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| | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 | 1950 3100 Found a front spring shackle almost ready to fail while under the truck last night. ...pic... The outboard link was only being help up by the body of the grease fitting It was spreading out ...pic... ...pic... Took the weight off that spring and was able to reposition the pin. Glad I found this, would of been pretty scary had I lost that schackle while driving. Just posting this as a reminder to get under the truck between greasing. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,384 | It looks like the upper pin had moved toward the inside of the frame.
The pin is threaded into the frame bushing and you center it by threading it back and forth through the bushing before tightening the shackle bolt.
It looks like yours rotated while driving, pushing the inside shackle away from the frame and pulling the pin out of the outside shackle. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,393 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,393 |
Drew
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 | Good post & reminder. Good thing you caught it. These old trucks definitely need frequent safety inspections. It wasn't too long ago that I was zipping around some back country roads in a 72 Karmann Ghia when the left lower ball joint let loose. Thankfully I was going very slow at the time as I lost all steering and the nose dived makeing ground contact. I don't zip the 3100 around like that but it sure sounds and feels like it at 40 mph  Dave | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | These old trucks definitely need frequent safety inspections. That goes for any vehicle, new or old.
Last edited by LONGBOX55; 12/20/2013 4:18 AM.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,251 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,251 | Not too scary. The only place for the spring to go is in to the frame. Once it does that, the truck will let you know it needs attention by making a racket ( from the spring banging in to the frame ) or the rear of the truck will feel a little washy. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 | Almost ready to make a 600 mile Christmas journey in the 50
Would be scary for me if the spring started banging on the frame durning the trip.
The rest of the undercarriage looked fine.
I did order a new shackle from rockauto.com 30 bucks
The hole was a little wallered out on that one. | | |
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