I'm finally replacing my old worn out springs. I'm still concerned about the caster shim issue. I'm not clear on how to measure the angle to determine what degree shims are needed or if they are needed at all.
2 1/2" lift
- Thread starter hollowbase
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2012
- Threads
- 630
- Messages
- 17,211
- Location
- Winter Park, Florida
- Website
- www.cruisermatts.com
Unless you are planning on just driving around town <45-50mph, I’d recommend 4-degree shims for those springs.
CruiserMatt's 4-Degree Caster Shim Set for Land Cruisers
Installing a lift kit on your leaf-spring Land Cruiser? Then you need these to correct your caster angle after! Most universal shims on the market are made for Jeeps and don't fit properly, or are aluminum and can split under heavy use! Ours are made of steel, right here in the USA. NOTE...
cruisermatts.com
- Thread starter
- #3
That's what my research has indicated. I've noticed that the caster shims come in different degrees, such 1, 2, 3 or 4 degrees. That makes me question what the tolerance is, does 1 degree off have much of an impact on drivability?Unless you are planning on just driving around town <45-50mph, I’d recommend 4-degree shims for those springs.
CruiserMatt's 4-Degree Caster Shim Set for Land Cruisers
Installing a lift kit on your leaf-spring Land Cruiser? Then you need these to correct your caster angle after! Most universal shims on the market are made for Jeeps and don't fit properly, or are aluminum and can split under heavy use! Ours are made of steel, right here in the USA. NOTE...cruisermatts.com
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2012
- Threads
- 630
- Messages
- 17,211
- Location
- Winter Park, Florida
- Website
- www.cruisermatts.com
Manual or power assistance?
Don't overthink it.
4 deg steel shims, oh, and look, there ^^ they are !
4 deg steel shims, oh, and look, there ^^ they are !
- Thread starter
- #7
Manual, I've got a 75 that's close to stock. I put discs on the front and the previous owner put a header on it and Holley 2300 and Chevy HEI. I don't really do any hard wheeling, logging roads and cat roads.
The higher degree shim you go, the more difficult to steer.
You want to measure twice and use only what you need.
Iirc they only have one or two degrees of castor angle in oe trim.
With stock shackle 2 or 4° , but if you have longer shackle get some 4 or 6°
I have a very stock 74 similar to yours with header/HEI/ ront disc brake conversion (83fj60) 33x9 skinnies ... and put a 2.5" OME full kit with shackles/etc on a few years ago. I picked up Matt's 4' shims but have yet to put them on. d'oh. I still have some wander with road ruts after TRE/Tie Rod/Center arm rebuild (still have to do that ragout joint and steering box). Requires full attention over 50mph.
I was thinking that it would make low speed steering more difficult and didn't want to change right before Cruise Moab. Hoping to have some shop space next month to put them on. Can anyone attest to heavier steer at slow speeds?? It's already a workout, LOL.
Matt was great to work with!! Got an OEM gas tank, hoses, belts, shim, headlight bracket, clutch master/slave kit at the same time. Well packed and great pricing.
I don't do any hard wheeling, but man this thing just handles whatever! Level 5 Moab trails - piece of cake. Any bigger and I got to think more skid plate/rails...
I was thinking that it would make low speed steering more difficult and didn't want to change right before Cruise Moab. Hoping to have some shop space next month to put them on. Can anyone attest to heavier steer at slow speeds?? It's already a workout, LOL.
Matt was great to work with!! Got an OEM gas tank, hoses, belts, shim, headlight bracket, clutch master/slave kit at the same time. Well packed and great pricing.
I don't do any hard wheeling, but man this thing just handles whatever! Level 5 Moab trails - piece of cake. Any bigger and I got to think more skid plate/rails...