Shackles don't fit through bushing?

I am trying to get my front suspension together. I was able to press the bushings into the spring perches, although it was much tighter than the rear was. But I am not able to get the shackle through the bushing. Do I need to ream out the bushing, or am I missing something here?

I am using so-cal hairpins & batwings. The shackles and perches are from Lobeck's, I believe they are TCI.

Need more info. Are you using a standard single cross spring? If so, whose?

Do your shackles have the standard poly bushings on them?

Are you able to slide the bushings into the spring and perch with no shackle installed?

Are you able to slide the bushings over the shackle all by themselves?



How far off are they from fitting? Is the interferance inside of the bushing or outside where it slips into the spring?


Don

Standard transverse spring, Posie monoleaf.

Standard Poly bushings.

The bushings do fit into the perches, but they are very tight.

The bushings do slide onto the shackles when not installed in the perch.

I can just barely get the shackle to start into the bushing, maybe 1/4" at the most.

It almost seems that by "forcing" the bushing into the perch, the inside diameter of the bushing is being reduced, making it too small for the shackle to fit through.

Ok, here are the possibilities. I have the same exact setup on my '27, and I had to slightly grind the outside diameter of the bushing down, especially on the edge, so that it would start in. Not a whole lot, just enough to clearance it a little.

Also some silicone spray can help. You can also slip in the bushings, then run an appropriate sized drill bit down through the center to get a little more room.

It doesn't take a lot to make a big difference, and when you tighten down the end plate on the shackle it will squeeze it a little and restore the tightness somewhat.

Another method is to open up the perch and spring eye slightly for the same effect.

Someone may have a better way, but this is what I have had to do on a few in the past.


Don

I use SS shackles from Deuce Factory. With those, they are made of a slightly softer material. Pete & Jakes are also slightly softer. I have never used TCI, but I have used a set from Speedway once, that came with quite hard material for the bushings. I ran a 1/2" drill through center, once they were pressed into the spring. Very little material was removed, and they slid right together.

Also like Don mentioned, some lube helps greatly.