Hanging leaf springs from your Tacoma can be very difficult, especially when it comes to the shackles. The frame is thin and there are not many complete shackle kits available on the market, while the kits that are available are either incomplete, or out of stock. Trail-Gear understands the problem and has an affordable solution that is complete and user friendly. The Trail-Gear Tacoma Front Shackle Kit is the strongest, easiest to assemble shackle kit on the market today. All of the components are CNC formed and come pre-welded and ready for assembly. Kit is weld-on, and is shipped unpainted.
Kit Includes:
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Tools Needed:
Installation Notes:
Installation Instructions: 1. If you have a 3.4L motor, remove the O2 sensor above resonator and follow step 2, otherwise, skip to step 3. 2. Remove the resonator to give yourself room to cut out the frame rail for the shackle mount. 3. The body mount modification is located under the floorboard for the shackle mount. Mark 2 1/4” up from the bottom of the front side of the body mount bracket. Mark 2 1/2” from the outside of the body mount towards the centered of the body mount. Follow factory edge and draw lines as shown. 4. Cut along the lines and remove the bracket as shown. Grind the frame clean. 5. Measure from the inside of the face of the front hanger mount 45 7/8” and mark the frame. The mark should be in the center of the big hole in the template. Align the frame jig as shown with the large hole facing the outside of the vehicle. Make sure the rear of the jig is in contact with the frame. Tack weld it in place. 6. A small gap between the frame and the front of the jig is normal due to frame curvature. 7. Mark the frame through the holes in the bottom of the jig. 8. Outline the jig on the inside of the frame as shown. 9. Cut the larger hole on the outside of the frame with the jig in place with a hole saw or plasma cutter and then remove the jig. 10. Use a straight edge to connect the lines made with the jig like the image below. 11. Cut the frame with a plasma cutter along the inside of the line, clean slag off of the frame. 12. Cut the internal frame support to be flush with the previous cut and grind clean. 13. Remove the brake line clip from the frame on the driver’s side above the shackle location. 14. Install shackles into the shackle mount and clamp into frame with alignment bar installed to make sure the shackles are square. Make sure the shackles are 29” center to center. Note: Manual transmissions can run the alignment tube through shackle box mount. 15. Below is an example of incorrect fitment. Notice the mount sticking out below the frame. 16. Below is the correct fitment of the mount. Notice how the bottom of the mount is even and almost flush against the bottom of the frame. 17. Below is an example of incorrect fitment. The shackles need to be parallel. 18. Below is the correct fitment of the shackles. Notice how they are parallel. 19. Once the shackles are straight and at the correct distance apart (29” center of shackle to center of shackle), tack weld the tube into the frame. 20. Once the shackle mount is tacked into the frame, clamp the support plate to the frame and tack it into place. 21. Weld the support plate to the frame. 22. Remove poly bushing and weld the shackle tube to the frame. 23. Install the shackle mount boxing bracket on top of the shackle mount and weld it into place. 24. Weld the shackle mount to the bottom of the frame. 25. Grind the weld smooth. 26. Place the bottom frame support bracket on the bottom of the frame and tack the rear portion to the frame. 27. Clamp the front portion of the support to the frame to form it to the frame curve and tack it into place. 28. Finish welding the bottom support plate. 29. For 3” springs we recommend starting off with the front hanger 44 1/2” from the shackle bolt center to bolt center and move it approximately 3/8” forward for 4” springs and 3/4” forward for 5” springs. Note, these are only recommendations to verify location. 30. Tack weld the spring hanger into place, centering it upon the mount. 31. Install springs and axle. Place the weight of the vehicle on the springs to ensure proper shackle angle is achieved. We recommend a 90° shackle angle during initial setup to allow for spring break-in. 32. Tack weld the body mount gussets into place. 33. Fully weld the body mount gussets to the frame and body mount bracket.