YJ Owners - Shackle bolts loosened up ... unstable?

[DNA]

On the advice of some people here on JU (those present and past) I finally decided to loosen up the shackle bolts to allow more movement and consequently and better ride. Doing this made my YJ wobble (shimmy?) when I hit bumps - this made me real nervous so I tightened them up again.

Is this normal? It seems that it should be but no one reported problems on having done this little adjustment. Did I loosen them too much? I didn't use a torque wrench in loosening these bolts - just loosened them a bit.

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Paul (formerly phkim )
White 1993 YJ Renegade 4.0L Hardtop
- Car Sound Catalytic Converter (my only mod - pretty sad, eh? :))
- Broken Skid Plate Bolts (3)

[wrendog]

dna,
Loosening the shackle bolts is fine-- just use some locktite to ensure that the nuts won't come off. That's what I did.

Warren

[This message has been edited by wrendog (edited 07-24-2000).]

[WillYJ]

DNA-- The bolts should be "just tight enough." Awfully vague, I know. You want it to be tight, yet you should still be able to turn the head of the bolt. I know that isn't much help. To be honest, go with what makes you happy. It shouldn't be wobbling. *IF* they were too tight before, when properly loosened, the shackle will move more creating a "smoother" ride.

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'92 Sahara. 4.10s, Lock Right front, 2" Body lift, 1.25" shackle lift, Jacob's Omni Magnum, homemade air tube w/K&N filter, 31" BFG A/Ts, Shooter's custom d-ring brackets, Magnaflow cat-back, HD rear driveshaft. Just bought: TJ fender flares and spare D35 axle shafts.Willy's Jeep Web (http://members.home.net/mikensarah1)

[wcjp]

I went with 25lbs of torque on my shackles. I haven't noticed any adverse affects.

[Y2K TJ]

With my 93YJ I think I used 35 ft lbs without any adverse effects, but 25 ft lbs is close enough. Either should work fine. I also would recommend locktite to prevent loosening.

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John (JPM1920@yahoo.com)
Y2K TJ Sahara, Deep Pan Automatic, Dual Tops, D44,
4" Lift, SYE, 2xARBs, 4.56 Gears, 35"BFG MT, 2x Adjustable Track Bars, Chrome Moly Tie Rod

http://members.xoom.com/JPM1920/Y2KTJBuildup.htm

http://members.xoom.com/JPM1920/Moab2000.htm

[Jeeper]

I've got 25ft lbs on mine (all lower bolts at all 4 corners) and 35ft lbs on the uppers. No adverse effects and lock-tight!

Jeeper

[Jeepskate]

I use shackles with a bolt-in cross-brace (Tomken) and nylock nuts on everything. I tighten them down until they just start to compress the poly bushings, then back them off a hair. No shimmies, no worries.

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'86 CJ-7 Laredo: 4.2,T-999,D300,D30/D44,clock,tach,AC,cruise,'95 seats,3 tops,2.5" Superlift,RS9000's,32" BFG MT's.
'83 Scrambler: under construction with parts from CJ's,YJ's,TJ's,FSJ's,GM,Ford,IH,Honda,Toyota and a whole lotta aftermarket & custom stuff.
http://jeepskate.4x4.org

[DNA]

Cool! thanks fellas. I'll loosen them up again and tighten them using my torque wrench to 35lbs upper and 25lbs lower. I think I tightened them up way too much because the ride is MUCH rougher now!

I guess I won't really have to worry about this once I get the OME and MORE greasable shackles http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif (Next October!!!!!! - only ~2 months away!) ")

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Paul (formerly phkim )
White 1993 YJ Renegade 4.0L Hardtop
- Car Sound Catalytic Converter (my only mod - pretty sad, eh? :))
- Broken Skid Plate Bolts (3)

[kid vicious]

use nylon nuts they don't come off unless you take em off alot or they are used by heat ie exhaust
kid

[DNA]

Hey Kid - thanks for the info. How are your problems working out with those bolts? I never did find out if you got that fixed or not - I hope you did!

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Paul (formerly phkim )
White 1993 YJ Renegade 4.0L Hardtop
- Car Sound Catalytic Converter (my only mod - pretty sad, eh? :))
- Broken Skid Plate Bolts (3)

[kid vicious]

I have a stud extractor comeing today I'll probably get to it wed or thurs they've had penatrating oil on them for a week now
thanks KID

[Bush Pig]

You can buy longer bolts, just long enough to fit another nut on.

Run the bolts facing outwards from the Jeep and put two nuts on. Tighten the Sh#$ out of the outside bolt and to the first bolt.

I do not personally do this, but it will help keep your bolts secure.

