adjusting ladder bars.

Old 05-11-2011, 09:12 PM
  #1  
chevyart
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Default adjusting ladder bars.

is top or bottom adjuster used to adjust pinion angle?ther adjuster would do the pre-load. thanks art
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Old 05-12-2011, 03:04 AM
  #2  
TopspeedLowet
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Top is used for pinion angle and preload , lower is wheelbase or squareness adjustment.
Bruce
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Old 05-12-2011, 09:18 AM
  #3  
chevyart
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Default ladder bar adjustment

thanks bruce. now i am a little confused. if you use the top adjuster for pinion angle, as i thought you do, then how do you not affect preload adjustment( that is set OK) when you turn that very adjuster to change the pinion angle. i always thought you used the top adjuster for pinion angle change, botton adjuster for pre-load adjustment, and the front heim joint eye to go in or out for a small amount of front to back axle asdjustment. thanks art
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Old 05-12-2011, 09:35 AM
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TopspeedLowet
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Default Like this

Here we go, First to change just the pinion angle you would adjust both top adjusters in the same direction together to change pinion angle. To pre load you would just change one of the pop adjusters, it does not matter which top one you use as long as you are lifting the passenger bar to get positive preload. We usually set pinion angle and preload by placing the car neutral, meaning no pre load condition where you can remove the front bolt on the passenger side by hand or with little effort with the car at race weight with driver in driving position. then you remove the bolt on the passenger side and adjust the ladder bar end up about 1/2" for some positive preload, then jack the car up to align the bolt back in the hole. Now you have not changed the pinion angle very much at all from neutral but have positive preload. Does that help you out Art
Bruce
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Old 05-12-2011, 11:31 AM
  #5  
chevyart
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Default ladder bars

thanks bruce. that still leaves the front heim joint eyes, which would seem like the logical place to move the rear a little forward or back on each side, and now that would leave the bottom ladder bar adjusters to do what? art
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Old 05-12-2011, 01:55 PM
  #6  
TopspeedLowet
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Default Not all ladder bars have them

Don't do anything with them Art, OK. They are redundant unless you need to make a correction in the pinion angle that the present setting can not reach. Just think about it, as you are setting the pinion and you have too much angle on it due to using the lowest hole in the chassis. This setting may require shortening the lower rear adjusters to get your 2.5 deg pinion angle because it may have too much when you change to a lower hole than you use today. You do not want to over extend the upper adjusters to have less than 1.5 times the thread diameter into the female end of the adjuster. Now quit over thinking this simple suspension and go set it up Art.
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