A Crooked Spring Shackle on 1951 Jeep CJ3A

[RockyMountain3A]

Moses, I have been a fan of your since I was a youngster reading my Father's "Off Road" magazines, and I have quite a few of your books. I have a question I was hoping you may be able to help out with.

 

I have a '51 CJ3A that I got with a new Superlift 1.5" spring lift on it. The passenger front spring shackle was angled inward at the bottom. I loosened all of the U-bolts and shackle bolts in the hopes something was in a bind. I was unable to get it to straighten out. I then removed the passenger spring from the shackle at the bottom and removed the U-bolts on that spring. When the spring pin came out of the hole on the perch, the spring moved over in line with the now straight shackle. The spring perches on the stock Dana 25 measure .5" narrower than the springs. I have quite a bit of fabrication experience and am ready to cut the spring perches off the axle and reweld them on offset .25" per side. Before I start cutting and welding, is there an easier way to solve this issue?

 

Thank you, Curt

[Moses Ludel]

Thanks for the comments on my articles and books, Curt!  Glad to have your participation at the forums...

 

Very interesting dilemma with the spring and frame alignment.  I would do some simple measurements:  1) width between centerlines on the front U-shackles when hanging unloaded (springs detached or U-bolts loose with springs out of the center bolt holes in the axle perches and not cocked), and 2) the measurement between the Spicer 25 axle perch center bolt holes (measure center of hole to center of hole).  This takes the springs out of the equation.  If the shackle centers and spring bolt centers at the perches match for width, the problem is neither the axle perch locations nor the frame, frame U-shackle hangers or the U-shackles.

 

It's possible that the springs (one or both main leafs) have a twisted end-to-end eye shape.  This would cause the center bolt holes to "offset" to one side when the shackle and anchor fit up.  There is a very wide application range for vintage Superlift Jeep spring sets, and this includes 1946-63 CJ2A, 3A and 3B:  http://www.superlift.com/lift-kits/lift-kits.asp?pc_id=D49CD837162B487380AFAA3A61085DCF&search_prod=&search_keyword=&faceted_search_terms=Lift%20%26%20Leveling%20Kits~Lift%20%26%20Leveling%20Kits~equal~6D14B1595DBD4CA2BB600AC57BCAA3C2~&opts=Lift%20%26%20Leveling%20Kits~opt1%3DJeep%7Copt2%3D1951%7Copt3%3DCJ2A%20%2F%20CJ3A%20%2F%20CJ3B%7Copt4%3D4WD%3B.  Note that this is either 1" or 2.5" lift and does not include the CJ-5 or CJ-6 by listing.

 

The kit could be wrong or designed for non-U-type shackles.  Spring eye-to-eye length, if too long or short, could also twist the springs under compression.  Are you observing the problem with the vehicle off the ground and also weighted on the ground?  Where do the front spring shackles align (fore and aft) with the Jeep at curb height and weighted?

 

Moses