Just a thought
Bush Pig

[ThumpAZ]

Jeeper can attest to this...
One night, I LOST one of the nuts for my shackle bolt (lower right rear) and he and I spent a couple hours looking for a replacement (found it the next day @ PepBoys). If you can find "NyLock" nuts USE THEM!! if not, clean the haties outta the bolt and use copius amounts of locktite.
As for the NyLock nuts having the locking material melt out... I use them for my header collector and they have not melted away yet, so I don't think that being near the exhaust pipe is going to affect them adversly. I use them in this location because I got thru a collector gasket at a rate of about one a month. I jsut wanted to add this so folks don't have to worry about needing different nuts here and there, all you gotta have is one kind of spare (poetry in Jeeping, hehe).
HTH
Glenn

[yjfish]

the more greasable shackles come with crimped nuts, 25lbs and havent came loose yet.

Had the same prob you did, lift instructions said to torque shackle bolts 90 lbs. Talk about riding a lumber wagon.

How Massey is it? I got a lot of lift and I keep alot of play in the shackles. You have sway/trac bars? I don't and I'm soa...I found out that my rig handles way better than a new corrola. http://jeepsunlimited.com/forums/images/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Massey engineering lift system. Does being a jeep pimp mean that you think jeeps are hoes? What kind of 302 do you have?Http://www.Jeepsides.homestead.com/JEEPSIDESHOME.html Car crushing excitement.

[DNA]

Silly - yeah .. I still have the sway/track bars attached (the rear track bar also).

Perhaps I should go ahead and get the MORE greasable shackles now instead of waiting to install it with the OME ... funds are low right now though http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif

I think I'll go and pickup those nylocks and torque 'em to 25lbs - don't wanna loose a shackle bolt in the middle of nowhere ... that would really suck!

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Paul (formerly phkim )
White 1993 YJ Renegade 4.0L Hardtop
- Car Sound Catalytic Converter (my only mod - pretty sad, eh? :))
- Broken Skid Plate Bolts (3)

[Renegade]

Hey DNA,

I also have a '93 YJ Renegade except mine is black. Small world huh? I put greaseable bolts and bushings on and it makes quite a difference.

I also noticed if you do not have enough torque on then nuts that there is quite a bit of shimmey.

So how do you like that Renegade?

[DNA]

Hey!!! Another Renegade owner!! http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

I love my Renegade!! I kinda wish I got my Renegade in black 'cause I think it looks nicer - but I don't have complaints. I think it looks sharp with the body work - I just wish that the front didn't have that full wrap-around bumber because it's gonna get busted up if I decide to do any rockcrawling http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif. Other than that I'm very happy with it. Do you have the hardtop with yours or is it soft-top?

As far as giving my shackles more freedom to move, I think I'm gonna go ahead and get those MORE shackles with my next paycheck ... I'm spending too much - gotta save for the OME kit ...

... gotta save for the OME ...
... gotta save for the OME ...
... gotta save for the OME ...
... gotta save for the OME ...
... gotta save for the OME ...

There .... but I'm still gonna get those MORE shackles anyway http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

Oh .. and Renegade - Welcome to the JU forum!!! http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Paul (formerly phkim )
White 1993 YJ Renegade 4.0L Hardtop
- Car Sound Catalytic Converter (my only mod - pretty sad, eh? :))
- Broken Skid Plate Bolts (3)

[Renegade]

DNA,

I have both the hardtop and softtop. I am up here in Canada and the winters get to damn cold for just the softtop! http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

I am drawing up plans for making my own bumpers as those plastic ones are just to fragile for serious offroading. I will have to send you some pics.

Do you have some pics of yours?

[DNA]

Renegade - Nah ... I don't have any pics. I keep meaning to take some of the YJ, but I never do! I'll have to post some one of these days. But if you have pics of your Renegade - please do post! http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif I'd be especially interested in those bumpers that you're gonna fabricate (another welder, eh? I've gotta learn how to do that!).

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Paul (formerly phkim )
White 1993 YJ Renegade 4.0L Hardtop
- Car Sound Catalytic Converter (my only mod - pretty sad, eh? :))
- Broken Skid Plate Bolts (3)

[Bush Pig]

Renegade: Where abouts in Canada are you?

I belong to the Central Ontario 4x4 Club and I just joined The London Area Jeep Owners Club yesterday!!


Bush Pig www.geocities.com/jens_tj/kevin.html (http://www.geocities.com/jens_tj/kevin.html)

[Renegade]

BushPig,

I am in Saskatoon, SK. A little ways away from you. http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

DNA,

I will let you know what I come up with for the bumpers.