Shackles

[cruiser_beast]

Hey every1,

I was working at an engineering shop and on my last day we werent doing much so i rushed around the steel racks looking for some 50 x 8 mild steel flat bar to make some new shackles for my cruiser. I couldnt find any 50X8, found 40 x 10 and heaps of other stuff, but then i found, some 50 X 7 flat stainless steel, i cut it up into lengths and was interested to know if it would still be suitable to use stainless steel.
Its harder than mild steel, so i guess less fles would be apparent.

Yea, any suggestions, otherwise i guess ill just have to go buy some mild steel flat bar.

Sam.

[SupraLux]

I wouldn't use stainless, as it is prone to work-harden and crack over time. Mild steel is probably the best stuff to use. I've attached (or I will try to - if it doesn't work then check my personal pics folder and I'll drop them there) some pics of the ones I made.


40 x 10 might be ok to use, as thats what the beefy hilux ones are made from - the only problem will be the factory pins will be a bit short going through 10mm.

regards

Steve

How they look unpainted:


Length:


Nicer with a coat of paint...

[cruiserbeast]

So i guess i should try and get hold of some mild steel flat bar then. Is 8 mm thick the thickest you should go with the cruiser standard pins?? So i deally you reckon 50 X 8 mm thick mild steel for landcruiser shackles???or 40 X8?????i notice that the standard shackles are only like 5mm thick.

Cheers.

Sam.

[SupraLux]

50x8 is fine. The problem with bigger is that for every 1mm thicker material you use, you take 1mm from the inside measurement of the shackles, compressing the rubbers / urethanes up more and limiting twist of your springs.

Ideally you would make new pins as well, but this gets expensive as they should be high-tensile. 18mm bolts are about $15-20 each from memory... so machining them is almost cheaper...

Steve