Hey, well i couldnt figure out how to get my truck high enough to change the rear shackles. I have the sears 3 ton floor jack that goes up 20" and 3 ton jack stands that go up 17" and i couldnt figure out how to keep the rear wheels off the ground on the jack stands. The jack stands appeared to be at least a foot too short.

Could someone please give me some good advice, I feel really bad becuase everone told me this would be really easy.

 

I put the jack stands under the frame in front of the rear axle. I just did this mod on my buddy's truck last Sunday

 

The frame rails do rise pretty high at the rear of the truck. I had to use some wood under the jackstands to get it to work. Just make sure the wood is solid and level. I am sure some other guys have even better advice but I did it in about 30-45 mins. with only 2 beverage breaks using the wood.

 

What kinda jack stands did you use? 3 ton, 6 ton? how tall was the wood you used under the jack stands?

 

My car jack stands were too short too.

I bought two jack stands from Sears, 6 ton, that rise to 24 inches. They were $39.95 for the pair, or close to that, not sure exactly but cheap for what they are. Good quality.

 

hmmm are your jack stands adjustable, you should be able to pull a pin out to increase their size, it sounds crazy that they would make jack stands not tall enough to lift the wheals off the ground,,, mine work fine and i just bout cheap acdelco jack stands ( 3 tons of course)

~Toast

 

Mine are the 3 ton stands from Sears.(black in color). I was at my dad's shop so I think I used a couple sheets of 3/4" plywood and 4"x6"s on each side. Did I mention the beverage breaks, it impairs the memory process a little.

 

Toast, yeah i have the sears adjustable 3 ton jack stands that go up 17" which wasnt even close to lift the rear if the jack stands were to be under the frame.

Chickenears, where did you place your jacks to keep the rear tires off the ground in order th change the rear shackles?

 

In front of the leaf spring front hanger.

 

thanks chickenears! I need some 6 ton stands and cinder blocks!

 

Why do you want to lift the rear tires off the ground to change the shackles? All you need is the tension off the rear spring enough to get the bolts out of the shackles and install the longer ones. I put a big 2x6 across the spare tire and lifted up just enough to get the tension off....was a cinch....took about 10 min to do both sides.

 

I just did my shackles. Here is how I did it. Block off front wheels, jack up one side of the truck on the frame ahead of the forward leaf spring hanger. Remove wheel, place jack stand under forward leaf hanger, lower jack. repeat on otherside. Now place jack under diff. housing and raise slightly to release tension on the leaf springs. Hope this helps

 

NEVER use cinder blocks!! By cinder blocks, I suppose your mean concrete blocks?? Never support a vehicle with them. I have a friend with NO LEGS because of using just that.

The 40 Ford that he was supporting fell on him and his legs were trapped under it for 3 hours before someone found him. They collapsed under the pressure.

He has two artifical legs today because of it. I'm dead serious about this, never use them or even wood, for that matter, unless it's oak.

 

I visited your webpage,
My F150 SCab has the 7700 package with the seven lug wheels.
I want 20's on my truck, do you know where to get some or a billet adapter or something.

Thanks,
Steve

 

You could always take the rear wheels off..It would also be a good time to rotate tires from back to front....