Inexpensive/easy way to move your axle forward (1st gen only)

[Maniak]

I've had a few people comment (e.g. ask) about how much room I have between the back of the front tire and rear of the fenderwell without trimming the fender.

I figured I'd post how I moved the axle...

The best time to do it is when your going to change your Radius Arm bushings.

What you need to do is save the front washer from your old Radius Arm Bushing.

When you install you new bushings you put the old Front Washer back on BACKWARDS. Then put the new washer and the bushing on as you would normally.

What this does is push the axle forward about 1/8" (actually its a little more due to the arc). I've been running our Radius Arm bushings like this for over 50k miles with no ill affects. Since you moving/replacing suspension parts you should get an alignment done.

Here is a picture (a pic is worth 1000 words) of how the washers look. At this time I was running Moog Adjustable Caster Bushings. I have since given up on them as they don't last as long as the Moog Rubber ("problem solver") bushings.

I hope this helps someone..

~Mark

 

[Chew_12]

Interesting...What do you gain by moving it forward?

 

[410Fortune]

Yes and this is also COMMON practice for many off road shops when installing aftermaket lifts or extended radius arms.

The caster will change as well as the toe so an alignment will be required after doing this.

I have seen spacers up to 1/2" work, but each truck is a little different.

 

[Maniak]

What do you gain by moving it forward?

In General, as you lift the vehicle by using longer springs you move the tires down in a arc. As they go down they also go backwards. This can cause issues with the tire hitting the rear fender. Most kits come with a drop bracket of one length, but the new springs extra length usually is longer than the extra height of the drop bracket which still swings the tire down/back.

Even if you don't have a lift kit you could run into this issue with oversized tires. This allows your tire to be positioned more forward. Its easier to trim a bumper than the fender.

~Mark

 

[Chew_12]

Oh ok, So this pretty much replaces extended RA's or is another option.

 

[410Fortune]

ummmm no it doesnt replace anything.

Extended radius arms benefit from this same mod in the same way the stock arms do.
the benefit is having the axle forward slightly.

Extended radius arms are typically 15" longer then stock radius arms on the TTB axle, so the 1/8" spacer is only pushing the axle forward, whether the arms are stock or 15" longer extended arms.

That picture is showing stock radius arms with a James Duff 3" radius arm drop bracket.
That entire assembly in teh picture goes away with extended radius arms. But even the extended arms can benefit from the 1/8 " spacer.

Does that help? If not go back to the beginning and read again
It would be much easier to just show you on a truck :: then to type 4 pages

 

[Maniak]

I wouldn't say it replaces an extended Radius Arm... Normally when you install an Extended Radius arm you put the mounting point farther back. This decreased the arc the tire has to move in and doesn't bind the Radius Arm bushing near as fast allowing more travel.

This is just an option to use if you need to push the tire slightly forward for clearance. You can do this on stock or extended Radius Arms.

~Mark

 

[RangerX]

Originally posted by Chew_12
Interesting...What do you gain by moving it forward?

Simply put, clearance.