Bent Shackles?

[Brandt51]

Howdy all,

My 3200 developed a list and after some looking around, I discovered the right side aft and middle shackles bent inward. Is that easy to do? What's the fix? Re welding them back on and adding additional gussets?

Thanks!

[dougs2]

It shouldn't be too easy to do. You might want an axle/spring shop to take a look at that. I put a wet bolt heavy duty shackle kit on mine, the new shackles are twice as thick as the original. The bushings were bad too. One thing I found on mine the trigger happy blind installers with an impact wrench way overtightened the center equalizers, they are supposed to have some swing but I don't think they had ever moved. Loosened them up and it really improved the ride, they work now like they were designed to The shackles need to also move, if they are too tight it could cause them to bend. Could you post a picture?

[thompwil]

Originally Posted by Brandt51

Howdy all,

My 3200 developed a list and after some looking around, I discovered the right side aft and middle shackles bent inward. Is that easy to do? What's the fix? Re welding them back on and adding additional gussets?

Thanks!

Are you referring to the brackets welded to the frame? They bent all the outer ones on mine, the inners are straight. I have some information for you if that is the case.

[Brandt51]

Originally Posted by thompwil

Are you referring to the brackets welded to the frame? They bent all the outer ones on mine, the inners are straight. I have some information for you if that is the case.

Correct, the brackets welded on the frame. The fwd and middle ones are bent, the aft doesn't seem affected. I got an appointment to drop it off and get it fixed, it just seems strange that it happened. I'll get some pics up of it soon.

[thompwil]

Mine came from the factory like that. The tech support guy from LCI expressed concern for the condition during our first phone call, sent pictures and videos. Said the incorrect bolts were used to install the suspension at Keystone. They were bending the brackets to get them to fit. The next day after I called Keystone, LCI denied ever saying that. Bent brackets and short bolts in the equiflex mounts that had them mounted solid, wouldn't swivel. Destroyed my springs. The story is much too long to detail here.

[Brandt51]

So, time to update with the resolution:

I just got the rig back last week. The frame on the right side was twisted, but not terribly. It was bad enough though that the shackles bent and probably would have kept going if not repaired. The total fix was to repair the chassis, add gusseting to the shackle area, replace all four leaf spring packs plus the Equaflex (that are now yellow?) equalizers with wet bolts. Additionally, the shop installed 1/2" shackle brackets as well.

Not a cheap repair either, but glad it's done and I can use this trailer again. With the suspension sorted and Goodyear G114s, its almost worry free now. I had a Correct Track set up installed when it was new a few years that's still on after the shop got done with the repair. With an F-350, I think it's perfectly level with the bigger tires on it now.