pinion angle shims on the front?

[colonel mustard]

Good morning yall.

I recently moved the front axle 1 1/2" forward on my k5. the pinion is level with the ground and is creating a stupid crazy pinion angle. I would love to put like a 4* shim up there. I have never used shims in the front before and want to know if it is "safe"

I have a set of DIY4X shims that actually bolt into the leaf packs. thanks in advance

 

[hirschdalechevy]

I would just get new center pins , run them through your shims and spring pack and you are good to go, 4* shims are not that much imo.

 

[TubeTruck]

If they bolt to the leaf packs and there is a pin on the bottom for the perch then I would say they are safe.

 

[dvdswan]

Your knuckles should be between 6-8* negative. This way you have proper steering return and don't have the dreaded "death wobble".

 

[idahovette]

Your knuckles should be between 6-8* negative. This way you have proper steering return and don't have the dreaded "death wobble".

Not in my world, you need positive caster for a good wheel return and it also helps stability when driving. Almost all cars and trucks spec some degree of positive caster.

 

[dvdswan]

Not in my world, you need positive caster for a good wheel return and it also helps stability when driving. Almost all cars and trucks spec some degree of positive caster.

I got it backwards then. Thank you for the correction.

 

[idahovette]

I got it backwards then. Thank you for the correction.

But when you shim for caster ,you screw up the pinion angle!!! Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Usually I'm just damned!!!

 

[dvdswan]

But when you shim for caster ,you screw up the pinion angle!!! Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Usually I'm just damned!!!

You can cut and turn the knuckles. That's what I did for mine.

 

[idahovette]

I've heard of guys drilling the welds and pulling the tubes out and turning them. Either way lots of work and a margin for error

 

[Bennyt]

Good morning yall.

I recently moved the front axle 1 1/2" forward on my k5. the pinion is level with the ground and is creating a stupid crazy pinion angle. I would love to put like a 4* shim up there. I have never used shims in the front before and want to know if it is "safe"

I have a set of DIY4X shims that actually bolt into the leaf packs. thanks in advance

How did you move the axle forward? Just moving it forward the pinion angle shouldn't have changed??? The front axle typically has a CV joint driveshaft to compensate for the angles anyway. On my K5 I moved the front axle forward 1" and raised the transfer case and had zero issues with handling, vibration etc. from the front. In the rear I used a nice Tom Woods shaft with CV's.

 

[bucket]

Some lift springs come with shims already bolted to the pack. I think with larger tires, a little more caster is beneficial. So when shims are added to point the pinion up a few degrees, you kill two birds with one stone.

 

[idahovette]

When the pinion goes up the caster decreases(negative) in the front axle.

 

[bucket]

When the pinion goes up the caster decreases(negative) in the front axle.

You said it wrong. You should have said "you are wrong and backwards" in response to my post, lol.

 

[idahovette]

You said it wrong. You should have said "you are wrong and backwards" in response to my post, lol.

I dislike confrontation!! LOL

 

[colonel mustard]

How did you move the axle forward? Just moving it forward the pinion angle shouldn't have changed??? The front axle typically has a CV joint driveshaft to compensate for the angles anyway. On my K5 I moved the front axle forward 1" and raised the transfer case and had zero issues with handling, vibration etc. from the front. In the rear I used a nice Tom Woods shaft with CV's.

thanks for the questions. I used ORD axle relocation plates. It was very easy and ill post pics shortly. moving the axle does indeed change your pinion angle as the axle follows the apex of the arch in the springs. every degree matters and moving it 1 1/2" forward changed my pinion angle another 2 degrees.
I am familiar with double cardon and all of that. nor am I concerned about caster as I would cut the knuckles and reweld if I had to. as of now the truck handles great, I just didn't like the degree which the pinion sat at.

after ordering my new drive shaft though, Tom Woods had said that his driveshaft are built for that and much more at (if I remember right 28 degree operating angle) im way under that so im not worried about this anymore