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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: FourbangerYJ on July 29, 2009, 06:28:37 PM
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A friend of mine built himself some aluminum shackles out of 1/2 inch thick 7075. I'm not sure on the length. I think they are 6 inches from hole to hole. I never heard of AL shackles. I am wondering if they will last. I know he did not sleeve the holes with a steel bushing. Just for the rear, not the front.
What do you say?
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Not on my rig, don't know first hand but I sure won't trust it.
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Too high of a risk for little gain... Why use aluminum for the shackles? It's not like you are saving big weight, which is the main advantage of AL... And if they fail (keep in mind AL is not as strong as steel), especially if running down the highway when it happens, the results could be deadly. No way I would put this on my Jeep!
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since you're supposed to use grade 8 bolts there i would not trust aluminum for the shackles.
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keep in mind AL is not as strong as steel
Sounds like that's why he said 1/2", make up for weakness with thickness.
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Sounds like that's why he said 1/2", make up for weakness with thickness.
Yeah, but the bolts are steel, and there is no sleeve;
I know he did not sleeve the holes with a steel bushing.
The bolt will most likely end up widening the hole, making the suspension loose...
Felipe
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Yeah, but the bolts are steel, and there is no sleeve;
The bolt will most likely end up widening the hole, making the suspension loose...
Felipe
I understand that, just responding to the statement about the weakness of AL. I think the holes would wallow out even if they were sleeved. Might just take longer.
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Sounds like there was no need to use aluminum, no real advantage except maybe already having it around.
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Sounds like there was no need to use aluminum, no real advantage except maybe already having it around.
You hit the nail on the head. I told him to get some from Ruffstuff. That is where I got mine from. They are thick like 3/8's steel.
I agree with what others have said above ^. I don't think they will last long.
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Sounds like there was no need to use aluminum, no real advantage except maybe already having it around.
This was my point as well... I think of aluminum mostly for weight saving over steel, and there is no weight savings coming from the shackles.
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7075 is pretty strong stuff...I wouldn't hesitate to use it...but wouldn't go out of my way to get it for this application either.
All kinds of suspension parts that take far more of a beating are made out of 7075 in some cases, i.e. control arms.
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7075 is pretty strong stuff...I wouldn't hesitate to use it...but wouldn't go out of my way to get it for this application either.
All kinds of suspension parts that take far more of a beating are made out of 7075 in some cases, i.e. control arms.
As far as I understand, 7075 has good tensile strength, but this is more an issue about pressure (the bolt part) than tension in my opinion. Also, using AL with steel bolts and components can cause galvanic corrossion, and 7075 is more prone to corrossion (because of the zinc content) that some of the other AL alloys out there...
Of course, I am not in any way a metal expert, so I could be talking out of my arse here...
Felipe
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7075 is pretty strong stuff...I wouldn't hesitate to use it...but wouldn't go out of my way to get it for this application either.
All kinds of suspension parts that take far more of a beating are made out of 7075 in some cases, i.e. control arms.
i vote for titanium
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Unobtanium, FTW! :twofingers:
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Unobtanium, FTW! :twofingers:
sorry man but you gotta explain that one, it went over my head.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unobtanium
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Unobtanium, FTW! :twofingers:
Personally, I would use Adamantium instead...
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unobtanium
lol, now it's funny
EDIT: i should've use google first