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I was getting ready to paint some small pieces and decided to gather as many other parts to paint at the same time with the paint gun. So I have the springs ready to paint and decided to paint the shackles at the same time. (Any of you that have heard about my M38A1 has heard the story about how the previous owner got tired of restoring it which meant that I had to bring the Jeep home in pieces.)

So I find the plastic ziploc bag with the shackles in it. Then I lay out the pieces on the workbench to plan the next move to get them ready to paint. Something wasn’t right I had extra pieces. So I went to the M38A1 manual and started looking at the spring section.

What I had lying on the workbench were M170 spring shackles with the bar to cap the ends and the locking nuts to go over the more narrow part of the shackle.

The shackles look like they are in good shape. They only need the grease seals replaced.

I don’t think this Jeep came with the M170 spring shackles from the factory so I am guessing they were replaced. Was this normal for replacement? Would you guys replace them with the normal type or just reuse them?

I am not sure what type of shackles the M-170 uses, but the ones for the M-38 are a "U" shape with grease fittings on both ends of the top of the "U". And the "U" sits sideways.

There should be two "right hand" and two "left hand" thread units for the jeep.

I replaced mine last winter due to my M-38 CDN had newer CJ-5 or 7 shackles put in.

Pain in the butt more than anything...

My M38A1 is a very original and unmolested 1955. It also has the shackles with the flat bar across the open end of the U. From the looks of them, they have been on there for a long time, maybe the originals. Could it be that later production used this type on the A1s as well as the M170? Just my 2 cents.

My 54 Has U shackles, I bet there was a change when parts were replaced to move to stronger shackles. Ive seen A1s with them before.

The serial number cutoff for the old "C" only shackle is MD11440 which is very early in 1952 production. The ORD 9 for the M38A1 and 8's for both the M38 and the M38A1 show the side plate (Closed) shackle. This became the service replacement for all three early in the 50's.

Wes

Do you have a picture of the later model closed shackles? I think I bought a box of NOS ones this weekend

Jon