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muddeprived
05-16-2010, 01:46 PM
H. D. OFFROAD ENGINEERING LLC — XJ CHEROKEE SHACKLE RELOCATION KIT (http://www.hdoffroadengineering.com/collections/frontpage/products/xj-shackle-relocation-kit)

$145 shipped


I purchased these brackets because my shackle angle was fubar without em. The shackle angle on the rear of the leaf springs plays a huge role in flex and ride quality. A vertical shackle will net a rougher ride and less articulation than a 45 degree shackle. My shackle was actually pulled forward a bit cuz of the rough country 4" springs eye-eye measurement being shorter than stock.

Here's my shackle angle with 4" RC springs:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7255.jpg

Nasty huh? It rode like a dump truck in the rear cuz of that. I always thought it was the springs until I learned about the shackle angles. So in order to fix that I need the brackets or longer springs, which poor ol' me cannot afford. I ordered them on Sunday and Brian shipped em first thing Monday morning. I got em within a few days. Excellent shipping! :thumbsup:

First thing ya gotta do is test fit em to make sure it fits.

Loosen the leaf spring bolt and then remove the upper shackle bolt. It's important to loosen the lower shackle bolt so you can re-torque it at it's new angle.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7258.jpg


Directions say to slice up the lower part of the factory shackle bracket so you can bend it straight. The relocation bracket won't fit unless you do this:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7262.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7261.jpg


Test fitting the upper piece and it fit pretty good, but at a slight angle. No big deal:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7260.jpg

There are three pre-drilled holes in the brackets and I needed four for my hitch so I cut the corner out:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7263.jpg

Once both upper pieces are semi-bolted in, fit the lower piece on and adjust it so your shackle is at the desired angle. I didn't snap any pix of this process but it's very easy to do. Once you got the angle set, you are recommended to weld the pieces together but I didn't want to do this so I drilled three more holes for more bolts. (the center three UFO-style bolt pattern)

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7266.jpg

Test fitting it all together:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7265.jpg


Once you know it fits and works properly, paint em up to whatever color you please. I chose the hammered finish that I used on my axle:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7267.jpg

All pretty and ready to be bolted in:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7269.jpg

muddeprived
05-16-2010, 01:47 PM
Now it's time to put everything back together.

brackets and hitch semi-bolted up:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7271.jpg


http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7272.jpg


Shackle bolted to the brackets:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7273.jpg


http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7275.jpg

DO NOT TIGHTEN THE SHACKLE BOLTS UNTIL THE JEEP IS SUPPORTING IT'S WEIGHT.

Once you've tighten and torqued the bracket bolts, lower the jeep back on it's tires and torque the shackle bolts to 85 ft lbs.

The NEW shackle angle:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7277.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7278.jpg


Old shackle angle:

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7255.jpg


Now before you get all excited and test drive it, check the pinion angle. Anytime you lower the shackle mount, the pinion rises. My pinion rose a little bit and it was exactly parallel with the driveshaft. I wasn't comfortable with this so I swapped out my 4 degree shims for 2 degree shims and brought the angle down 2 degrees under the shaft, perfect and no vibes.

Test drive:
WOW is all I have to say. The difference is night and day. I had flashbacks to my old man emu leaf springs, which were the most perfect springs I ever bought. These rough country springs are actually riding like those with the new shackle angles. No bouncy rear, no stiffness, just perfectly smooth springs. Outstanding. :thumbsup:

As a bonus, I netted 3/4" of lift, which was much needed cuz my rear is lowering when hauling cargo.

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7281.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7282.jpg

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7283.jpg


This was one of the best mods I've done on the jeep and I recommend it anyone who wants to tame their rough rear end. :thumbsup:

Xtreme XJ
05-16-2010, 02:11 PM
So WAS there a tank skid ?? And is it there or is it gone ??
Looks interesting...

Curt

muddeprived
05-16-2010, 02:32 PM
So WAS there a tank skid ?? And is it there or is it gone ??
Looks interesting...

Curt

No tank skid. That was my ghetto-fab heat shield. It's a piece of aluminum that bolts up with the hitch. If your skid mounts only to the framerails using the same bolts then i will work but if your skid mounts to the framerail and rear crossmember then you might have to do some work to get it to fit.


http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Chriseatsmud/relocation%20brackets/DSCF7274.jpg

greedyg76
08-31-2010, 05:14 PM
Not trying to hijack, but you probably have some miles on them by now, so how do you like those Treadwrights?

muddeprived
08-31-2010, 05:20 PM
Not trying to hijack, but you probably have some miles on them by now, so how do you like those Treadwrights?

:thumbsup: Got nothing bad to say about them. They are awesome tires. Smooth and quiet on the highway, gripping and flexy off road. They don't wear either. :rotfl2:

http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3569&highlight=treadwright

pingpong
09-01-2010, 04:38 PM
I see you used your stock shackles.. my only concern with waht you did is you shackle flexing back into you relocation bracket thing. Aslo Is there a reason why you used what appears to be grade 5 bolts instead of grade 8's?

muddeprived
09-01-2010, 04:50 PM
I see you used your stock shackles.. my only concern with waht you did is you shackle flexing back into you relocation bracket thing. Aslo Is there a reason why you used what appears to be grade 5 bolts instead of grade 8's?

Yeah the shackles hit the bracket during uptravel. This is only temporary until I can get a pair of boomerang shackles.

The brackets came with grade 5 hardware.

greedyg76
09-01-2010, 05:51 PM
sweet, thanks :thumbsup:

pingpong
09-02-2010, 07:05 PM
I would Upgrade the grade 5 hardware to grade 8 before I wheeled it or drove it very far.

muddeprived
09-02-2010, 07:12 PM
I would Upgrade the grade 5 hardware to grade 8 before I wheeled it or drove it very far.

We had a big discussion about that on my local board and naxja.

Gabriel J
01-17-2011, 03:39 PM
Nice looking bracket.. but why BUY? build your own...