Lets talk extended shackles...

[MYCART8A4RE]

So I'm doing a small lift on my cart to go from my 12" wheels to 14"wheels. Did the block up front and made some extended shackles (6" hole to hole) hoping to raise the rear about 1.5". When I went to install the shackles I undid the u bolt and shock and dropped the spring from the axle, but after attaching the longer shackles I couldn't get the spring back to the axle mount, it was too low, to far away. I loosened the other side hoping to get some play but didn't want to undo it and leave the axle to twist from the motor weight. I pictured this going much easier. Can anyone add some insight? I appreciate it!

[Cartmaster]

I would imagine you just need to put a jack under the axle and fit the shackles, why take the u bolts off?

[CP241]

Originally Posted by Cartmaster

I would imagine you just need to put a jack under the axle and fit the shackles, why take the u bolts off?

X2

I’ve made slightly longer shackles a couple different times for carts I didn’t want a full lift on. I jack up the rear of the frame under the “hitch”. Then just unbolt the oem shackles and install the ones I made. Only takes about 2 minutes. I’m thinking you took apart way way more than what’s necessary

[Tom47]

Take the longer shackle off, reinstall the original, and work backwards to reinstall the u-bolt.

Then proceed as CP241 suggests.

[MYCART8A4RE]

Thanks for the replies. Originally I did not remove the U- bolt but the spring would only pull down a little bit, I couldn't get the spring to meet the new shackle holes. I can only extend/pull down the spring about 2 inches. My stocks shackles were about 3 inches long and all the research I did here had me believing I needed 6 inch shackles to raise the rear about 1.5" higher. Either everyone was exaggerating the shackle length or there's somthing wrong in my set up that won't allow my spring to come down far enough to install these shackles at that length.

[Cartmaster]

You need to start over as suggested. refit the original shackles back to stock.

The easiest method is to place a jack under the axle and lift the whole rear of the cart 4 to 6 inches off the ground. Place blocks under the frame each side to support the cart. remove the shackles on both sides and then lower the jack to drop the whole axle spring assembly to the point that you can fit the new shackles. I think where you are going wrong is trying to do one side at a time.

[MYCART8A4RE]

Originally Posted by Cartmaster

You need to start over as suggested. refit the original shackles back to stock.

The easiest method is to place a jack under the axle and lift the whole rear of the cart 4 to 6 inches off the ground. Place blocks under the frame each side to support the cart. remove the shackles on both sides and then lower the jack to drop the whole axle spring assembly to the point that you can fit the new shackles. I think where you are going wrong is trying to do one side at a time.

Thanks, I did jack and support the cart exactly as you described but was only working one side at a time.

I greatly appreciate the responses from everyone!

[kgsc]

Might be bottoming out the shocks as well.

[MYCART8A4RE]

Thanks. I removed the bolts for the shocks initially and I purchased the shock extenders to go with the extended shackles. I have not installed them yet but I did free the shocks from the spring mounting plate.

[Fairtax4me]

You can only get so far down before you start yanking the cables on the motor.
Did you put the cart in Tow mode and Disconnect the battery pack negative before starting any of this work?