Alcan Spring shackle failure

[rich.dev]

I know many Oliver owners have switched to the Alcan 2750 lbs 5 leaf pack springs and are very happy with the switch. So this is just and FYI....a video of a couple that documents their overlanding suspension failure involving Alcan Springs and their Alcan shackles. 

 

[rideandfly]

This is a good video!

After seeing this video and the new Alcan springs/shackles installed on Olivers, I'm still going with Alcan springs and shackles on Ollie later this year. This couple's Alcan shackles are not the same design Alcan shackles installed on Ollies. 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 04:16 PM by rideandfly

[Patriot]

2 hours ago, rideandfly said:

This is a good video!

After seeing this video and the new Alcan springs/shackles installed on Olivers, I'm still going with Alcan springs and shackles on Ollie later this year. This couple's Alcan shackles are not the same design Alcan shackles installed on Ollies. 

 

 

Bill,

You won’t regret moving forward on installing the Alcan running gear, and as you pointed out, its not the same HD shackle installed on our Oliver. (Apples to Oranges). The rig in the vid appears to be a “custom home built” I question the engineering even at a glance. 

I could not be happier with our Alcan running gear. Lew and his team are product knowledge experts in shackles and springs in my experience dealing with Lew and his techs.

Alcan has manufactured and sold thousands of springs and shackles to very happy customers. Zero reported issues with Oliver’s using Alcan products that I have heard or read about.

Just an observation. 😊

Edited Thursday at 06:55 PM by Patriot

[John Dorrer]

2 hours ago, Patriot said:

Bill,

You won’t regret moving forward on installing the Alcan running gear, and as you pointed out, its not the same HD shackle installed on our Oliver. (Apples to Oranges). The rig in the vid appears to be a “custom home built” I question the engineering even at a glance. 

I could not be happier with our Alcan running gear. Lew and his team are product knowledge experts in shackles and springs in my experience dealing with Lew and his techs.

Alcan has manufactured and sold thousands of springs and shackles to very happy customers. Zero reported issues with Oliver’s using Alcan products that I have heard or read about.

Just an observation. 😊

Lot's of questions. Did Alcan install or did they? Did they tighten things as specified?  Not sure on what bases Alcan claims the mistake is the overland couples. Lot's of unanswered questions.

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, Patriot said:

The rig in the vid appears to be a “custom home built” I question the engineering even at a glance.

Well stated David! $25K in suspension upgrades OMG, on that Thing?! 🤣

Where we live, 8 out of 10 trucks have lifts, and why do they extend wheels past the fenders?! Not a thought given to suspension geometry which keeps the Jeep shops in business. I’d bet Lew was correct, in that this couple did something wrong! Did they follow the torquing instructions?

The shackles on our Olivers are cut double-thick steel, with no welds, so no worries! 😎

[John Dorrer]

2 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Well stated David! $25K in suspension upgrades OMG, on that Thing?! 🤣

Where we live, 8 out of 10 trucks have lifts, and why do they extend wheels past the fenders?! Not a thought given to suspension geometry which keeps the Jeep shops in business. I’d bet Lew was correct, in that this couple did something wrong! Did they follow the torquing instructions?

The shackles on our Olivers are cut double-thick steel, with no welds, so no worries! 😎

This just doesn't pass the smell test🙃

[Geronimo John]

13 hours ago, Patriot said:

Zero reported issues with Oliver’s using Alcan products that I have heard or read about.

There have been a few, but they were resolved.

In the case of the Overlander and the shackles, it appears that vanity got mixed up in the design with physics.  

On the surface, it appears that the shackle design with the "A" cutout was a weak point.  Alcon's actions to change the design is proof that they thought so as well and commend them for doing so.  On the other hand their welding inspector's statements were believeable.

My heart goes out to those owners.  But who pays is still up in the air. 

• Not knowing the weight of their load on those shackles is not normal for someone who has built the truck.  Odd actually.
• Also not being clear as to how and where they used the truck is not useful.

Were they heavy on the springs.  Were they abusing their suspension by doing "jumping jacks" with their Overlander.  Both could damage the suspension but not yet break it.  In time it came apart "for no apparent cause" on the highway.  Were there other trucks with the same issue?   

Bottom line, we need the "Paul Harvy" on this story.  ("The Rest Of The Story")

GJ

PS:  I just sent Alcon $$$ for a couple of 5200 Nev-r-Lube's to go with my 2400 Dexter springs.  They were $400 less than a great firm in Tulsa. And have the experience on this upgrade for sure.  A no worries upgrade.

 

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