extended radius arm build up

[krazykracker]

how do you measure the caster?

 

[BlackBII]

You measure it in degrees, here is a picture to help imagine it...

 

[krazykracker]

BlackBII-sorry i was trying to say what on the axle or truck do you use as reference to get correct caster for the radius arms,like setting a rear end perches there is a flat spot on the housing or pinion to put the gauge.

Also did yall take the radius arms out off the truck or can it be done under it.

 

[crawlin91]

heres an old pm from the Junkie
"As for caster, probably the best way to do it would be to set the axle so the main part of the rad arm is horizontal (as it would be stock), then tack-weld the tube into the back of the arm at whatever angle is needed to reach the frame bracket properly. This should give you a caster angle of approx 4-5°."

"What I would do is support each side of the axle (without the coils installed) so that it's sitting at what would be the suspension's optimum ride height (beam pivots 1" above the wheel hub centerline--- see this page for more info). Then you can set the axle beams square with the truck and fit the radius arms accordingly (if the truck itself is level, the top part of the axle beam should also sit level)."

Id still get the arms off the truck as it will make prep and welding much easier.

 

[out cast]

Nice so far... any more progress crawlin?

 

[Downey]

anymore progress i want to build some of these but more like 15 to 17 inch over stock length

 

[crawlin91]

Nope, been too many distractions lately. Camped out this past weekend near Green Mountain Reservoir (Silverton, CO), and hit wheeler lake trail, AWESOME trail!!! I should be able to get to it this weekend.

 

[PlumCrazy]

anymore progress i want to build some of these but more like 15 to 17 inch over stock length

I made a set about a week ago, here is a link to them -Click-
They are 13.5"s longer than stock.



-plumcrazy

 

[pyrosity]

OK, so i decided to do this, but im trying to figure out how i could adjust for caster to get it closer and im terriable at reading it, so i made a picture....

Could someone tell me which it needs to be closer to. A or B?

also can some one tell me how long to cut the 2 inch pipe to make it 15 inches longer or do i need to just match it up to another radius arm and go from there? guess go from the base of the bolt and measure off there.....

let me know what you think? When i weld on the rod does it need to be more like A or B? and i mean DOM in the picture not what i wrote.

 

[Downey]

^^^ explain more im confused

 

[pyrosity]

Well there talking about positioning the arm so that it angles a certain way so as to help with caster (If you look at the picture the angle of the mounting bar is the only thing that changes...but depending on the angle would change the angle of caster on the front end)...


the part where the letters is at never changes...the only change is in the extended rod where it goes up to attach to the frame. but im not sure i think if i can im going to try to make mine morelike "A". Where i believe the gentleman in this post made his more like "B"...i could be totally wrong....
actually now that i think about it, it probably needs to be somewhere in between a and b...give it a little upward point. not sure though....

any opinions? thats why i posted, i was cofused also.

 

[Downey]

yeah after i posted last night i was thinking about this and i got what you were asking after i thought about it. i have the same question but how do you check caster b4 you start the build

 

[BlackBII]

yeah after i posted last night i was thinking about this and i got what you were asking after i thought about it. i have the same question but how do you check caster b4 you start the build

Read this:

"As for caster, probably the best way to do it would be to set the axle so the main part of the rad arm is horizontal (as it would be stock), then tack-weld the tube into the back of the arm at whatever angle is needed to reach the frame bracket properly. This should give you a caster angle of approx 4-5°."

"What I would do is support each side of the axle (without the coils installed) so that it's sitting at what would be the suspension's optimum ride height (beam pivots 1" above the wheel hub centerline--- see this page for more info). Then you can set the axle beams square with the truck and fit the radius arms accordingly (if the truck itself is level, the top part of the axle beam should also sit level)."

And you'll want to do it like B in the drawing...see in this pic, you can see how PlumCrazy welded the extension at a slight angle to account for the caster angle, and his bracket is really close to the frame.

You can see in this pic how I made them pretty much straight, and so I had to drop the brackets further away from the frame. Oops. But it's no big deal.

 

[Downey]

plum i love your cross member you build it keeps everything from hanging down. i might have to copy that. and i like the square tubbing too.

black thanks for the help man def helpful

 

[pyrosity]

thanks...i think i got yah a little more now...so im going hunting for a week, and when i get back ill be getting on building them. i got 3 front ends so alot of extended radius arms to be made...lol......