The Ford Barn

DRG-ler · 02-21-2022, 02:50 PM

Hi guys, a quick question...

The season is about to start again and one of my front spring shackles won't lubricate anymore. The fat is hard. Now I want to take it apart and clean it. Do I need a spring compressor for this, or can I get them out and put them back in?

Greetings from Berlin

SAJ · 02-21-2022, 03:25 PM

Place a piece of greased timber between the axle and shackle mount. Jack up the axle until, the shackle becomes unloaded by the spring, as the timber takes the spring load. Remove the shackle after taking the nuts off.
There is no need for a spring compressor on the front spring.
SAJ in NZ

Gary WA · 02-21-2022, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRG-ler

Hi guys, a quick question...

The season is about to start again and one of my front spring shackles won't lubricate anymore. The fat is hard. Now I want to take it apart and clean it. Do I need a spring compressor for this, or can I get them out and put them back in?

Greetings from Berlin

try to heat up with heat gun or small torch-grease maybe just hard?!

Synchro909 · 02-21-2022, 04:27 PM

I've had them refuse to take grease not because it had hardened but because the holes where the grease was to exit the shackle pin was oriented so that the weight of the car was on it. It used to be OK but as wear happened, the flow of grease decreased. I now support the car with a stand under the chassis when pumping grease so that the weight of the car is not on the shackle
Have you tried this?

Gene F · 02-21-2022, 07:55 PM

I use a small block of wood to change the spring, and/or the shackles too.

DRG-ler · 02-22-2022, 12:29 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thank you very much, I will try the variant with the wooden block!

02-21-2022, 02:50 PM	#1
DRG-ler Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Berlin / Germany Posts: 182	Remove front spring shackle?! Hi guys, a quick question... The season is about to start again and one of my front spring shackles won't lubricate anymore. The fat is hard. Now I want to take it apart and clean it. Do I need a spring compressor for this, or can I get them out and put them back in? Greetings from Berlin

02-21-2022, 03:25 PM	#2
SAJ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 515	Re: Remove front spring shackle?! Place a piece of greased timber between the axle and shackle mount. Jack up the axle until, the shackle becomes unloaded by the spring, as the timber takes the spring load. Remove the shackle after taking the nuts off. There is no need for a spring compressor on the front spring. SAJ in NZ

02-21-2022, 04:27 PM	#4
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Remove front spring shackle?! I've had them refuse to take grease not because it had hardened but because the holes where the grease was to exit the shackle pin was oriented so that the weight of the car was on it. It used to be OK but as wear happened, the flow of grease decreased. I now support the car with a stand under the chassis when pumping grease so that the weight of the car is not on the shackle Have you tried this?

02-21-2022, 07:55 PM	#5
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,969	Re: Remove front spring shackle?! I use a small block of wood to change the spring, and/or the shackles too.

02-22-2022, 12:29 PM	#6
DRG-ler Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Berlin / Germany Posts: 182	Re: Remove front spring shackle?! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thank you very much, I will try the variant with the wooden block!