"Live" help..need correct caster on 4" lift

[airlaird]

Guys I have my truck at the shop right now for diagnosis on my "darty" steering.
Can someone post up the correct caster on a 4" lift. I have 35's and a ARB bar.
Thankyou!!
airlaird

 

[concretejungle]

It's the same spec as a non lifted truck.

Caster is caster, whether it's lifted or not you should try to get it back to around 2 degrees plus or minus.

 

[NorCalSam]

factory spec is 1 to 3* castor. On a lifted truck more castor will feel better or safer so 2 is ok 2 to 3 is better.

 

[landtank]

factory spec on caster is 2*-4*, for a 4" lift you are looking at installing caster plates usually.

 

[Waggoner5]

Steve, you want to have about 4 degrees positive with .25 lead on the right meaning 3.75 on DS and 4 on PS. This is more than factory, but where the truck will drive good with the 35s.

 

[Montana Cruiser]

as the others stated, factory spec is 2*-4* but the actual amount of correction you are going to need to get there is going to vary quite a bit from truck to truck and you should really consider the driveline angles as well.

 

[Waggoner5]

Also you might look into some caster plates so the caster can be dialed in on the rack. I am not sure if Ricks are adjustable or not, but that would make it easier. Mitch can install them. We installed Slees on Kelly's 80 with 3.5 inches of lift and had almost 6 degrees of caster. It drove really well, but had a small amount ofl driveline vibrations. Her truck did not have DC shafts though.

 

[Trinny]

All good numbers in theory, but I have a 4" lift (OME Comps) with an ARB and M12K up front, and my caster comes in at +1*.

 

[airlaird]

Gary the problem is I have Slee's 1st generation arms...theya re non adjustable. Caster plates won't work will with these control arms will they?????
airlaird

 

[Waggoner5]

Yes they will, but Slee correction plates will give a ton(maybe too much)of correction with arms and 4" springs. They may even cause the tie rod to hit the arms when you turn. Landtank may have the solution.

 

[concretejungle]

Steve, i may have read your question incorrect, sorry.

I thought you were asking what the caster should be at, not how many degrees of change to get there.

Also, as Gary pointed out the plates will work with the arms, but that's going to be a huge amount of correction.

Perhaps use slee's 1st generation arms, take measurements and then get rick (landtank) to make you some custom plates.

 

[KliersLC]

All good numbers in theory, but I have a 4" lift (OME Comps) with an ARB and M12K up front, and my caster comes in at -1*.

And.....?

 

[Nay]

Gary the problem is I have Slee's 1st generation arms...theya re non adjustable. Caster plates won't work will with these control arms will they?????
airlaird

Don't Slee's first gen arms correct for caster? What are your measurements?

 

[Montana Cruiser]

All good numbers in theory, but I have a 4" lift (OME Comps) with an ARB and M12K up front, and my caster comes in at -1*.

Is that with or without correction? If you have correction, what did you use? Hows your drivelines? Vibes?

 

[Montana Cruiser]

Don't Slee's first gen arms correct for caster? What are your measurements?

I *think* they do but the 2nd gen offers more correction?

 

[Trinny]

And.....?

...and...With the talk of plates, my point was that plates (Slee's) don't always get you there for 4" of lift. Nothing more. It was not known at the time that he already had Slee's 1st gen arms.

 

[sleeoffroad]

The question is does Steve really have 4" of lift?

 

[landtank]

I can set up my plates from anywhere from 4* - 7*. The problem I talked with Airlaird is that Slee's arms are an unknown for me. Because my plates rotate the axle on it's center I think they will fit but I can't be sure. Contact with the tie rod is an unknown as well.

I don't know what the benefits of Slee's first gen arms are but I would be asking if they are worth the trouble at this point.

 

[landtank]

...and...With the talk of plates, my point was that plates (Slee's) don't always get you there for 4" of lift. Nothing more. It was not known at the time that he already had Slee's 1st gen arms.

Somebody used my plates on a truck with only an empty ARB on the front with those springs and he fell short on caster as well. He came in at around a +1*. Like all springs that go on an unweighted truck you get more than you plan on for lift. But if you are running those springs hopefully you plan on adding weight which will resolve the caster issue automatically.

 

[airlaird]

THANKYOU for the reply's guys. I called Slee today but he was with a client. My lift is with the ARB Comp 4" springs up front...and 863's in rear with a 1/2" spacer.. To me..that is a 4" lift. The truck wanders and always has. I will find out the caster measurements tomorrow after my mechanic get's it back. Doesn't Slee have bushings to correct a 4" lift....Landtank, I'll be calling on you soon once I figure out the caster measurements.
airlaird