Stock Rear Shackle Length

[69roadr]

Couldnt find anywhere in the forums on the stock length of the rear shackles. My car seems to be a bit high in the back and would like to lower it a bit. The shackles on it now are 4" center to center, and 5-1/2" long overall. I also have KYB shocks all the way around. Could it possibly be the shocks that are keeping it up in the back? I added a pic just to show how its raised in the back. Now, back in 1978, when I first owned a car, this question would be the other way around

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

Couldnt find anywhere in the forums on the stock length of the rear shackles. My car seems to be a bit high in the back and would like to lower it a bit. The shackles on it now are 4" center to center, and 5-1/2" long overall. I also have KYB shocks all the way around. Could it possibly be the shocks that are keeping it up in the back? I added a pic just to show how its raised in the back. Now, back in 1978, when I first owned a car, this question would be the other way around View attachment 115736

See the June 2013 issue of Mopar Collectors Guide, page 78. "Shackle School" article by Frank Badalson.

He states that the factory shackles were 3 1/2" center to center for '66-'72 B-bodies. The 4" center to center shackles were for '70-'72 E-bodies.

So, it sounds as if you may have a set of E-body shackles on your car. Granted, it is only 1/2" difference, but that 1/2" gets larger as you move further back on the car.

As for the shocks, No, they do not increase ride height with the exception of "air shocks". The shocks function is to control (dampen) the up/down motion of the suspension. The spring rate/weight of the car will determine the ride height.

 

[D575]

Looks pretty much stock to me.

Me thinks your torsion bars are lowered in front, like mine . At least it's easy to lower just by putting a spacer on the spring perch.

my shackles are 31/2" center to center. I think it looks great like that. Now if you had 17's on it and lowered it around them , that would be another story.

 

[69roadr]

Thanks guys, really appreciate the info here. I knew my car was higher in the back than stock! Seems like previous owner put some e-body parts on my car, including the 1970 Challenger R/T motor. Oh well, didnt know too much about Mopars till after I bought the car.

 

[69roadr]

Looks pretty much stock to me.

Me thinks your torsion bars are lowered in front, like mine . At least it's easy to lower just by putting a spacer on the spring perch.

my shackles are 31/2" center to center. I think it looks great like that. Now if you had 17's on it and lowered it around them , that would be another story.

Hey D575, is your RR a 68? Looks to be the bright red. Nice wheels!

 

[Cranky]

69 in the first pic....rear springs look like they might be SS springs.

 

[Moparparts]

I have some good used stock B-Body shackles if you need them PM me

 

[Cranky]

Also, if you're going to use slapper bars, they need to be long enough for the rubber bumper to hit against the spring eye and not the center of the spring....but that may be hard to buy like that. I have never found any that fit a Mopar like they should and have either made them from scratch or modified the store bought ones. I like my homemade bars better because I can make them very close to the spring and reach the eyes. It even makes them a bit harder to see when they are painted flat black.

 

[Runner 68]

Also, if you're going to use slapper bars, they need to be long enough for the rubber bumper to hit against the spring eye and not the center of the spring....but that may be hard to buy like that. I have never found any that fit a Mopar like they should and have either made them from scratch or modified the store bought ones. I like my homemade bars better because I can make them very close to the spring and reach the eyes. It even makes them a bit harder to see when they are painted flat black.

Sorry to resurrect a 4 year old thread but I was so excited to get the answer I was looking after 1 simple search I had to respond with a thanks to all of you.

I was just getting ready to drop the diff and springs in my bird and replace them with a Strange 60 and 1" drop Hotchkis rear springs and got to looking at the shackles and thought they were a bit long. I have had this car since 1978 and never noticed it but mine are 7.5" center to center on the holes. Holy $hit those were the days. Looks like I'll be going back to the 3.5" for the pro touring look I'm after.

Thanks all again.

 

[69roadr]

Also, if you're going to use slapper bars, they need to be long enough for the rubber bumper to hit against the spring eye and not the center of the spring....but that may be hard to buy like that. I have never found any that fit a Mopar like they should and have either made them from scratch or modified the store bought ones. I like my homemade bars better because I can make them very close to the spring and reach the eyes. It even makes them a bit harder to see when they are painted flat black.

Took the slappers off

 

[Cranky]

Sorry to resurrect a 4 year old thread but I was so excited to get the answer I was looking after 1 simple search I had to respond with a thanks to all of you.

I was just getting ready to drop the diff and springs in my bird and replace them with a Strange 60 and 1" drop Hotchkis rear springs and got to looking at the shackles and thought they were a bit long. I have had this car since 1978 and never noticed it but mine are 7.5" center to center on the holes. Holy $hit those were the days. Looks like I'll be going back to the 3.5" for the pro touring look I'm after.

Thanks all again.

7.5" long....wow. You need to spend more time 'under' your car to make sure you like it I mean to make sure the right stuff is there.....so long as 'things' don't get in your eyes

Took the slappers off

You didn't like em or because you got too much flack about slappers on a Mopar?? Actually, the ones I used didn't slap anything because they were so close to the springs....

 

[69roadr]

A mechanic took them off so I just have this number

 

[Cranky]

Ok, I looked at the 1st post and I would have taken them dog gone things off too!!! Man....it's amazing what people do to cars. Being that this thread is pretty old might be why I didn't say something about it back then....?

 

[69roadr]

Snubber

 

[Cranky]

Snubber

I'm not a fan of those things either.....

 

[69L48Z27]

The 67 R/T that I just picked up has the 7.5" shackles on it too.

 

[Runner 68]

 

[69roadr]

LOL!

 

[Cranky]

Oh man...hope that's not a recent build lol

 

[Runner 68]

Oh man...hope that's not a recent build lol

That pic has been flying around this site for years.
What cracks me up is the arc on the springs and the snubbers on the ladder bars. What the hell do they hit under torque, the floor pan?