This procedure covers the replacement of the rear leaf spring shackle on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 4WD with 3.5L EcoBoost engine, including removal and installation of shackle bushings and hardware.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Leaf spring shackle kit (includes bushings and hardware) × 1 — Use OEM Ford specification or equivalent
• Shackle mounting bolts × 2 — Often included in shackle kit
• Anti-seize compound × 1 — High-temperature rated

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels
3. Spray penetrating oil on all shackle bolts and nuts, allow to soak for 15-30 minutes if corrosion is present
4. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground, but do not remove

Procedure

1. 1

   Raise and support vehicle
   Raise the rear of the vehicle using a floor jack at the rear differential or frame rail. Place jack stands under the frame rails behind the rear axle. Lower vehicle onto jack stands ensuring stable support. The rear axle should hang freely but remain close to normal ride height.
2. 2

   Remove rear wheel
   Remove the rear wheel lug nuts completely and remove the wheel to provide better access to the shackle area. Set wheel aside in a safe location.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Lug Nuts156 Nm (115 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Support leaf spring
   Position a floor jack under the rear axle tube near the leaf spring to support the weight of the axle and prevent the spring from dropping excessively when shackle hardware is removed. Raise jack just enough to lightly contact the axle, do not lift.
4. 4

   Remove lower shackle bolt
   Locate the lower shackle bolt that connects the shackle to the rear spring eye. Use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to remove the nut while holding the bolt head with another wrench. The bolt may be seized in the bushings; tap with a rubber mallet or use a pry bar to drive out if necessary. Remove bolt completely.
   ⚠Bolt may be severely corroded. Do not use excessive force that could damage the spring eye. If bolt will not move, apply more penetrating oil and heat may be required.
5. 5

   Remove upper shackle bolt
   Locate the upper shackle bolt that connects the shackle to the frame bracket. Use a 21mm socket to remove the nut and extract the bolt. Again, the bolt may require tapping or prying to remove from the bushings. Once removed, the shackle assembly can be removed from the vehicle.
6. 6

   Inspect and clean mounting points
   With the shackle removed, inspect the spring eye and frame bracket for damage, cracks, or excessive wear. Use a wire brush to clean rust and debris from both mounting surfaces and the bolt holes. Check that bolt holes are round and not elongated.
7. 7

   Prepare new shackle
   Unpack the new shackle kit and verify all components are present (shackle plates, bushings, bolts, nuts). Install new bushings into the shackle eyes if not pre-installed. Apply a light coat of anti-seize compound to the bolt threads and shanks.
8. 8

   Install shackle to frame bracket
   Position the new shackle to the frame bracket at the upper mounting location. Insert the upper bolt through the frame bracket and shackle bushing. Thread the nut onto the bolt hand-tight only. Do not torque at this time as the suspension must be at ride height for final torquing.
9. 9

   Connect shackle to spring eye
   Align the lower end of the shackle with the rear spring eye. You may need to use the floor jack to adjust axle height to align the holes. Insert the lower bolt through the spring eye and shackle bushing. Thread the nut onto the bolt hand-tight only.
   ⚠Ensure bushings are properly seated and aligned before inserting bolts. Misalignment can cause premature bushing failure.
10. 10

    Reinstall wheel
    Reinstall the rear wheel onto the hub and thread all lug nuts by hand. Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a hand wrench, but do not torque to final specification yet.
11. 11

    Lower vehicle to load suspension
    Carefully raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack, remove the jack stands, and lower the vehicle completely to the ground so that the full vehicle weight is on the suspension. This positions the suspension at normal ride height for final torquing of shackle bolts.
12. 12

    Torque wheel lug nuts
    Using a torque wrench, torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern to ensure even seating of the wheel.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts156 Nm (115 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Torque shackle bolts
    With the vehicle at normal ride height on the ground, torque both the upper and lower shackle bolts/nuts to 165 Nm (122 lb-ft). These fasteners must be torqued at ride height to prevent bushing binding and premature wear. Access may require working from underneath the vehicle or through the wheel well.
    ℹ️The shackle bolts use the same torque specification as control arm bolts and must be torqued with vehicle weight on suspension.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all shackle hardware is fully torqued to specification with vehicle at ride height
2. Verify shackle moves freely through its range of motion without binding
3. Double-check wheel lug nuts are properly torqued

Verification

• Visually inspect shackle installation to confirm proper alignment and that bushings are fully seated
• Bounce the rear of the vehicle several times and listen for any unusual noises from the shackle area
• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify normal suspension operation without squeaks or clunks
• After 50-100 miles of driving, re-check shackle bolt torque to ensure fasteners have not loosened

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