Spring Shackles

Nic · Post by **Nic** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:26 am

Hi guys

Just noticed that my 3 surviving spring shackles have all got a slight twist in them, with one threaded leg slightly higher than the other (only noticed by placing them on a flat table) is this nomal?

If they are meant to have a twist Which way do they go back on

Also I need to order a left rear shackle does any one have a link to one as I am a bit unsure what I need.

Regards

Nic

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:22 am

According to the ORD 9 list (page 289):

G758-8333138 - Bolt, "U", spring shackle RH thread.

I got quite a few nos M38 parts from Jeeparts in the UK: http://www.jeeparts.co.uk/Jeeparts/home ... 9a74f36ab8

They don't advertise the postwar jeep spares on their site, but it's worth calling to see if they have what you need. From the ORD 9, it seems that front & rear spring shackle bolts were the same on the M38A1 (no LH thread variants to worry about).

Owen.

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:01 pm

a quick search brought this back up:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... t=shackles

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 3:02 pm

Good info on the twist in the shackles there. To clarify the LH/RH shackles, that's correct for the M38's (& earlier jeeps). According to the ORD 9, the M38A1 had "retaining plates" fitted to the outside of the spring, like this (item Q):

Interestingly, page 293 of TM9-8014 shows the M38A1 shackles being the same as the earlier jeeps (no retaining plates), with page 295 showing the retaining plate configuration, supposedly only for the M170.

What gives here? My M38 came with a set of what I believe to be M38A1 spring shackles with the retaining plates on (in the box o' spares). I would think very few (if any) M170's made it to the UK's sunny shores; did Willys use the M170 shackle design on later production M38A1's??

Now, if you're using the earlier shackles (i.e. two of the shackles have both LH & RH threads), then the LH threads go through the spring eye. That should tell you which way round your shackles need to go, in relation to the twist.

Nic · Post by **Nic** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:53 am

Hi Guys

Yes I was a tad confused by the Shackle plates, whilst going through the various manuals.

My M38A1 is also fitted with the M170 set up, but I have no left hand threads on any of my shackles, or bearings at all, to be honest I am still a little confused

whether that is correct or not.

I will do a bit more research

Regards

Nic

Post by **wesk** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:00 am

The M38A1 and the CJ5 use 3 right threaded shackles and one left threaded shackle just like the M38. The shackle end plates were a late (after 55) introduction to the M38A1.

This is the one shackle with the left hand thread at the top

They weren't perfectly square when new.

By left the meaning is two of the four shackles have a single arm with left hand threads.

A little nomenclature review. The four springs are mounted to the frame with a pivot bolt on one end and a shackle assembly on the other. It is the shackle assembly that comes in two flavors. All RH threads on both legs and one left hand thread on a single leg. Left equals drivers side and right equals passenger side. So the right front and left rear springs get the shackles with RH threads on both legs.

The left front spring shackle and the right rear spring shackle use the U bolts with one RH threaded leg and one LH threaded leg..

Now keep in mind that the 4 shackle assemblies have two threaded legs each for a total of 8 threaded legs. Only two of the eight legs are threaded left hand. These left hand threaded legs go into the left front spring shackle eye and the right rear spring shackle eye. The RH threaded legs of these two U bolts go into the frame bracket eyes.
_________________
Wes K