Carli Rear shackles with factory springs

[Stroke250]

My search came up with limited feedback unless I missed something. Who here is running the Carli rear leaf shackles on factory springs and was there a noticeable difference? Wanting to try these out if justified. Thanks!

 

[ColoradoTremor]

I am, there was a difference but it was not a major one. Small bump compliance is marginally better. A washboard dirt road is still painful, as are large bumps.

 

[mrmag00]

I’m running them on a 24 F350 and I think it made difference in ride quality.

 

[Stroke250]

Thank you both. Amy improvement is better but the question is more is it a cost justified improvement. I don’t plan on changing my factory rear leaf pack so this would be my compromise to improving ride quality in another way.

 

[McE]

Following. My wildly generous forum secret santa got me a set, but I haven't had time to install them yet. I have the stock-rate BDS spring pack, so any small-bump compliance improvement should be similar. Nice that they're rebuildable.

 

[Stroke250]

Following. My wildly generous forum secret santa got me a set, but I haven't had time to install them yet. I have the stock-rate BDS spring pack, so any small-bump compliance improvement should be similar. Nice that they're rebuildable.

I was wondering if you had them or not. Part of me says just do it but I like to get some validation feedback on things.

 

[mrmag00]

Personally I think it was worth the price, it does improve the ride how much is a matter of opinion I guess.

 

[Stroke250]

Personally I think it was worth the price, it does improve the ride how much is a matter of opinion I guess.

Correct as it’s subjective based on the person. My dealer here may have a set in stock and is checking for me now.

 

[HeavyAssault]

My search came up with limited feedback unless I missed something. Who here is running the Carli rear leaf shackles on factory springs and was there a noticeable difference? Wanting to try these out if justified. Thanks!

YES...do it as cheap as it is for them it's not a bad little improvement for what you pay.

My $0.02 : Take the time to makes sure you get them greased properly with each of the purge ports properly expressing excessive grease from the zerk input. You might need a stout needle or maybe even a wire that you can heat up. This will allow you to clear the purge channel of any production excess of the bushing. Took me a little bit to get them all the channels to purge, and yes it got a little messy. Once the purge channels are cleared you know it's ready for the install.
In the end to think these are serviceable on the vehicle isn't a truthful statement. You will need to go through the process like you are removing them to get them purged properly a second time (albeit a easier chore the second time around).
I did the work in the driveway with the basics on hand.

 

[mrmag00]

I grease mine when doing an oil change.

 

[HeavyAssault]

I grease mine when doing an oil change.

How do you get them to purge??

For my install they fit pretty damn tight into the mounts, no way the grease is coming out properly.

 

[Avslash]

I looked around for an install video on these and didn't find one.

Can you install these with wheels on the truck and a floor jack under the hitch? Lift rear end of truck to point where springs are unloaded and then remove factory shackle and replace?

Or do you need to remove the U-bolts and completely remove the leaf spring pack?

I am aware Carli's instructions indicate pulling the entire leaf, but I'm seeing some discussion on doing it the way I described above.

I ordered a set so trying to get a handle on what the install process will be.

Thanks.

 

[Stroke250]

I looked around for an install video on these and didn't find one.

Can you install these with wheels on the truck and a floor jack under the hitch? Lift rear end of truck to point where springs are unloaded and then remove factory shackle and replace?

Or do you need to remove the U-bolts and completely remove the leaf spring pack?

I am aware Carli's instructions indicate pulling the entire leaf, but I'm seeing some discussion on doing it the way I described above.

I ordered a set so trying to get a handle on what the install process will be.

Thanks.

They can be installed without removing leafs and depending how high your jack goes, with wheels/tires left on.

 

[Tbell]

I've also got these installed on my stock leafs. Small bump compliance was definitely improved after the install. Easy enough install to just get the rear leafs unloaded and then remove stock shackles and put these on. Shackles in combination with the torsion sway bar make for a much improved ride on a stock height truck.

 

[Stroke250]

I've also got these installed on my stock leafs. Small bump compliance was definitely improved after the install. Easy enough install to just get the rear leafs unloaded and then remove stock shackles and put these on. Shackles in combination with the torsion sway bar make for a much improved ride on a stock height truck.

Thanks. I figure it’s worth a shot adding it since I have the 3.5” BC kit with the torsion sway bar.

 

[mrmag00]

How do you get them to purge??

For my install they fit pretty damn tight into the mounts, no way the grease is coming out properly.

Never had an issue greasing them, plug the grease gun and squeeze and out come the grease.

 

[HeavyAssault]

I looked around for an install video on these and didn't find one.

Can you install these with wheels on the truck and a floor jack under the hitch? Lift rear end of truck to point where springs are unloaded and then remove factory shackle and replace?

Or do you need to remove the U-bolts and completely remove the leaf spring pack?

I am aware Carli's instructions indicate pulling the entire leaf, but I'm seeing some discussion on doing it the way I described above.

I ordered a set so trying to get a handle on what the install process will be.

Thanks.

It's not hard at all, but seems a bit backwards. I did follow the below video a little bit to do the same thing, but in the driveway. Ended up to be pretty easy to do. Jump ahead to about 4:15 in the video.
I think I ended up dropping the spare tire out, jacking up and removing the tire on the side I was working on, removed the hardware, jacking the axle UP into the truck hence moving the spring end high enough to remove the upper bolt.

Never had an issue greasing them, plug the grease gun and squeeze and out come the grease.

Man there is no way mine would purge. That lower section fits SO tight around that end in the frame mount.

 

[mrmag00]

Mine was a tight at the frame as well. Maybe a grease gun issue, I’ve had a couple that just didn’t pump grease well.

 

[Stroke250]

Shackles are ordered. I won’t get them until next week and I’ll be traveling to Wyoming until Thursday. I’ll get them installed when I’m back.

 

[majorbison]

I am, feels great. Never ridden on carlis but between an fx4 a stock tremor and the Carli shackles are titties