Shackle Pin Replacement

Interested in seeing how that job works out. I don't have any issues with mine yet, but as heavy as the front is on these T2's, I know it's just a matter of time. Please take some pictures when you do it & post them here.

 

You can use a bottle jack between the spring and frame for support while rebuilding the shackles. This makes height adjustments simple when going back together. If the truck has the cast aluminum spring hanger brackets it takes a huge shock to get the bushings moving out out them on removal. A 6-8 pound sledge preferably with a short handle will get them moving. The cast steel brackets are easier on bushing removal. Usually you can drive them out with an air hammer if you have a good one, or you can slice a relief with a torch then punch them out. The relief cut with a torch works best on the spring eye bushings, then air hammer or hammer and punch or bushing driver to drive them out.

When installing the new bushings in hanger brackets and spring eyes, I use a 10" piece of 3/4" fine threaded rod with two long nuts and huge heavy flat washers supplied by the local spring shop to pull the bushings in. Lube everything up good including the threads on the rod and they pull right in.

 

Bottle jack between chassi and springs is dangerous! To easy to slip out and get ya.
Jack the whole front up from front x member and use stands under front of spring eyes. Some kw bushes are tacked in with weld gotta make sure that's goane before trying to remove bushes. If things don't line up use a chain block between springs to align

 

ive used a bottlee jack in between spring and frame was pretty cleverly setup as it was a small jack, but i had weight of truck off floor as well.

make sure you check the play in the actual spring hanger itself could be worn or the hole could be oblonged due to wear. easy to look over and fix while you are there. i changed one side on my shaker the factory hangers were made of aluminum cast and were shot to crap on my pass side so i got a new replacement from freightliner which was a cast steel piece same dimensions and got it all put to gether in about half a days time with the jack in between spring and frame.

 

It helps to have a come-a-long and a couple of big c-clamps. We use the 1/2" threaded rod too.

 

If your gonna spend that kinda money on rods mains and gaskets might as well overhaul it while your there or at least be prepared to because you will find some thing and make sure they clean it very well and plug off all oil galleys isx do not like any dirt it the oil system its a deaths sentence it will split the block on #4 main