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Castor correction: offset bushes v plates

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 21:20

Member - Roachie (SA)

G'day all,

A question for you Patrol owners with a bit of suspension lift?

My GU has 4" front lift springs. To date I have not done anything to the castor angles.

I want to correct this and am torn between using offset bushes (2 or 3 degree) and the castor plates that are available. The old girl has done 150,000klm and has never even had a wheel alignment. The beauty of castor plates is that they allow the original bushes to remain......I have heard that the offset bushes tend to wear more quickly on the side with less "meat". However, I have always thought that the plates were only intended for use on vehicles with 6" lift or more???

The other alternative is to get a truck alignment place to do the whole job of aligning and doing the castor correction all at once.

Thanks for your rsponses....................


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ThreadID: 19073 Replies: 3
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AnswerID: 91348   Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 21:30

Truckster (Vic) replied:

I have bushes, but they do tend to die in long run

Plates, have heard good and bad on them.. But same with all 3 of these options.

Another option is cut the mounts off the diff and reweld around further, then use the OEM bushes, which last longest..
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FollowupID: 349926   Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005 at 07:10

Member - Roachie (SA) posted:

Thanks mate...........

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AnswerID: 91397   Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005 at 08:45

Peter McGuckian replied:

Roachie,

Just had the GU lifted by about 60mmfront and 70mm rear. Dobinson Springs and Ridepro shocks. Had an alignement done this morning and the toe in was 4 degrees out. Castor etc fine. Was told that castor bushes only needed over 100mm of lift.

New setup is great on dirt roads.

Peter
New GU IV
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Peter
Kimberley in 2009
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FollowupID: 349945   Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005 at 08:53

Truckster (Vic) posted:

he has 4in one end and 5in lift the other ;)
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FollowupID: 350005   Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005 at 14:52

Member - Roachie (SA) posted:

Thanks blokes,
My diff pumpkin definitely "looks" like it's twisted forwards and I'm sure that can't be good for the geometry of the whole set-up. Trouble with living in the bush is that it's not just a simple case of getting an alignment done. I have to take time off work and drive to adelaide then find something to do all day while they do the job etc etc. PITA
Cheers

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FollowupID: 350076   Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005 at 21:21

Truckster (Vic) posted:

"My diff pumpkin definitely "looks" like it's twisted forwards."

So is mine, it straightens out the angles of the drive shaft to the diff... :)
I'll try and get photo on weekend.
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AnswerID: 91532   Submitted: Thursday, Jan 06, 2005 at 06:11

Kiwi Ray replied:

Hi Roachie
In the ideal world the drive shaft flanges sould be parallel.
With a suspension lift this is difficult to get, the caster bushes and or plates can help. If your truck tracks straight on the road and does not wander I do not think it is worth the trouble.
If you decide to level the front diff it does increase the U/J angles quite a bit, also you may need to lengthen the front drive shaft or have a spacer made and fit between the drive shaft and pinion flange
The poly type camber bushes have been in my competition truck for 3 years and atre still Ok and they are cheaper than OE
Ray
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