That is right, I pulled into my place tonight and heard some banging as the truck was bouncing alittle. I parked the truck and checked around the rear of the truck and started to pick up on the rear bumper when I heard the sound. Looked under the passenger side of the box and the rear shackle bracket broke off. The shackle is still attached to the spring and seems okay but I then checked the driver's side out and it has two cracks in it as well and there is a hole in it that I can put my first finger through. What really bothers me is the fact that this truck is only 10 years old and had the factory undercoating on it.

Anyone else have this problem on their trucks or am I the only one so far that has had this problem ?????

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

It's a common problem. I did mine last year and i just did them on a '95 last week. I recommend doing both the shackles and the brackets because they are both prone to breaking. The brackets and shackles are about 30 bucks a piece and most Ford dealers stock them.

-Jon

 

Jon, I did not know that these go that often. I had a '87 before this one and I never had this problem. It is definately a good thing that a Ford Dealership stocks these but I will see later today when I give them a shout to see if they do stock them here in Windsor or whether I have to wait for them to arrive. The shackles may be a good idea since the odds of the springs eyes breaking are pretty slim especially if they are that cheap to buy and replace.

I am glad that I am not the only one having these problems.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

yea it is pretty common, I have changed both on my 93 dually twice, and have done a few on 92-96 f150's. the problem is most people think you break them when loaded up with weight, but its acually just the opposite, its when you drive empty they take the abuse.go figure.

 

Hey Dean, remember I replaced the one on the passenger side last year it also had a hole rusted right through and the bolt could slide back and forth. If I had to do all over again i would spend 180 US and buy the lowering bracket and shackle kit, drop the rear 2 to 4 inches.

Just a Thought

Kirk

 

Remember you would need lowering shocks also.

 

wow, I didn't know this either.

 

Dean,

Where are the pictures?????
I forgot to ask, did you find any bushings?

JMC

 

Hey, well after spending about a hand and part of my forearm getting the two hanger brackets, shackles along with the necessary bolts, washers and nuts, the job is done. I stayed with stock stuff since I need the truck for tomorrow (Sunday) to go to work. The passenger side which is where we started since it was already broke took about 1 3/4 - 2 hrs to do since we had to critique our removal skills. The driver's side took about 30 - 45 minutes to do from start to finish. I didn't change the bushing on the rear since we didn't have all of the correct tools so I will have to get them changed out this week sometime at a spring shop. Just to let everyone know, we had to heat up the nut on the spring-eye end inorder to break it loose which inturn toasted the bushing. I hope to have pictures soon, so I will post them then. I think the biggest contributor to these rusting so quickly is the fact that the truck didn't have mudflaps on it until I owned it. All of the crud from all the driver would have settled up there and eventually rusted the brackets. Just a though but it seems to stand to reason.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

Guys, here some pictures of the ordeal ...

The problem child and it's replacement ....
Passenger Side Old Shackle
Passenger Side New Shackle

And the driver's one, it needed replacing as well ...
Driver's Side Old Shackle
Driver's Side New Shackle

Notice the finger sized hole in the bottom of the bracket. Glad this decided to happen while still in town and not out on the highway.

Thanks to everyone that gave advice and for the help JMC !!!!!!!!!!!

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean