I m doing a soa on a landcruiser. What should the castor angle be? :evil:

Depends... are you doing a cut and turn?

If yes, then you can go up to ~6* for optimal handling...

If no, then you better keep it lower as your pinion won't like being pointed at the rocks :eek:

:D

Both good threads from Mud.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=53413

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=54253

I run 5.5in of caster w/no cut and turn. Yes my pinion hangs down a little lower but it really isn't that much of an issue.

I run 5.5in of caster w/no cut and turn. Yes my pinion hangs down a little lower but it really isn't that much of an issue.

The most caster I have seen on big trucks is 3.5 degrees. More than that is overkill and will make it harder to steer and wear the edges of your tires in turns.

A cut and turn definately needs to be considered. When I bought my 76 front axle, it was already SOA, and the guy had welded the perches on to put the pinion up higher (which resulted in 0- negative caster). I put the axle on as is and the FJ was all over the road (the worn out steering linkages didn't help). I found some caster wedges I was going to point the pinion further down, but when I bolted them up, my driveshaft was binding. I'm sure there's probably a sweet spot somewhere in there between caster and pinion angle, but while your setting everything up, make sure you measure and consider both.

Do the cut and turn you wont regret it. Set you caster somewhere around 4* to 6*. I tried running non cut and my pinion would always bind.

Are you doing a shackle reversal at the same time? This will also make a difference in that if you dont do a reversal; then caster angle will be getting better when you droop.

Mine's 5* caster, 12* up on the pinion cut & turn.

This was the info I was looking for. Thanks to all! Looks like cutting and turning the knuckles is worth the extra work. I was originally just looking for the angle to set the perches, not knowing the stock castor was so far off.

The plan is to do a shackle reverse, High steer arms, and now to cut turn the nuckles and set the pinion angle straight for the t-case w/ c.v. shaft.

The rear is done starting the front tomorrow. Any more advise?

Thanks for the links it all helps...
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/7194/10005905li.jpg

I did a bit of my own research on this before ... mostly because I was considering buying a soa cruiser from a homebrew hero who decided to set caster himself.

Apparently there are quite a few places (ie:aqualu) that will exchange housings ... you send them yours and they'll give you one that's soa'd with the caster set. They've got the jigs to do it. Or they can soa your housing.

(I didn't buy that landcruiser for fear that the soa and caster was set or done improperly)

Apparently there are quite a few places (ie:aqualu) that will exchange housings ... you send them yours and they'll give you one that's soa'd with the caster set. They've got the jigs to do it. Or they can soa your housing.

i *think* cruiser outfitters does it to... or one of the other regulars that hang out here... maybe it was Mark?

At any rate, sounds like he has the tools and the desire to do it himself... got for it!! Once you do the first one, you'll wonder why you worried so much. :D

"You can dooo eet!"

i *think* cruiser outfitters does it to...

Yup :D

http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/customfab.html

so does

http://www.proffittscruisers.com/suspension/soa.html