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Questions on realigning my rear axle and others

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Old 08-30-2005, 12:40 AM
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Questions on realigning my rear axle and others

I've read a ton on the drivetrain and the rear axle. The panhard bar I can get a handle on as far as it needing to be made adjustable, but what about the other links? If I make them adjustable how do I go about and from where do I take measurements to center up my rear axle to the body and within the wheel well? All doing this while making sure my rear diff. is lined up to eliminate drive shaft vibrations. Other than that just a few random questions....how much weight would the factory tire rack handle do you think without reinforcing it? I've also come up with a loose feeling in the drivers door. I didn't know if it had an adjustment to tighten it up as I didn't see one or if it needed a new seal. It also developed a leak at the very top of the door which I didn't know which to contribute that to...either the seal or a possible adjustment. Thanks...sorry, for the long post I'm learning as fast as I can.....
Old 08-31-2005, 08:36 AM
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bump!.....anyone?
Old 09-04-2005, 07:20 PM
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come on now...it's hard to believe that not one person on here has any knowledge on this.....
Old 09-04-2005, 08:05 PM
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Driveshaft alignment:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...l#Measurements

On the rest of the alignment, just find some good reference points common to both sides of the frame and measure off of those. Or you could probably have a good alignment shop do a 4-wheel alignment for you.
Old 09-04-2005, 10:00 PM
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I read up on your drive shaft alignment, but wasn't sure on how to go about recentering the rear axle. I thought I might just be able to take common points on both side, but didn't know if there was a better way. Could a shop do a 4 wheel alignment and adjust the rear if the links aren't adjustable?
Old 09-05-2005, 05:55 AM
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Hey Andrew. To my knowledge, I don't thinki anybody bothers with adjusting the control arms to worry about centering front to back. The third genner's usually buy a Pan Hard drop down bracket to re-center the axle left to right.
Old 09-05-2005, 06:20 AM
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do you not have any problem with the axle being to far forward.....especially with the amount of lift I'm running in the rear? I just thought that the axle wouldn't be centered and resulting in the wheel not being centered in the wheel well.....this causing the tires to rub on the front of the wheel well.
Old 09-05-2005, 06:20 AM
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You'll need a plumb bob and tape measure, then find a level area to start measuring. First you have to establish 4 reference points on the frame, perferably inside the wheelbase, that are absolutely square to each other. A good point to start at is the round tube at the back of the frame. With the truck up on jacks and all 4 wheels off, you'll need to take the plumb bob to attach to the frame. It's much easier to have 4 of them. Start by attaching one to each frame section by the round tube. with the point just touching the ground, make a mark. Once you get the two rear points located, you can now find 2 point to the front. Measure on the ground towards the front a given distance, then attach the plumb bob to the frame and adjust it till it meets that mark. after the 4 points are located, diagonally measure them to check squareness, if this is good, take a center punch and mark the frame. From these points you can measure squareness of the rear axle or front suspension.

There's more to it, but I just wanted to let you know what some of the proceedures that I go through.....
Old 09-05-2005, 08:37 AM
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wow......that's indepth, but the info I was looking for. Should I have this done by someone else or try it on my own?
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