Front Dana 60 in FJ40 problem (1 Viewer)

[fyresq]

!!!!!!I Updated with my solution!!!!!

The background:
I have a 71 cruiser that I had upgraded the stock axles on and while doing that, I did an SOA, spring flip, and shackle reversal. I rotated the pinion to 13-14 degrees, redid the caster to + 4-6 and done. I did new hangers by ruffstuff, etc. etc.
So now I shortened a front 60 to 64.5" and took out the stockers but b/c I flipped the front springs (center pin foward) and did the SR, my 60's pinion barely hits level 0 degrees under load (unweighted the pinion points down) even though the GM 60 has a factory pinion angle of 10 deg IIRC. I don't really have the time nor do I want to 3 or 4 link the front. I want to keep it on leaves. Solutions.......
I know that I can use caster shims, but I don't really want to use 12 degree shims
I can shim 4-8 degrees and live with it
I can redrill and flip the spring back to stock and lose 4" wheelbase (not sure how much it will help)
I can put the shackles back on the front (but I like he SR and spent time and money doing it)
What do you guys think? Any other suggestions?

 

[inkpot]

The background:
I have a 71 cruiser that I had upgraded the stock axles on and while doing that, I did an SOA, spring flip, and shackle reversal. I rotated the pinion to 13-14 degrees, redid the caster to + 4-6 and done. I did new hangers by ruffstuff, etc. etc.
So now I shortened a front 60 to 64.5" and took out the stockers but b/c I flipped the front springs (center pin foward) and did the SR, my 60's pinion barely hits level 0 degrees under load (unweighted the pinion points down) even though the GM 60 has a factory pinion angle of 10 deg IIRC. I don't really have the time nor do I want to 3 or 4 link the front. I want to keep it on leaves. Solutions.......
I know that I can use caster shims, but I don't really want to use 12 degree shims
I can shim 4-8 degrees and live with it
I can redrill and flip the spring back to stock and lose 4" wheelbase (not sure how much it will help)
I can put the shackles back on the front (but I like he SR and spent time and money doing it)
What do you guys think? Any other suggestions?

Howdy!! Just cut the perches off of the Dana 60 and reset them. If you don't have to run a lot of high speed in 4sd, then the 10 degrees should be OK. John

 

[peesalot]

my guess is you are having issues with the precast perch on the 60 housing. search the general tech page as I think there is a tech write up on milling that perch and/or cutting it off and reworking it to achieve exactly what you are having trouble with getting the right * of pinion angle. Sawzall that fawker and adjust other perch to match hiegth wise.

 

[inkpot]

my guess is you are having issues with the precast perch on the 60 housing. search the general tech page as I think there is a tech write up on milling that perch and/or cutting it off and reworking it to achieve exactly what you are having trouble with getting the right * of pinion angle. Sawzall that fawker and adjust other perch to match hiegth wise.

Howdy! I forgot about the perches being cast in. Could you use a set of the Dodge spring perches and just spread them a bit to span the Danas? Then you could weld them on at what ever angle you want. John

 

[freds40]

To leave your suspension as is, you will need to either mill/grind (had a few buddies go at it with a 7" angle grinder) the cast perch or to run big castor shims.

My thought would be depending on how you did your shackle reversal, re-mount the shackle hanger. Benefits are no rework on the 60 and you can lower your ride height a couple of inches.

Heres my rear springs on my 60 but it's the same concept

This is what I did on my full width 40 I had.
http://img334.imageshack.us/img334/629/img0686small0zw.jpg

 

[fyresq]

Freds40.....this may be the first thing I try. I currently have 4" shackles with the hanger welded to the bottom of the frame, but nothing a plasma can't take care of...

Do you have flipped springs? and are you running stock 40 springs?

 

[freds40]

The 40 had flipped stock springs.

I've noticed most guys that do a reversal just throw the rear hanger under the frame. I always prefer to get the thing as low as possible when building the mounts.

This will also make an even nicer drive-line angle.

 

[fyresq]

I read most of the buildup on your thread Freds40, it looks sweet........Dhongagod has given me a bunch of inspiration too with his buildup thread on Pirate. I wish I lived closer to guys like you to pick your brain.......I get moving on my buildup and then I hit a snag like this one (since this is my 1st cruiser build) and I spend hours researching an posting and now am looking at changing my shackle hanger, ordering parts, shimming, etc. It always seems like I'm taking two steps foward, one step back. Oh well, while I'm waiting for parts I'll put in the detroit, 5.38's, and discs on the 'ol 14 bolt...BTW - did you shave your 14 and how much?

 

[freds40]

14 bolt was the late style with the additional casting ribs. I never shaved it as the ribs acted like ramps and i never had an issue getting hung up on it.

 

[R.K.]

Have you figured out how you're going to handle this situation? I'm about to go through the same thing. I have the exact same set-up as you in the front with the SOA/SR/flipped springs. I'm going to a Dana 60 front, but leaving it full width.

 

[fyresq]

RK.......after talking with Trevor at WFO, I ordered 8* shims and will be moving my hanger thru the frame which should get me 2-3* more putting me at around 4-6*+ caster which should be pretty good, especially for the street. I'll try to post up when I do this, parts are on the way. Since you are doing full width and will have to outboard your springs, you might want to look up Freds40's buildup (he has a link to it under his post above). He has a pretty sweet setup for his rear hanger on the front outboard that puts his "shackle" mounted along side the frame rather than under it....

 

[fyresq]

So I decided to relocate my hanger and add 8* shims......
Before

After

It will have a little more angle to the shackle when the v8 is in....

 

[fyresq]

And the caster change
Before

After....have about +6* caster, probably be 4-5 with the motor in it

 

[freds40]

Looks much better.

 

[fyresq]

Thanx for the help!