Al this talk about things that can go wrong with your suspension is making me second guess wanting to lift my truck.
I'm guessing it also wouldn't be the smartest idea if I made my own shackles?

 

I don't think you should be to worried about lifting your truck. as long as you keep the T-bar crank at 1.5" or lower your front end should be in good shape, at least that's the experience I have had. Af for making you own shackles, as long as you use quality steel you should be fine. I think my shackles are just 1/4" stamped steel.

 

Then I guess i will be lifting my blazer.
Would 3 inch shackles be best for a 1.5 inch t-bar crank?

 

I just had the Rough Country 2" lift installed yesterday and the mechanic who did it had trouble getting the stock t-bar keys out, so he left them in and told me that they stock keys are the same size as the keys that came with the kit and the stock ones are stronger, so they didnt need to be changed. So needless to say, my ride is now at a different shop getting the keys replaced. I live out in the middle of nowhere, so a good mechanic is hard to find.