Ok i got half my answer. Now, does anyone have the part number for the front driveshaft dust cap by any chance. Seems to be a couple that spicer makes. TIA

 

^^ ding ding ding winnar is you

I got my rear axle in with a 3.5 ton with a nice big saddle and a little 2-ton to keep the pinion in check. It also helped that I used brand new U bolts, close enough was good enough to get one side hung off of the springs, then I hung the other and started messing around. If you're reusing ancient U bolts maybe consider a new set anyway lol.

 

Got to use a bit more of the grey matter when it's just you doing the work.

 

I dunno EZEARL - usually when I do my own work I bash the grey matter around quite a bit!

 

I am actually reusing u bolts but only because I need to set it up, measure for shims, then when I put shims in I'm going to use new ones.

I will most likely have my dad there tomorrow to help out so I should be fine although if he isn't I might consider buying a second floor jack because I need one at home anyways.

Question about shims btw, do they all come with new center pins? Do all shims bolt to the leafs? If not I assume the better option is to have it bolted right?

I ask because I don't see center pins pictured or mentioned in a lot of the listings for them.

 

Its Better to cut the perches off the axle and rotate it and reweld the perches, I've seen a lot of shims crack and fall out

 

Now that's an idea. I might be able to just make new ones out of some steel we have laying around. Damn I need a plasma cutter!

How bad is it to have the drive line out of angle? I have a sye and I'm using a front shaft. I also have shackle relocators (HD off road) and extended shackles. I heard that can rotate the axle a bit, say I'm 3 degrees off of perfectly pointing at the tcase output, is it going to be that bad?

I ask because I'd rather drive it for a while until I get my DD sorted out (its suspension is ****ed) versus having it out of commission longer or wasting money on shims.

 

I have a SYE and a front driveshaft, and I have extended shackles on relocation brackets, and my pinion angle is perfect.

 

Pinion angle should be pointing two to three degrees below the output shaft to account for axle wrap. If it's too far out of angle you'll chew through u joints and have bad vibes.

 

Interesting. I'm definitely going to have to bolt it in there and measure. Hopefully it'll be spot on lol.

We'll see tomorrow.

 

Yea I think I lost about a spoonful the other day reaching to cut those NSS wire ties. Nice gash in the noggin.

 

I have wondered about that part also. Seems to be pressed on.

 

I remember doing that on my Comanche.

 

Getting to them was the worst part of the whole job. But seeing my b/u lights work again made it worth it.

 

My experience exactly.