would it be possible to use shackles to lift the rear end of and 89 dakota 2wd?? i was gonna do blocks but that would take too much time as this is my daily driver so would like to be able to do it in a weekend and money is kind of tight right now. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Blocks would take less time than shackles. And switching shackles for you would actually lower the truck. That is assuming your refering to the 2wd to 4wd swap.

Blocks should only take a couple hours at most unless your ubolts are REALLY tore up.

 

Correct about longer shackles lowering the truck unless 2wds are opposite of the 4wds.

Shackle swaps are MUCH faster than doing blocks in my experience.

 

Really? I had to torch the rivets out of two sets of hangers, then drill 2 holes in the frame to remount them. I could have blocks in in half that time, unless the ubolts are trashed.

I guess if you are just changing out the shackle itself, then yes that would be faster. But to change the hanger is much more time consuming.

 

Here is a clarification to both of you, Skyshark and Hahns... The 2wd Dakotas have downward facing shackles and the 4x4s have upward facing shackles. The 2wd Dakotas are axle over spring and the 4x4s are axle under spring. This means that putting longer shackles on a 2wd will lift it and putting blocks on it will lower it. Putting longer shackles on a 4x4 will lower it and putting blocks on will lift it.

He is not talking about swapping shackle mounts to the 4x4... the shackle and shackle mounts are two different peices. If you put a longer shackle on the 2wd it will lift the back of your truck. Just remember, qevans, you can't go too high because you won't be able to compensate much in the front. Also, you can't do blocks, because your axle is over the leaf spring... blocks will lower your truck.

 

Forgot about the 2wds being spring under, and thought the 2wds had downward facing shackles but wasn't sure. Yes I was talking about simply swapping shackles, not the hangers.

For 1 1/2" to 2" lift, shackles work great, no added axle wrap and better flex.

 

+1 to that.

 

Lol...I should have paid more attention. I have a 2wd sitting 20 feet away. And....well.....part of a 4wd.

As usual 318 is right on the money.

 

ya i knew that blocks would lower it, i wasnt sure if shackles would lift it, thanks 318 for the clarification. also would i be safe with the 1 1/2 to 2 in lift or would things have to be modded to work right, and that would not be to hard to level with the front end would it?

 

If it were me, I would get 2 inch shackles and 2 inch spacers for the front coil springs. That would max out the front and give you a decent amount of lift without the truck looking stupid cause the back is so much higher.