Topic: U-Bolt vs. Pinion Angle

[Jagdverband44]

  Howdy, I am Running Rancho 44044s with 1.5'' lift shackles with a Marlin U-Bolt flip kit and I'm trying to put the pinion angle as high as possible because it is a low pinion . The problem I am running in to is as the pinion angle is raised, the diff housing pushes the U-bolts forward so they will not fit into the holes in the spring pads. For a previous pinion adjustment, I had to grind out the center hole of the spring pad about 1/2" to allow it to slide forward. How do I get the required pinion angle without the spring pad interfering with the u-bolts and the center pin?  Does anybody have experience with this same problem?
Here is a picture to help understand what I'm working with:

[LOL @ IFS]

Image shack is blocked at work, so I can't tell which axle it is.  I'm guessing it's the front, because typically, 44044's are used in the front, so if you are... you can't change pinion angle unless you cut your knuckles off and reweld them on becaues of your caster angles.  A high pinion 3rd is a more practical solution.

[FIREBALL]

You will have to deal with the caster angle if you rotate your pinion up.
I was able to put a bend in the u-bolts between the perch and the housing. This helped line everything up. It does make it a little hard to get the u-bolts on though.

[Jagdverband44 [OP]]

 I am in the process of a cut and turn. I'm 20 and in paramedic school, so dropping funds on an fj-80 high pinion is out of the question for now, but that would be sick. Maybe some of you have fabbed a spring pad with the U-bolt holes on the casing or inboard side drilled eccentrically so the U-bolt will just slide right through. Sometimes by just thinking about things you come up with answers to your own question. I need to do this quickly because I lives in the city of and they like to complain about old leaking broken down trucks with no front axles in them degrading the sale prices of their f*cking houses! Dont wanna get caught with a fine from the kommies.

[Hammerhead]

I usually just put a slight bend in the offending U-bolt and open up the front hole just a bit to get the fit I want.  I then put a thick flat washer on the modified hole and tack it in place to prevent movement.

[Jagdverband44 [OP]]

 
How are you bending your U-bolts, heating them would be foolish. Also, my pinion angle is pretty drastic at 21 degrees, I am worried the flat area on the spring pad will run out because of how much I need to offset my holes. If this is the case, I can either pound the forward blade on the spring pad down and weld another blade on after I am through drilling the holes or fab up my own spring pads. Or wait, I'll just drop cash on an fj80 high pinion, or even better, I will just have Currie build me a high pinion 9'' and then I'll  buy a new Tundra just to pull the axle out, then give it to Currie and have them drop in 5.29s plus a chrome plating for the casing. Then I will have a latte at Starbucks.

[Hammerhead]

I use a big vise and a cheater pipe to do the bends.  Do a mock up with a cardboard copy of the spring plate and a piece of wire or copper tubing to mimic the U-bolt.

[Jagdverband44 [OP]]

 I'm fabbing up a U-bolt eliminator for the pumpkin side, I will post pics when I'm done. Should of thought about this before hand.

[WHITE_TRASH]

The big question is why are you building a monster truck?  If you are to the point that you need to cut and turn the axle to allow for the angle of your front springs something is wrong.  Another thing to consider is the hi steer is getting really close to the top leaf when you rotate the pinion up as you are doing.

Not trying to be a prick just trying to understand the need for that much lift...