An "easy" way to "load the axle" for LCA, UCA and other adjustments
This is probably not even worthy of a thread because it's so obvious, but one way to "easily" load your axle if you don't have access to a lift, ramp or only have jackstands is to (1) jack up your vehicle on both sides, (2) then let it down on two jackstands placed on the farthest inside axle location on each side (i.e., the location farthest from the differential/ring & pinion housing).
These instructions came with a set of watts link installation instructions and worked flawlessly without causing potential damage like resting the axle only on the differential/ring & pinion housing might.
I know I posted this earlier this weekend, but this method is solid as long as you don't want to make a pinion angle check. I made a mark on one of the shocks when the car was on the ground and loading the axle would not return the car to ride height. It was fine for doing the LCA's and other suspension components, but when I went to check the pinion angle, I was getting erroneous readings. Even jacking the axle with the jack as high as it would go before moving the entire car would improve the reading, but it was obvious that it was still off. For example:
Axle on jackstands: -8*
Axle raised to highest point possible with jack: -4*
I'll likely invest in a set of ramps sometime this week to verify the angle. The shop may have never set the angle right in the first place. I woudln't put it past anyone to NOT do their job right at this point.
I know I posted this earlier this weekend, but this method is solid as long as you don't want to make a pinion angle check. I made a mark on one of the shocks when the car was on the ground and loading the axle would not return the car to ride height. It was fine for doing the LCA's and other suspension components, but when I went to check the pinion angle, I was getting erroneous readings. Even jacking the axle with the jack as high as it would go before moving the entire car would improve the reading, but it was obvious that it was still off. For example:
Axle on jackstands: -8*
Axle raised to highest point possible with jack: -4*
I'll likely invest in a set of ramps sometime this week to verify the angle. The shop may have never set the angle right in the first place. I woudln't put it past anyone to NOT do their job right at this point.
True... Car needs to be level when checking pinion angle.
Before you put the car on stands … you mark or tape the shock. When the car is on the stands and the suspension is now loaded … does the mark stay the same? If not, can you lift under the pumpkin to hit the mark?
Why? As long as the suspension is loaded, the angle will remain the same.
Yes, I think so … when you mark the static shock location wether w/ tires on or the axle on stands … it should be the same … I think Hey, I know about fishing and boat $hit. LOL
4 stands will work or a lift to check the angle.Needs to be level I checked mine after installing the relocation brackets and it worked well. I got -2 on the flange and 0 on the drive shaft.
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You're right about that travelers and when I did my " pinion check" I actually had mine up on four jack stands like you did BK and "leveled" it out first. That way I had a "true" base position to work from for the pinion angle check.