Bent Shackle?
 

Hi Everyone. I am new to the board but since I recently bought a 1971 Cheyenne K20 (Long Bed) I have a few questions like why the shackle at the rear of the front springs on the drivers side looks bent? And what to do about it?
The Truck
http://i.imgur.com/ETwVTqN.jpg?1

The Shackle (Drivers Side)
http://i.imgur.com/5GnFgst.jpg?1

Slightly Different Angle On The Shackle (Drivers Side)
http://i.imgur.com/rgG6xIs.jpg?1

Passenger Side Shackle For Comparison
http://i.imgur.com/5kQVK7j.jpg?1

Also the truck can make a much tighter turn when turning right as opposed to when turning left. It doesn't appear to hit the turn limiting bolts on either side. Could this be related to the shackle issue?

Re: Bent Shackle?
 

what a great truck! I love the Jackmans with that solid Ochre paint. Your truck looks lifted. I imagine whoever did it didn't "center" the steering. The draglink needs to be extended as a result of lifting. As truck goes up the steering arm (that link is connected to on axle) gets moved forward which makes the wheels turn left. The draglink needs to be disconnected, turn steering wheel lock to lock counting turns (about 3.5), divide by 2 and turn that many times to center steering box. Now, with wheels pointed straight, extend the draglink to fit.

Since only one front shackle is sideways, I'd guess the bushings are shot. They are allowing the shackle to shift.

Re: Bent Shackle?
 

Thanks special-K, and you know what, that makes perfect sense, for one because I took the truck to a alignment shop (that I thought was a good one) and the guy said that the steering wheel was clocked like 150 degrees off and he re-positioned it so that it was centered correctly. But now that I have read your post I realized that the steering being tighter right than left only happened AFTER I left the alignment shop. So it was the the technician who did it thinking that he was fixing the badly clocked steering wheel and but ignoring or not knowing that the draglink needed to be disconnected and then extended to fit after the wheels were centered lock to lock.
I am going to print this out and go back and ask them to center the steering wheel correctly. He even took it for a test drive and said Yep all good.

The truck has what I think are 96,000 original miles so it would be high time to do the bushings then. Thanks again and I had forgotten that those wheels were called Jackmans back in the day. Very cool.

Re: Bent Shackle?
 

Very nice truck! Welcome to the board and to the k/20 club! Are you sure it's a 71? I've been told that the brackets on the front and rear of the drivers front spring were a 72 only thing. The ones that help keep the spring in place of it shears a spring bolt?. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Re: Bent Shackle?
 

It does appear that the rear view mirror is on the windshield also witch is a 72only thing. Could be a 72 model made late in 71 ?

Gary

Re: Bent Shackle?
 

Well the VIN KE241Z625208 decodes to
K= 4X4
E= V-8
2= 3/4 ton
4= Pickup
1= 1971
Z= Fremont Assembly Plant
Which all matches what I see on the truck.

Re: Bent Shackle?
 

* Is your mirror mounted on the windshield ?
* Are your door panels plastic ?
* Is there a screw on the inside of your doors just below the vent window ?

There's are all 72 indicators!

Re: Bent Shackle?
 

Welcome to the board and VERY nice truck. You can help and get schooled all in !the same thread! I love it.Best part is they are right. Beautiful Truck! I'm jealous! Very good forum if you have a problem,or want to help someone with a problem. The shackle looks out of place to me.

Re: Bent Shackle?
 

VIN says '71. Probably a very late one? Or, there have been changes made. The door mirrors and grille say '71.

If those wheels have a "J" stamped into one spoke those are Jackmans. The spokes to the rim are the give-away, but maybe another lesser known company did that, too, at first. I know my dad had 10" wagon wheels made (locally) for our '62 Land Rover in the '70s and those were made the same way