rolandag is on to something.If you put cal tracs on the car and didnt adjust the pre load on them correctly,you probably knocked your pinion angle out of whack.That will cause major vibration.With the car at ride height you should have 2 or 3 degrees of negative(downward)pinion angle. if you have less the rear u joint is binding at speed due to the fact that the pinion actually tries to climb the ring gear causing the rear axle to twist upward.Adjust your bars so your pinion angle is back to normal and your bad vibes will go away.Just snug those bolts up tight,youll be fine.Good luck.
OH, I thought he was concerned with how I installed them, not how i have them adjusted. Now, pinion angel is relatively new to me. How do you measure it. These caltracs are almost infinitely adjustable, so I will try anything. Instructions on the Caltracs was to set the car down, turn the buckle until it just contacts the top of the springs, then continue 1/4 turn and lock them down. That is about where I am. I agree, this is a VERY likely candidate for my vibration. Much more than the nuts being too tight. So any help with measuring and adjusting pinion angle would be GREATLY appreciated.
I believe mavman72 is on to something....I know from experience with big truck rears with air ride, if the adjustment of the ride control valve gets off, it will cause vibrations like that. You need a magnetic protractor to check the angle on the pinion. I'm not sure how much the proper angle is, but somebody famailar with rear end set up should know....
http://www.drivetrain.com/driveline_angle_problem.html Quickest info I found on pinion angle. Have some more info buried, this should get you started. They do make wedges that go between rear and springs to adjust your angle. Does Cal tracs address this in the instructions?
Cal Tracs had very little instructions. They assume you are knowledgeable in these things if you are investing that kind of money into the bars. It will be an easy test. I will back off the preload and see what happens. That will put it back to stock angle.
Also, Sears, Lowe's, hardware, harbor have the protractor. Big circle (360`) flat piece on bottom to measure your angle. Socket stuck in yoke on the u-joint makes a handy spot to measure. CAR HAS TO BE AT RIDE HEIGHT
Driver in seat? Or just setting on all 4 wheels? Currently, in the garage on wheel dollies. Will that work? Just enough room to get myself under it and all weight is on the wheels. I will try sears today if they are open. Any part numbers?
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...=Levels+&+Protractors&vertical=TOOL&ihtoken=1 Sears Craftsman one? Is this the right kind of thing?
Yes sir! The bigger the readings,,,the better! At least that's what us ol farts say,,,should've listen to Dad better as a youngin an not spend so much time in little boys room! If you can compare the scales you'll see what I mean. Under the car it's hard to line up vision with scale and not seen one that locks the reading. Good Luck!
Sorry, missed that post. Will work on equal height dollies. Don't have to have drivers seat weighted.
i think you need a "poll" to see how many people have had to do this before you go this route. i have changed..motors, transmissions, disc brake conversion, cut one coil off front springs and rear gear swaps. also installed a set of ...cal tracs...i made without doing any...angle checking. it is something ...simple...you just need to find it... JMO
your welcome scoop i have a little experience on chassis work and I should have been more clear on my questions of the caltracks and subframe connector
Well, I picked up the second one shown from Sears (from pic above). If it ever stops raining, I will mess around under there and see where I am.
