Topic: SAC'd 3 link question

[Ritchie]

Happy Friday to all...

I have a question regarding front pinion angle on a SAC'd '02 Tacoma with a Diamond front axle w/ 4WU 3 link kit. Simply, what should it be set at?
I've been fighting alignment issues for quite some time now. I've been to multiple alignment shops and the end result is the same.

Any suggestions/ ideas are appreciated.

Thanks.

[OVRAROK]

Happy Friday to all...

I have a question regarding front pinion angle on a SAC'd '02 Tacoma with a Diamond front axle w/ 4WU 3 link kit. Simply, what should it be set at?
I've been fighting alignment issues for quite some time now. I've been to multiple alignment shops and the end result is the same.

Any suggestions/ ideas are appreciated.

Thanks.

Have you called brian?

[Rockcrawlintoy]

Have you called brian?

I would agree. What are you unable to get aligned?

[joeyf]

Are your steering arms pointing in the dirt or high in the air? Your pinion angle shouldnt have anything to do with your alignment it's your arms rotating to high or to low.

[Ritchie [OP]]

Have you called brian?

Not yet. I hate to bother him... he is a very busy guy, although I may need to.

The alignment is out due to caster/ toe-in issues. One shop will change the caster, say the toe is good and so on. As it is now, I get a bit of death wobble over 55mph after hitting a bump in the road. I have to brake quickly, drop to 40mph or close to that to keep the front wheels from bouncing around.

Currently, the caster on the DS is 3.4 degrees.

Thanks.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

why cater to the driveshaft angle. I would set the caster and toe for good alignment and handling. Sounds like you didn’t take into consideration the driveshaft angle when ordering a front axle

[Rockcrawlintoy]

Also, are you running a high pinion diff, what about a cv?

[Ritchie [OP]]

Also, are you running a high pinion diff, what about a cv?

Diamond built the axle to OEM specs with the exception of a 62" WMS. It is a high pinion diff.
The problem is finding the correct caster at this point. Adjusting the upper link changes the toe also which is easy to correct.
Dunno, been up & down with the adjustments and can't seem to find that 'happy' spot.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

How tall is the rig?
 Having the axle built to OEM spec is likely the issue. Should have had it built with caster added in. When I had my pro rock built I did that to reduce bumpsteer and keep the D line angles perfect. 

Diamond built the axle to OEM specs with the exception of a 62" WMS. It is a high pinion diff.
The problem is finding the correct caster at this point. Adjusting the upper link changes the toe also which is easy to correct.
Dunno, been up & down with the adjustments and can't seem to find that 'happy' spot.

[Ritchie [OP]]

Frame height is approximately 20.5" and running 33's.

[Ritchie [OP]]

Here is a pic. Not running the SCS F5's, now have Methods.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

Caster should be measured off the knuckle BTW not the drive shaft. I would get the caster right so you can get the toe perfect and run it.

[Ritchie [OP]]

Off of the knuckle?  I was not aware of that.
I'll have that checked... thanks for the replies.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

Thats what caster is. set the caster to spec and deal with the driveline angle or cut and turn the knuckles.

[Ritchie [OP]]

Thanks for the photo.
I was hoping I could get the proper caster setting by adjusting the upper link. I do not want to turn the knuckles if it can be avoided.

Thanks for the replies.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

Thanks for the photo.
I was hoping I could get the proper caster setting by adjusting the upper link. I do not want to turn the knuckles if it can be avoided.

Thanks for the replies.

you should be able to get the caster you need with the upper link adjustment. The driveshaft angle may not be the most ideal. When I had my front axle built I had them add some more caster into the axle to give me room to lift if I needed it

[Ritchie [OP]]

I'm not concerned of the driveline angle rather, I was thinking I could use the flange to get whatever angle I need.
Now, knowing one can set the caster off of the knuckles, I'm good with that.
Now the question remains... what is the correct angle?

I do have a CV on the DS so no concerns there, or vibes for that matter.

Thanks for your thoughts on the matter.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

I'm not concerned of the driveline angle rather, I was thinking I could use the flange to get whatever angle I need.
Now, knowing one can set the caster off of the knuckles, I'm good with that.
Now the question remains... what is the correct angle?

I do have a CV on the DS so no concerns there, or vibes for that matter.

Thanks for your thoughts on the matter.

4-8 degrees roughly.

[05sport4x4]

Brian recommends 6* of caster for his front 3 link kits measured off the top of the knuckle or steering arms.

[fj-rankenstein]

Cut and turn your knuckles.   It sucks that you might have to do it but you will end up happier in the long run. .    And it's pretty easy.

I am just going through this all with my 4wheel underground 3 link kit. .    Brian recommends 6 degrees of caster and I feel that even up to 8 degrees would be fine if you are running a 35"and bigger tire.      Yours need to point your pinion directly at the tcase output...   
The 3.5 degrees of caster is definitely not enough. .

[Ritchie [OP]]

Cut and turn your knuckles.   It sucks that you might have to do it but you will end up happier in the long run. .    And it's pretty easy.

I am just going through this all with my 4wheel underground 3 link kit. Brian recommends 6 degrees of caster and I feel that even up to 8 degrees would be fine if you are running a 35"and bigger tire. Yours need to point your pinion directly at the tcase output...   
The 3.5 degrees of caster is definitely not enough. .

How much more caster will you end up with after you cut/ turn?
I'm running 33's and will not go larger. I'll try the 6 degrees via upper link adjustment and go from there.

Thanks for the replies guys.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

How much more caster will you end up with after you cut/ turn?
I'm running 33's and will not go larger. I'll try the 6 degrees via upper link adjustment and go from there.

Thanks for the replies guys.

you set it for what you want. cut the balls off point the pinion at the t case and put the balls at 6 degrees in this case.

[Ritchie [OP]]

The pinion is pointing at the T-case which is very close now.
I'll try adjusting the upper link with an angle finder on top of the knuckle before I cut/ turn the trunions.
I'll mess with angles up to 8 degrees and see if there is a difference.

Thanks for the suggestions.