D60, Lift, Pinion angle

[flyboy]

For you guys running an SOA with a D60. How did you correct for pinion angle?

[Navajo]

I bolted the springs to the rear axle and then to the Jeep. Set the Jeep down off the lift and adjusted the pinion angle, when I was happy with the angle, I welded the perches to the axle.

[ February 24, 2003, 09:14 AM: Message edited by: Navajo ]

[River Beast]

I believe he is referring to the front axle....

The best way is spring shims....get metal ones and not aluminum. Bet the ones that you MUST use new spring center pins that go THRU the shim and springs... they way there is no chance of losing a shim. Don't go more than 3 degrees on the shims... I have found that any more than this will alter steering beyond tolerable and you will not like it. A 2- 2.5 degree shim can be used and still have minmal effects on the steering geometry.

[nxcj]

I'll jump with a second opinion...
If you only need a few degrees, I'd do what RB said, then at least run a few small beads between the shim and housing to help keep it there.

If you need to go steeper, cut or grind the housing perch to the desired angle, move the welded on perch to match, then cut the knuckle welds and rotate the knuckles for correct caster. It's quite a bit of labor but not that hard.

[flyboy]

thanks guys, I am referring to the front. I'm trying to get it together by Memorial Day for Tellico. It will be a trail rig only, with hydraulic assisted steering. Will rolling the kingpins forward only affect it at speed or will it also affect the return to center?

[nxcj]

It will affect the return to center if your caster ends up vertical. How much are you needing to rotate?

[River Beast]

3 degrees will not hurt the return to center.... I am in process of installing a D60 right now... it seems that with stock springs and the GM rear shackles I use up front, I won't need any shims... but we shall see... this weekend coming should be the tale of the tape... :D Still waiting on some parts I ordered... :mad:

[flyboy]

My springs are 3" over and the pinion is about 5* different than the t-case output (5* down) I need to measure, It looks like the new springs moved the axle forward some. Longer front shackles would help, but I may also need shims. Has anyone tried to drill the springs and move the pin? Could it be done? I could possibly try a shackle reversal and solve my poblem.

[la mula pescadora]

when i did my soa i left about 5 * caster angle and now i need to bring my pinion up to angle i have place longer shackles on front but still that angle is not there yet what i want to do is cut the nuckles and turn them what do you all sugest

[River Beast]

Rotating the knuckles is the ultimate way to go... your pinion does not need to be directly pointing to the T-case, though it is ideal this way... the drawback to this is sometimes the angle is too great and starves the pinion bearing of gear oil and wipes out the bearing. Mark (Above the law) had this problem and rectified it with an overfill resevoir.

I would rather have the pinion angle a bit lower, allowing for proper lube, maintain tolerance for steering and wear and invest in a high angle CV shaft.

[la mula pescadora]

hoe much angle will it be nice to have

[River Beast]

Like I said above... a 3 degree shim would be tolerable from factory position

[la mula pescadora]

the thing is that i don't remember the factory angle and after the addleafs and the soa i dont know the angle

also i want to lift the back some more about other 3 or 4 inch i have rear shackle inversion with stock leafs and drive shaft after lifting it up whould i have to increase the length on the saft?

[nxcj]

la Mula:
6 to 8 degrees of caster is a good range.
(I think that's what you asked?)

[River Beast]

ok... you are not talking a D60 now... you are talking D44 with SOA... D60 is already SOA and shims can be used....

I believe the factory degree is 4 degrees

[FSJeeper]

Using the revolver shackles in the front, my Dana 60 sits perfectly without shims and stock springs.

I have not measured it, but it lines up nicely.

[nxcj]

Guess it just depends on your set up. FSJ, with your doubler, I suppose your front drive shaft is nice and long. Mine is REAL short and steep. The Chevy axle (yes, a 44) I used had the stock cast in perch about parallel to the pinion. Terrible angles. I rotated it 10 degrees, cut the knuckles, etc. This also keeps the yoke off the rocks. RB is correct too, I'd have major oiling problems if I ran this on the flat too long. It'll only see trails at fairly slow speeds though so the hills will make up for it (slosh). I may add a new fill plug at a higher level just to be safe.

[FSJeeper]

Yes, the doubler helps the pinion andle a bunch because it is farther back, and the flat stock FSJ springs also help.