Hammer Hangers® by Archive Garage 2005-2023 Tacoma Shackle Hangers

Guys one last question. Almost all the way there. Just got the last hanger bolted up and notice that the side does not sit flush with the frame.

I think maybe one of my holes being off center is causing this ?

Is it OK? If not, any suggestions for a fix?

Edit: pic is kinda tilted to get a good angle down it but you can see the hanger sitting off some distance

 

It’s fine. As long as you can get all 4 bolts in and everything tightened to spec, I wouldn’t stress about it.

 

Alright, I finally got everything done. I want to thank Eric and everyone on this thread for answering my questions and being a good source of information. Prior to doing this install, the only experience I had working on vehicles was changing my own oil so this was quite the task. I had never even used an angle grinder. I also didnt have anyone helping me. So the install took me significantly longer than the times quoted on this thread (probably like 16 hours over 2 days, which sounds crazy) but I gotta say its very rewarding to finally have complete and I learned a ton in the process.

As for the result: its exactly as advertised! Theres a drainage lip at the end of my driveway to the road and prior to today, the rear end has always audibly clunked when I pull in. But not anymore! That alone is enough to satisfy me. I took the truck for a long drive around town and the ride comfortability its vastly improved as well. I am a happy customer.

Here are some tips for those of us that want to purchase but maybe not as experienced as others on this thread. If I had to complain about anything at all, its that the instructions could use slightly more detail for people like me.

• You need four jack stands. Two stands go under the frame and need to be tall enough such that the tires are 2-3" off the ground. I had to put mine on a pile of bricks to make this happen. Once the frame is supported then use the jack to lift the rear pumpkin a few more inches and put two more jack stands under the axle tubes anytime you are underneath working.
• U-joint press did not work for me at all. Couldn't get it situated on the frame for the two side rivets and on the bottom rivets I got a great angle for the press but it ended up bending the flange/washer of my cross frame instead of popping the rivet out.
• Make sure you replace the bushings and place the bolt thru the leaf spring with the threads facing outboard BEFORE bolting the new hanger on.
• Getting the bottom rivet out on the passenger side below the tail pipe is a bitch. I have a stock exhaust and did not want to cut it. Also didn't have any bunjee cords to help me so I ended up having to raise the diff a bit and use my knees to push and hold it as far outboard as it would go while i drilled. Sucked, but worked
• A 3/8" drive torque wrench would likely make the bolting alot easier if it goes up to the required ~90 ft-lbs. My large 1/2" drive was a bitch to get on some of the bolts.
• After drilling the 1/2" bit through the rivets alot of them were still stuck. I learned that placing a flathead screwdriver on the frame side rivet head and hitting with a rubber mallet made it fall right out

Overall for my experience level the install was pretty difficult but I am glad to have done it. I assure anyone reading this, if I can do it, you can. I am probably the worst case scenario customer for attempting this.

 

Bought mine in October 2018, decided to not put them on. Looking for $330 shipped. Comes with the bolts and two sets of drill bits as shown in the picture. PayPal only.

Edit: Sold!

 

Congrats on getting it done successfully man. That’s a huge confidence booster when it comes to doing other work on the truck.

 

Thank you and you're right, it is a big confidence boost. I'm celebrating with NFL and beer today.

Also I ended up unbolting the passenger side hanger and making sure that all the threads and holes were clean of metal shavings, then re-bolting back on and torquing all the bolts evenly and it went on flush with the frame. So there I dont have a gap there like the pic I posted last night. That made me nervous, lol.

 

Good deal, these are the current version to potential buyers.

 

After driving my truck around more today I'm blown away by what a difference these make. Right up there with OVTune for me.

Now that my rear end is dead quiet over bumps I'm noticing a little rattle in the front end. Any ideas to what this could be?

 

glad you like em.

if you like these on the rear and get the value, then there's one for the front i can recommend. these two have changed my world and are totally working together in balance. you don't know how loose the front end is until you deal with it. i just completed mine. results are on the same level for me.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/marlin-crawlers-upcoming-hd-lca-frame-brace-kit.610921/

 

For you guys with the Archive greasible shackles - are you just using the super lube or whatever its called for polyurethane bushings like on Total Chaos products or are you using something else?

 

search the thread, it was just discussed on the previous page.

 

Thanks.

I’m going to give the super lube a try since whether it’s a poly bushing in an UCA or in a leaf shackle the concept should be the same and I already have it on hand.

 

Should've known that you would have the answer to that question! Awesome. Learning to weld sounds like a fun new project

In terms of overall driving experience does the frame brace kit rank better worse or equal to HH/OVTune?

 

chassis performance v. drivetrain performance... apples & oranges? these are two sides of a coin for me and, wherever i am in reality, they should be kept in balance. so i have baby-stepped both the chassis and drivetrain forward together.

if your budget prevents all at once, that can be a good thing. it reveals your actual needs, not just desires or perceived needs. that's where you find the real balance. after i did the Hammer Hangers, the front felt not strong like the rear... after all i just added 3/16" steel plate back there. so the frame braces dropped right at that time. hmm... steel plate on the front just like the rear? it all is just coming together, and the drive is totally amazing. very strong and solid chassis and steering over here, miles beyond stock.

 

Great review I just got on my site for the Hammer hangers thanks to @Murphinator

"I got my HH and crosstube in the mail and was surprised at how heavy these things are. Compared to the stock hangers these feel like a brick vs a flash card. Once I had mine installed I was blown away by the ride quality improvement. I don’t understand why or how, but now my truck rides so much better. I have kings in all 4 corners and no sway bar in the front. On the stock rear the front always felt like a cloud while the rear was super harsh and I felt like my truck would jump side to side all the time. With these HH, my rear rides as smooth as the front now. It soaks the bumps up, and my ass end isn’t hopping all over the place. I am still on stock leaf springs and I don’t even want to upgrade those now. These HH have completed the ride quality I have been looking for. Only reason I will change my springs is when I get the archive shock relocate so I can get more travel. Overall 10/10 product, would absolutely buy again now that I have felt the difference. I knew ride quality would improve but I didn’t think it would improve half as much as it did. Great job on these Eric"

 

Well, drove the truck for the first time since the hammer hanger install and on the quarter mile of washboard and rutted gravel road to get from my house to the main paved road, it’s night and day how solid and planted the rear end feels now. I can’t wait to actually get it out on some trails - maybe tomorrow...

I’m quite impressed. I’ll be honest, I was just expecting beefier shackles but the increased stiffness is shocking.

 

shocking. i agree! i had the same exact feeling after getting the Marlin HD Frame braces installed on the front. nod nod, wink wink.

 

Already got plans for the front....just need to find someone to burn them on...wink wink

 

Oooh, ooh, ooh I have never seen these before. Now I have something else to spend my money on after the 12 other things I have on my truck wish list

 

you, my friend, are doing it right. and you will know about it! it's an AWESOME drive with the front and rear firmed up. just amazing.