Blackhawke88's Build/Photo Thread

Damn that's bright lol

 

long enough for them to back off

 

R u going to superstition this year?

 

All of a sudden, I feel like a moth!!!

Another question is, "Did you upgrade to Premeire yet!?"

 

Installed .50" bump steer spacers and now I feel like im driving a whole different truck!

 

pics?

 

I'll have to get pics after work but I used these:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AAF-ALL18608/

I first measured the distance between the the LCA and UCA mount brackets on the frame, then determined how far down the tie rod is on that imaginary line.

I then measured the distance between the LCA and UCA where they connect to the spindle.

The distance between the control arms at the frame is 19" whereas the distance between the control arms at the spindle was 21" due to the lower control arm uniball adapter lowering the mounting point of the LCA to the spindle.

However, the distance of the tie rod from the UCA on both the frame and the spindle were still the same, which means the geometry is incorrect. I calculated the distance ratio for the tie rod and the arms at the frame and the spindle and determined I had to drop the tie rod about .5" to maintain geometric equality. I did so with those spacers, and my truck tracks straight, less lag after turns, and handles a lot better, almost like a car now

 

Is that for all long travel or just because engage is more than 3.5" over?

 

it has nothing to do with how long your arms are, its about the proper geometric ratios of your control arms in relation to your tie rod.

Engage uses an LCA uniball adapter to run a uniball in the LCA, so there is a bracket at the bottom of the spindle which relocates the connection point of the LCA to the Spindle about 2" lower.

You need to look at your individual kits to be sure.

divide the distance of your tie rod to UCA by the total distance of your LCA to UCA at your frame. That should give you a factor.

Now multiply that factor by the distance of your UCA to LCA on your spindle. This should yield you a number. This number should be the distance between your tie rod and UCA at the spindle. If it isnt that distance, then you have bump steer.

If your tie rod is connected too high on the spindle, when your suspension compresses, you will bump in, as in your tires will turn in.

If your tie rod is connected too low on the spindle, you will bump out on compression.

This is particularly annoying when one wheel hits a bump because only that wheel will either bump in or out, effectively steering you uncontrollably when hitting bumps.

This also affects cornering as when you turn one direction, suspension compresses on the outside. If you have bumpsteer, this compression while turning will either increase your turn or decrease, making cornering less predictable.

 

Interesting, my kits only 2" wider, but its in the same boat as yours as are all 2nd Gen kits (uniball adapter on top of the LCA) I'll have to take some measurements to see as well. Thanks for explaining this Aaron

 

By theory, the ratio of your tie rod to the distance between your UCA and LCA, multiplied by the LCA drop of the adapter, should be how much you should drop your tie rods.

For example, the factory distance of tie rod from UCA is 14 inches. The factory distance between control arms is 20 inches. Ratio is 14/20 or .7

Lets say your kit has an LCA adapter that drops the LCA 2 inches. 2"x.7 = 1.4".

Thus, you need to lower your tie rod by 1.4" to maintain proper geometry.

 

Yeah, makes sense, You only had to drop yours 0.5" or is that just the most reasonable amount to drop it?

 

I should drop mine more, but .5" is the biggest bump steer spacer they make, and I didnt want to stack spacers, plus, I would run out of threading if I put more on, but Im satisfied with what i have now.

 

So your calculations should work for all 4wd Engage kits, is that correct. Any pics?

 

I'll have pics later on tonight.

My method of calculating will work for all vehicles period since its geometric law.

I will need to retake calculations for what I did to my kit as I didnt write it down, just did it on the spot, but it should be around a 1" drop necessary for our kits.

If you are running the exact same LCA adapter then yes, we will have the same result when using the same spacers. It will be better if you measure yours out. Call me if you need help when doing it. My guess is you will need at least a .5" spacer.

 

When Hass is going to fab the custom 4x4 spindles, we have to remind him to maintain stock geometry to eliminate bump steer, because once he puts in that double sheer tie rod mount, theres no adding spacers.

Speaking of which, isnt your spindle double sheered at the tie rod mount?

 

where the fuck do you mount that bitch?

 

You slip the spacer over the tie rod bolt and then bolt on your tie rod

 

interesting. i have never ever seen those... guess i'm not cool

 

Hmm, nice work Aaron. I'm going to have to go measure mine.