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Old 08-25-2023, 02:26 PM   #1
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Shackles

Has anyone replaced the shackles on their trailer? Our’s came with probably the least expensive option. This makes me wonder if a failure or wear will cause a problem. We know things like that always happen when we are as far as possible from home and service centers.
I’ve seen articles about sets that are have bearings and grease fittings. Mine have ? Inside and cannot be lubricated.
I’m thinking of upgrading to a better system before venturing out on next adventure. I’m fairly handy and have been wondering if I should do this DIY. I’d have to borrow a few jacks, but it looks pretty straightforward.
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Old 08-25-2023, 02:51 PM   #2
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I agree, the OEM shackles are cheap-made. I installed Road Armor shackles w/wet bolt kit and equalizer that holds both spring packs together.
We had a 40', 15,500# 5er, and it seemed to tow smoother.
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Old 08-25-2023, 09:16 PM   #3
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Gary,


Here is a link to a video from Morryde on the installation of their Wet Bolts.
It lists tools, torque specs,etc.
When tightening the assembly, Tighten the Nuts, and Hold the Bolts.
Underneath the head of the bolt is serrated to prevent movement.






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Old 08-25-2023, 09:20 PM   #4
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Install the MORryde wet bolt kit with HD shackles and the CRE equalizer. I'll take MORryde over Lippert stuff any day.

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Old 08-28-2023, 12:29 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary P. View Post
Has anyone replaced the shackles on their trailer? Our’s came with probably the least expensive option. This makes me wonder if a failure or wear will cause a problem. We know things like that always happen when we are as far as possible from home and service centers.
I’ve seen articles about sets that are have bearings and grease fittings. Mine have ? Inside and cannot be lubricated.
I’m thinking of upgrading to a better system before venturing out on next adventure. I’m fairly handy and have been wondering if I should do this DIY. I’d have to borrow a few jacks, but it looks pretty straightforward.
Yes.

Yes, failure or wear will cause a problem. Your bolt passes through a plastic sleeve that wears out pretty quickly and then it is metal on metal.

Upgrade with new shackles (heavy duty) and wet bolts. Order a spare wet bolt for when one quits working.

I was told to position the bolt where the discharge hole is at either the 3 or 9 O'clock position. I don't know if it makes a difference or not.

I bought this set, then contacted Etrailer for an extra bolt.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Old 08-30-2023, 09:25 AM   #6
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you can buy wet bolt kits and bronze bushings at your local dealer cheap.. I just happened to notice at my local dealer and they stock it by the box full and i can switch my whole trailer over for about $80 CAD. This is going to be one of my winter projects as well as pull of all my wheels and clean and repack everything and check out the brakes...
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Old 08-30-2023, 11:04 PM   #7
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I replaced my plastic bushings, shackles, and center equalizer with the Morryde wet bolt kit and CRE2-3000.

I will never own another trailer without doing the upgrade.

The factory plastic bushings had already started wearing through, and the factory shackles are thin 1/4" steel that doesn't appear to be built for the long-haul.

The CRE23000 smoothed out the chucking that the trailer puts on the truck when it hits bumps.
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Old 08-30-2023, 11:55 PM   #8
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you can buy wet bolt kits and bronze bushings at your local dealer cheap.. I just happened to notice at my local dealer and they stock it by the box full and i can switch my whole trailer over for about $80 CAD. This is going to be one of my winter projects as well as pull of all my wheels and clean and repack everything and check out the brakes...
$74 U.S. at Amazon
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Old 08-31-2023, 02:33 AM   #9
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I think I will do as ctechbob did. For a small 25', under 6000 lb. trailer, it may seem like overkill, but for my piece of mind on our planned cross-country trips, it's worth it. And, my wife will tell you that I need a project.
Thanks for helping and sharing guys and gals.
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Old 08-31-2023, 02:36 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by Gary P. View Post
I think I will do as ctechbob did. For a small 25', under 6000 lb. trailer, it may seem like overkill, but for my piece of mind on our planned cross-country trips, it's worth it. And, my wife will tell you that I need a project.
Thanks for helping and sharing guys and gals.
The hardest part about the whole thing is lifting and securing the trailer. If you have some good high lift jacks and some good stands, it will be a cake walk.

Also helps if you have some good arm strength to get things lines up, or a helper.

The only thing I wish I'd done differently is to put my wet bolts in the other way around. I would have been able to get to all of the zerks easily, but I'd read that everyone said put them in the other way. Ohh well, it is just a very minor annoyance.

--Edit--

An air hammer is very handy for pushing out the old plastic bushings, but you can do it with hand tools as well. I just used a (I think) 10mm socket (Or whatever was just small enough to fit through the hole) and pushed them on through.

--Edit Edit--

If you get the wet bolts in and they won't take grease, loosen the bolts off of them and try again. The nuts are supposed to be one-time-use, but I just put some loctite on mine and marked them with a paint pen. They haven't moved in several thousand miles.

You might also run into a few that don't quite run home. Take the zerk out and you can press them home (I used a ball-joint press).
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Old 08-31-2023, 03:26 PM   #11
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$74 U.S. at Amazon
ya that turns into $100 cad
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