front shackle hanger problems

When I got my CJ5 the passenger front shackle hanger was tweaked and it's bothered me more and more.

It doesn't really seem to be getting worse but I know the shackle bushings are worn. The jeep rides and handle as it should but I just have this worry that I'll be going down the road and it will just break off.

My thought is just to remove the old hanger and replace it but rather than just bolting in place go ahead and weld it as well. The drivers side hanger looks fine but I would probably weld it up too. I've had some folks tell me before that it will just do this again and not to worry but...

Does this seem like the right thing to do?

This is what it looks like now...again I think the reason it look as bad as it does is due to the bushing being worn out.

 

I would be for welding it back in place with a little extra steel to make it even sturdier. It if breaks after that I think your Jeep is obviously a reject and your should give it to me!!!!(LOL)

 

If the center line of the bracket is not parallel to the frame, then it's bent. I'd guess it's old collision damage that was not repaired.

Is the frame twisted or is the bend obviously in the bracket? If the bracket is bent, the best route would be to replace it, including welding to the frame. IIRC these brackets are available new at an inexpensive price from aftermarket sources.

 

It doesn't seem like the frame or the hanger itself is bent. THe hanger actually appears to have twisted clockwise If looking at it from directly above the frame. THis leads me to believe the bolt holes on the hanger have wallowed out. I did try to tighten up the bolts holding it to the frame and only got about 1/8 of a turn on each and that took some effort so they were not loose.

I've found the hangers for about $12 each and the shackles including bushings for the same...so $25 plus shipping seems like a good deal.


Thanks Tim!

Joshua70x7 if I weld it up and it breaks there may not be much jeep left! It's a street queen for the most part and if it did come apart it would probably happen at 55 MPH!

 

are the leafs centered on their perch and are the u-bolts straight? you may have a broken center pin

 

Everthing else is good. That was one of the first things I checked...I had a comanche pop one on the trail a few years ago and walked the front axle out from under the truck (leaf spring conversion). I'm REAL leery with center pins!! Thanks for the idea though.

 

yes, trail guys tend to know about broken center pins! (AKA, "I tried to bump it but my leaf hit!")

OK, I'm trying to work out the geometry. you say the drivers side looks good so the axle is centered so the passenger side leaf should make a straight line from the front rear hanger, thought the center pin and end up squarely under the front shackle hanger. If the frames not bent, is the rear hanger off center to the inside? (leafs pivoted on the center pin?) In other words, somethings got to give

 

mine on the 74 cj and the 89 yj were riveted now bolted and welded...

 

Yeah the shackle bushing are the give point with this. It has caused the front half of the spring to try to turn down and out which is what I am afraid will eventually tear the hanger right off rather than just the twisting of the hanger as it is now. The rear part of the spring has slid inward ever so slightly...just enough to be visible so it has pivoted a little (again barely noticeable) on the pin. The rear hanger looks fine and has not moved. As it is I MIGHT have bent spring as well but I won't really know that until I do take it apart to repair.

And my shackle hangers are bolted to the frame...and then the 'fixed' ends of all my springs are riveted. So I guess it's possible all the shackle hangers were replaced buy a PO at some point. There are nuts welded to the inside of the frame. I ordered a new hanger and shackle w/bushings for this side and will bolt it all up correctly and then have it all welded up along with some extra supports on this and the driver side as well. I am expecting to...but hoping to not find anything else wrong when I do this work but am prepared in case more needs to be done.