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Post by vio0633 on Jan 16, 2006 11:49:08 GMT -8
Well I was thinking of getting some new lower bars but not for reasons of pinion angle or anything but to have it clear the frame. I was wondering what dis advantages if any are to getting bars shorter? Also..if I did get new bars for my 6 link all I have to do is get to the upper link bars, measure ctc, and order some the same length right? Does it matter when I measure if they are parallel or not?
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Post by low_blazer on Jan 16, 2006 12:08:49 GMT -8
Frank, getting shorter lowers will have 2 basic ill effects. If the angles of the upper and lower bars end up being out of whack, you will induce some pretty bad wheel hop, most likely at any height. Also, by running shorter bars, you run the risk of having the axle get pulled farther forward when you lay out due to the shorter arc of travel. Pinion angle shouldnt change much, so you'll probably be ok there. If you make sure the pars are close to parallel to each other when you set it up, you'll probably be ok.
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Post by vio0633 on Jan 16, 2006 15:19:46 GMT -8
Ok so what do I need to do to make sure I get the right legth? Do I need to lower my truck until the upper bars are parallel with the floor and then measure it out from ctc and then get that legth for lower bars? I was thinking of just getting some 17" bars...but damn that seems really small to me though. Explain to me how I have to setup me truck to let me get the right measurements. If lets say the bars are parallel to each other...will it still jam my axle forward and have the ill effects that you said doug? Im trying to understand this..lol
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Post by vio0633 on Jan 16, 2006 15:39:49 GMT -8
I hate it when you say probably be ok as well...lol. I was thinking though...The bars aren't going to be any shorter than the shortest bars that are already on there so the axle shouldnt pull foreward right?
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Post by vio0633 on Jan 18, 2006 13:49:34 GMT -8
 No love on here?? LOL |
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Post by vio0633 on Mar 17, 2006 15:13:40 GMT -8
Well....I ordered my new lower bars today. They should be here in about a week or so. Now my question is for doug...but how can I find the ride height you set my truck at bro? Im thinking i need to do this so please let me know if im right or wrong....
First thing I need to do is set my truck on jackstands on a flat level surface. I then jack the rear up so the angle finder I have set on the differential indicates a 2 deg up change from the ground. Once I get that then I can unbolt one lower link bar at a time and bolt up the new one to the frame and the axle bracket. Repeat the process on the same side. Now....to keep the axle from shifting while I do this what would you reccomend I do? About how high you think the rear differential needs to be it to be considerd at the right ride height? Im going to call ya doug and ask ya but wanted to see if you shout out before I do bro.
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Post by vio0633 on Mar 17, 2006 15:29:40 GMT -8
I asked for help on another forum and this is how he explained it to me. Doesnt make sense and I think he is full of shit. I mean...he says my driveshaft has nothing to do with the pinion angle? Thats not right.....here is what he explained...
Think of it this way...Your ride height is the point ware the guy set the pinion. On an unmodified 6 link, the pinion changes a lot. basically just jack up or down the axle until you find the -2 degrees. When measuring the pinion, it has nothing to do with the drive shaft. you want to put the angle finder on the flat shelf like part on the side of the differential. The truck needs to be completely level to the ground or you will have to be compensating for the unlevelness. Then jack up or down the axle until the pinion changes so that the differential is pointing 2 degrees up from being parallel to the ground. once you find this point you can start dismantling one side and assembling it back together with the new link bar. There is a chance that you won't even find this -2 degrees. In this case, you must unbolt both sides of the lowers and adjust the differential by hand and a jack. A good place to set the pinion is about 4 inches from the truck laying out. This is close to how most people will drive their truck, and it doesn't matter too much, since in theory you shouldn't have much more than 2 degrees of pinion angle change when the job is finished. If you notice before you take the truck apart, your differential moves 3-6 degrees off pinion in both directions (around -6 to + 4 degrees).
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Post by droppedoff on Mar 17, 2006 18:07:50 GMT -8
Frank, the pinion has nothing to do with the driveshaft. The angle is set up to be equal to but opposite the angle that the tranny is. The tranny points down a little bit so the pinion has to point up that same amount. You shouldn't have to worry about what ride height Doug set it up for. Just take the old bars out, set it at the ride height you want and get the pinion close to the correct angle at that height. Then put the new bars in and fine tune the pinion angle to get it set.
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Post by vio0633 on Mar 18, 2006 15:21:12 GMT -8
Thanks for clarifying that peter. Yeah I was just confused as to why the pinion angle has anything to do with the floor? I read dougs tech section on here about the tranny and rear angles have to preety much zero out...but im wondering if I need to jack the rear up and get underneath it so I can find the zero refrence and then mount the bars up. I cant really take the bed off and mess with the uppers bars...which I really dont need to do anyway. If doug set the pinion angle at a certain ride height then I need to find that location and start mounting the new bars. Let me know if im right or wrong...as I dont want to fuck anything up...LOL.
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Post by droppedoff on Mar 19, 2006 11:13:06 GMT -8
Sorry Frank, I forgot you've got a 2 piece driveshaft, so everything I said is pretty much useless, haha.
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Post by vio0633 on Mar 19, 2006 17:02:31 GMT -8
Doug called me. He explained to me where my axle has to be and what to do. If I got some more questions im just going to call him instead of posting on here. Thanks for the owrd though yo! Preety much all I have to do is jack up the rear end so the top of the axle is flush with the bottom of my frame. Once its there I take off the lowers one at a time and bolt up the new ones in their. Im going to leave the perches on there and the old lower bars...im going to test drive it to make sure everything is ok. Im also going to move the suspension up and down to make sure that my drive shaft and shit dont move forward alot. But beign that I have a 2 piece DS...it should have some play to it when it lays out. Sorry to explain again....it makes me understand things when I tell someone how im going to do it.
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No love on here?? LOL
