OK I'm trying to work out the bugs of my somewhat homemade YJ suspension SPOA with Toyota PU axles. I kept the spring mounts on the front axle the same degree as they were but moved them each in about 3/4" to match up with my springs on center. So anyways as I've mention before on here the thing is all over the road, corners terrible, etc. I'm wondering if because I didn't go shackle reversal up front that the caster angle is off in such a way that the rig tends to float on the road instead of trying to go straight. So I'm thinking of totally redoing th efront suspension, removing the M/L I made & changing to a shckle reversal set up. It's either that or try to tighten up the front end by: adding a pan hard bar, add pinion shims IF I can, change to poly bushings,etc. Another problem I'm having in this configuration is that my rig is about 2" higher in the front then the rear AND I added an extra leaf with has some lift in it to the rear packs. Will a shackle reversal lower the front down some??? My M/Ls up front just lay on theframe they don't wrap up around the fram like the kit ones do.
OPINIONS WANTED

To much to speculate do you have any pics that we could see alot of guys out there running them and your one of the 1st to have a problem could be a quick fix.

Originally posted by Wyld Bill
OK I'm trying to work out the bugs of my somewhat homemade YJ suspension SPOA with Toyota PU axles. I kept the spring mounts on the front axle the same degree as they were but moved them each in about 3/4" to match up with my springs on center. So anyways as I've mention before on here the thing is all over the road, corners terrible, etc. I'm wondering if because I didn't go shackle reversal up front that the caster angle is off in such a way that the rig tends to float on the road instead of trying to go straight. So I'm thinking of totally redoing th efront suspension, removing the M/L I made & changing to a shckle reversal set up. It's either that or try to tighten up the front end by: adding a pan hard bar, add pinion shims IF I can, change to poly bushings,etc. Another problem I'm having in this configuration is that my rig is about 2" higher in the front then the rear AND I added an extra leaf with has some lift in it to the rear packs. Will a shackle reversal lower the front down some??? My M/Ls up front just lay on theframe they don't wrap up around the fram like the kit ones do.
OPINIONS WANTED

Esp If we don't know the angle of your springs front to back. the perch angle mean squat if your springs are at a funky angle

Yeah I'll try to find some pics. Also gonna check the angle of the front caster today:D

Toy axles are setup to be a SR from the factory. The factory springs on a toy have a pretty steep slope from front to back...If you dont have this, caster might be part of your problem. Fortunately its easy to fix, put and angle on the front out put of a stock toy pu, then on your set up, and figure out how many degrees your out. Then use steel shims (not alum., not cast pot metal) bolted to the pack to get it right. Use cheap shims and you will kill yourself!

If you inboarded your springs, dont expect it to corner worth a damn...especially after you put in soft-a$$ yj packs. You might be able to add an extra leaf or two from some other yj packs to stabilze the ride a bit, but it will eliminate the "benefits" of inboarding them. IMHO I get plenty of flex in the front with yjs and stock toy spring spacing.

a panhard shure helped mine.but i bet you missed your caster angle .the yjs are awfull soft to me :confused:

Originally posted by Wyld Bill
Yeah I'll try to find some pics. Also gonna check the angle of the front caster today:D
Checked the angle, it was around 4 to 5' of caster. Now, I'm not sure that it is totally level where it is parked AND as I've said it sits higher in the front than in the rear right now too.
I realize that Yotas are shackle reversal up front since my axles came out of a rolling chasis that I bought. That's why I was thinking that caster may be part of my problem.
BTW can't buy aluminum OR steel caster shims in Maine only bronze. Damn they are expensive little thing too!

Not to contradict Scwafish, but more to clarify perhaps... You cannot check caster angle at the pinion on the third member... It is not perpendicular to the spring perches or the steering knuckles, you really need to check it at the steering knuckles to get an accurate reading... Just went through alot of this a few weeks ago with my XJ springs/toy axle setup... Ive got 9 degrees of caster and some guys say its ok, ill drive it and see hopefully sometime this spring....


Good Luck...

Hugh

No youre not checking caster at the pinion:rolleyes: but you can see if the whole axle assembly is at the factory angle...its a whole lot easier to check and caster and good enough for figuring out if your in the ballpark.

Now fellaz lets not argue:( I checked the angle ON the top of the king pins at the steering knuckles. If you have excessive castor it will be hard to steer your rig out of staight ahead. If you don't have enough or negitive castor your rig will float all over the road, if you let go of the wheel on a straight away but the road is crowned, your rig will head for the ditch:rolleyes: Or is it the other way around,....I forget:D

One way to check is knuckle off with a doll rod through upper and lower king pin holes and use an anlge guage on the doll rod

was it +4 or -4?

positive tips back
negitive tips fwd.

you want positive.