So I'm in the process of redoing my front axle. I'm going to Fabricate new uca and lca brackets that weld to the axle. I'm curious to know if anyone knows the angle of the lca that has the castor adjustment. The uca looks straight/ perpendicular to the axle. The lowers on mine are so thin and rusted upon trying to remove the old links they were very easily bent while taking off the old lift kit brackets. I will be installing profabs long arm kit once I'm done.i know the lca is on an angle and I want to be sure I get it right the first time. I have read also of some others just welding in a washer to the castor adjustment and making it permanent at the full forward adjustment of 2*. Any thoughts on this ? I was definitely interested in just making 1 hole permanent with grade 8 bolts instead..




Bucket perches ready right side

Old spring bucket the other side was so bad it wasnt worthy of a pic.

Bucket perches ready for spring bucket left side

New spring bucket left side

New spring buckets right side . Both New buckets are not my work but purchased on ebay from AA welding Chester mass. Thanks go out to them👍

 

In hope this helps someone in the future I'll continue updating the rebuild as I go.we cut the new reinforcing brackets from 1/4" plate steel.made a template of the inner and outer bracket. Cut it to accommodate the different angles on the bracket and welded it back together . I will be installing the upper and lower long arms kit from pro form fab..I still have no idea of where the angles should be but I straightened them close as possible to original angles. Old ca mounting brackets need to be cut off to make way for the new brack that mounts to the frame rail between the front body mount and transmission cross member with 4 5/8 bolts. Distance between frame rails is 32" on the dot. I made a wooden jig to simulate this while I have the axle in the shop. Currently the bottom ca lines up perfect. The upper ca have a difference of 2 - 3 " and doesn't seem to fit.altough I can force it to fit the articulation looks very off alignment when bolted together and I assume I will be going through polyurethane bushings quite often.my hope is that once the brackets are bolted to the frame they may have a slight angle that will correct this.any input would be helpful if anyone has incurred the same issue.

Another question I have also is with the axle leveled in all directions, do the spring buckets also sit level or are they pitched in to the center of the axle / towards each other. My guess is about 1/4 to 1/2 " pitched in. Anybody with input on this is greatly appreciated.

1st step

Outer after the cut and welded

Mock up

Prepped

Inner and outer plates before the cut

Inner after the cut and welded

Mock up

 

We got everything welded to the axle and spring buckets welded in. I reached out to aa welding. The co. I got the spring buckets from to inquire if they sit perfectly level or pitched in towards the center of the truck. He said he does all his replacements perfectly level after leveling the axle left to right. I wasn't sure where to get level for front to back so Going off the main u shaped mounting plate that sticks out front past the axle tube we went with plumb and it felt like that was the best option.
next some seam sealer on the welds. Some primer /paint. Then on to reassembly. New ball joints from emf. Replacement skyjacker springs as the old ones are way rusted. Debating just cleaning them up.? Replacement bilstein shocks as the old are rusted out..New front hubs / 4wd auctuator and housing/bearings/ universals/calipers and pads/shock towers. And long arm kit from pro form fabrication. Still worried about the angle on the top control arms . We'll see once the axle is back Under the truck.👍




This is the u shaped bracket thay the bucket sits on that we set plumb to accomplish level front to back fot setting the spring buckets

Passenger side bracket welded in went with center of the old centric bolts.nest option i came up with after many hours of reading posts here and ever where on this topic.could always open them up if need be.

Top brakeline mount tacked in

Other side of passenger side bracket before we yacked the lower cross strap in.

 

Looks really nice! I have toyed with the idea of upgrading the control arms just haven't made a priority. I'll save your thread for when I do.

Kurt

 

i installed a 2001 front axle in my 95 4x4.. The spring buckets were a little rusty so instead of pad welding up the rusty spring buckets. I cut out and installed new one . I set the axle up un some pipe stand and leveled up the spring bucket one at a time . I got my spring buckets from a place online . ..I cut out the buckets and welded the in with 7018 . . Worked ok . .