so it looks like its going to be sooner to build these packs,
 
I have the dodge main, then the second rubicon spring. Took out the 3rd and then have the rest of the rubcion pack. Im think im going to go back to just the dodge main the rest RE 3.5 inch pack. Maybe some van leafs in there to get some lift back. I could cut down some if the van springs and use them on the bottom of the pack.
 
i was going to use an add a leaf and like 2 if the s10 pack and the overload off the van . should net 5" hope fully not rough tho. but only one way to find out
 
Ok. well, i finised it tofay amongst other things, finding my grandfather having a seizure and going to the hospital with him, i still managed to get it done. I know have a 6 leaf pack. Van main, rubicon 2nd, rubicon 3rd, van 4, rubicon 4th and 5th. We will see how this works. i still need to cut some leafs and radius the ends, but i think its ok. It got me come arch and some lift. It should be able to hold a good amount of weight when on the trail hopefuly. At least a little better now. I will wait until it settles in and see how i like it. Forgot to bring the camera tho:banghead: . Will report back after it settles in. I should load it up and go wheelin, but no job=no money.
 
Ok anyone just use the 1/2 ton 4 leaf pack without mixing in other leafs ? if so did you gain any lift at all over stock.i know some use ford 1/2 ton packs and they flex well. maybe tnt will chime in.thx
 
Played around with it a bit more. I got a ton of arch in them, but no up travel. Im gunna play with them tomorrow and put the rubican main back in there with the eyes cut off and take some of the bottom leaves out and see what that does. Ill experiment with putting some van springs in there as well. I need to get the right combo of lift, uptrave and down travel. I think thsi was it "Van main, rubicon 2nd, rubicon 3rd, van 4, rubicon 4th and 5th." It didnt have the arch tho. Ill try it again and see. I will update too!
 
I think i have a decent pack now. I used the dodge van main spring, cut the eyes of the rubicon main for the second then used the rest of the rubicon pack except the small bottom leaf. Lots of down travel. Will get pictures up when photobucket doesnt suck.
 
Pictures are up.
HPIM0604.jpg

HPIM0602.jpg

HPIM0607.jpg
 
i'm headed to the pick n pull tomorrow for some random stuff and i thought of this thread... i remember you telling me about this when you came to my house to try on travis's tires. i'm a bit confused as to what you ended up using for bushings. as far as i can tell, the rear one uses a '90 Dakota rear bushing with a bit of length ground off the sleeve? and it requires a smaller bolt? any problems with this since your last update? is the front bushing ok to use as is? i saw that you mentioned it is oval, but is it sleeved? thanks
 
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The front is the oval and it is sleeved. The rear is a dakota and i believe it was the same size bolt. Just check at the spring place. Also, I believe the older springs use just a round bushing in the front which leves more room for your leaves in there. I had to cut mine short to clear the oval part
 
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