I'm doing a Solid Axle Swap on my Dakota. I needed to match the rear of my truck to the front. So I needed a lift without cheater blocks. So a Shackle mount flip and a longer shackle will be done. The shackle mounts are off a Ram, so I thought I would post in here to help a few others. It is the same as the Dakota and Ram.

I first got my mounts from http://www.gatsbycars.com/dodge.html
The rears are exactly the same as Ram full size trucks. I can verify the bolt holes are perfect. 1/4in thick nice and strong. Easy bolt in no welding or drilling (if you want that is).



I also got 12 Grade 8 1/2in bolts. Stock brackets only used 4 of the 6 holes. I might as well and use all 6 bolts for extra strength.

So first I started by removing the bed. I didn't want to be grinding with the grinder in my face. I was so easy to remove with a few friends to help lift it.

Next came out the cut off wheel to cut off the rivet heads off. The tops very easy, lowers to some time. Gridded down the rest of the heads and knocked off the stock mount. Then cut off the rest of the rivet body, cut it close to frame without gouging into it. Got a punch and a good hammer and only took a few hits. Each side 15mins. Very easy!!!





The frame holes are slightly under 1/2. Just had to run the drill to make exactly 1/2in. Dropped in the stock 4 and drill the other 2, with the mount as the perfect template. Dropped in the last 2 and tightened them all down.





Put the bed back and reinstalled the stock shackles. For me I need more so I didn't bolt them up, just used the bolts to mock up. I got 3.25in more lift with stock shackles. I will order a Rams 2in lift shackles.



Here is a before and after the rear shackle flip.





Another option is just using your stock mount and just turn it upside down. A Ram owner said 2in lift.


Or use a 2wd shackle mount or the front style of the both trucks. You can cut them off of a junkyard truck. But a new replacement bracket is easier to get a hold of.

 

By doing the shackle flip, did it change the location of the rear axle forward or back a few inches like I've seen and heard?

 

Man this awesome thanks. Hows the axle centered? There was a big debate on this last week.

 

I think I like that better than flipping the shackle.

 

Same thing.

His mounts look a lot like the front spring mounts on my truck......

 

I didn't measure but I'm sure it didn't move it. The front mount wasn't messed with so the axle had to be exactly the same the rear of the spring just went lower on the frame.

 

That's what the argument has been about. When you drop the back of the spring the axle rotates forward in the natural arc of the spring moving it forward slightly when you bolt it all up. I believe I'll let the more edumacated folks poke at this one
I'm really interested in this so

 

The spring is compressed just the same as before. So the spring didn't get flexed more. The axle sits in the same place. The mount just got shifted down a bit.

I remember another thread with the springs uncompressed and the rear moved 1.75in. So if it did move due to the slight pivot, my guess would be no more than 1/2in tops.

 

Actually, they move a lot further than I at first thought. You aren't compressing/extending the spring here, you are rotating the axle about a fixed pivot point. It moves in circle. Is this something you really need to worry about? Now THAT is one that is open to some debate.

 

I guess really the only thing that worries me about the shackle swap/flip is the pinion angle. When I did mine, mine didn't really move forward that much. But my pinion angle was in line with my driveshaft, which as I read, is a no-no. That would be my only worry with your setup...