spring shackle installation

[sarkis18d]

Getting ready to put the running gear back under the freshly sandblasted frame. My problem is simple I dont remember what shackle came off what corner. any help would be great. I know one side of the shackle is R.H. and The other is L.H.. What i need to know is the driver side front is L.H. on top (through frame) or the R.H. is on top. Thanks ahead of time to everyone

sarkis

[wesk]

The lower ends of the left front and right rear get left threaded parts.

[ocwd]

I am getting ready to put my frame, axles, and leaf springs back together. Let me get this right, as far as shackles are concerned, the following shackles get left-handed threads:

1. Driver side front, lower part of shackle
2. Passenger side back, lower part of shackle

I am assuming that all other threads are right handed? Also, does anyone have a diagram and picture of the field mod for the shackle reinforcement plates? I know there was a post here recently about these plates. I've been searching for it but have not found it.

Thanks,

Dave

[Ryan_Miller]

Dave,

In the downloads section under Frame for the M38

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... oad&cid=42

I would have to look again to make sure I told you correctly for the right and left hand threads.

[wesk]

Yes, driver's side is left and passenger side is right.

Ryan,
I believe Dave is thinking of the late model plated shackles. They were a different part number and updating was accomplished by replacing the old style.


Early open shackles


Late closed shackle

[ocwd]

That's pretty much what I was looking for. I was under the impression that there was a field mod plate for the early style shackles. I see now that it is an early vs. late shackle. When you say late, are you referring to a specific year for the change over? Did the change over occur during the M38A1 production run.

[wesk]

The change occurred with M38A1 MD11440 which was very early in M38A1 production and should have been May/Jun 52.

Plate ORD# 8333259 WO# 810542 ORD Stk# G758-833259
FSN 2510-693-0780

This plate finds it way into the 1956 ORD 8 SNL G-740 (M38).

It is also in both the late M38A1 Org parts manuals (1959 & 1966) TM 9-2320-208-20P.

I am not quite sure why we see so few of them on M38's and M38A1's today.

[ocwd]

Thanks Wes. This closed shackle makes sense to me. When I removed the rear passenger side shackle from my Jeep, I noticed that it was compressed (bent) in a little. I also noticed that the frame shackle bracket was bent in a little too. It seams like this Jeep has been hit in the rear corner. Or, possible dragged sideways while trying to get it unstuck from the mud or something. At any rate, i'll stick with the open shackles as that is what I have.

Dave

[wesk]

It takes quite a lot of abuse to bend the open shackle. The closed shackle would be of more use to an avid off roader.