caddywhompus rear axle

[ttudesperado]

well ive really done it this time. I was installing Total Chaos trailing links and the switched out the heim joints for some ballistic joints. Have had some fitting issues but they had been resolved today. will write up on that next. So pulled the factory trailing links off while resolving the ballistic joint issue. instead of reinstalling the links where the truck was parked i went to pack it up to get it in the garage so i would have some light. Threw off the whole rear end alignment. its caddywhompus as hell. the passenger side it angled back and the driver side is angled forward. Also of pressure on the brake lines now. what are my options. I pulled both tires off and left it on jack stands on the frame right in front of the trailing link mount. ideas?

 

[jbstrd]

Ratchet straps will be your friend. Since the axle was able to move back, I am assuming both of the rear lower links were disconnected when you moved the rig. Definitely a no, no, but I think you already figured that out.

Since you have it in a fairly stable position right now, I would attach a strap around each side of the rear axle (ensure the strap is around the axle tube only and watch out for vulnerable lines). Run the other ends up to a front crossmember or other stable platform. Make sure there were no brake lines, wires, etc damaged from the excess movement. Also, make sure your driveline did not slip all the way out at the slip yoke. Then, start ratcheting your axle back into its proper position.

Good luck.

 

[ttudesperado]

yep it was hot and humid and light was fading, i was stupid. should have just waited till tmw morning.

your talking about like ratched tie downs like for trailering a motorcycle?

so use the counter point at the cross member at the front behind the front differential?

and by driveline to you mean drive shaf? the UJoints look good ill post a pic of that in a sec

 

[Jeremy556]

Yep, ratchet tie downs to pull the axle forward. The slipyoke is the part of the driveshaft directly behind the front U joint, that allows the driveshaft to change length as the suspension moves.

You need to be sure your lower control arms are exactly the same length as they were when you removed them (you said you replaced the heims), if not, get your stock ones to match their eye to eye lengths.

 

[jbstrd]

yep it was hot and humid and light was fading, i was stupid. should have just waited till tmw morning.

your talking about like ratched tie downs like for trailering a motorcycle?

so use the counter point at the cross member at the front behind the front differential?

and by driveline to you mean drive shaf? the UJoints look good ill post a pic of that in a sec

Your comment about stupid is perfect timing (read here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/125219-5th-gen-chat-thread-10.html starting with post #147) :bravo:

Yes, ratchet tie downs. They work great for an issue like this.

The axle end of the ratchet tie down will be wrapped around the rear axle tube only. Just wrap the axle and loop the hook around connecting it to the strap. On the forward end, simply find a solid connection for the othe hook to grab onto. You will be applying some force to the strap, which is why you don't want to wrap the strap around any lines and you want a solid point for the other end to ratchet from.

Yes, driveline/driveshaft, same thing.

 

[ttudesperado]

Your comment about stupid is perfect timing (read here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/125219-5th-gen-chat-thread-10.html starting with post #147) :bravo:

Yes, ratchet tie downs. They work great for an issue like this.

The axle end of the ratchet tie down will be wrapped around the rear axle tube only. Just wrap the axle and loop the hook around connecting it to the strap. On the forward end, simply find a solid connection for the othe hook to grab onto. You will be applying some force to the strap, which is why you don't want to wrap the strap around any lines and you want a solid point for the other end to ratchet from.

Yes, driveline/driveshaft, same thing.

that was quite the rant lol.

 

[ttudesperado]

when i get this SOB back together and aligned i will do a nice write up. The holes not lining up with the stock rear trailing links(lower) is what started this fiasco. It will be rock solid when i work the kinks out. I always have to go where there is no path and leave a trail instead of just being content with the heim, or using metal tech 4x4's with johnny joints.

 

[jbstrd]

that was quite the rant lol.

Good laugh though. Hope you get your issue fixed.

 

[ttudesperado]

so jbstrd when is your bumper supposed to arrive? Funny story about shrockworks. I like everyone else was waiting forever for mine. I must have installed it about 2 years ago. It finally shipped via freight after the delivery production dates had been pushed back twice. So damn anxious to install it, so pulled the front end off just ripping at it. i was gonna chunk it anyways. Then start up bolting it from the freight and didn't have any of the fasteners or hardware. So ended up going to Home Depot about a dozen times getting the main bolts and finally called monday when the opened and they told me they forgot to ship the hardware and didn't realize it until i had called.

 

[eddiebx]

when i get this SOB back together and aligned i will do a nice write up. The holes not lining up with the stock rear trailing links(lower) is what started this fiasco. It will be rock solid when i work the kinks out. I always have to go where there is no path and leave a trail instead of just being content with the heim, or using metal tech 4x4's with johnny joints.

Not sure if it's just the way you have it pictured, but if the jack stands are still supporting the rear at the axle housing, maybe I would move the jack stands over to the frame and then support the axle with the jack only. This way the jack can roll along with the axle while you're trying to ratchet it closer (instead of trying to pull the rest of the truck towards the stationary axle, lol).

 

[ttudesperado]

ya the jack stands are on the frame now. good idea to leave the jack supported under the rear axle tho. I thought about putting the tires back on and leaving it in neutral. what do you think about that?

 

[eddiebx]

ya the jack stands are on the frame now. good idea to leave the jack supported under the rear axle tho. I thought about putting the tires back on and leaving it in neutral. what do you think about that?

I'm not sure what you mean by putting the tires back on...but what I am thinking you are doing is supporting the rear end up @ the frame rails; then loosely supporting the pumpkin with the floor jack (so it can roll on the jack's wheels). This should give you enough movement to slowly ratchet it forward while also being able to play with the axle height to align the bolt holes...

If you happen to mean letting the truck roll on the tires while you're ratcheting it, I think that would be a big no no...playing with fire, lol. IMO, make sure the truck stays stationary for your own safety

 

[jbstrd]

so jbstrd when is your bumper supposed to arrive? Funny story about shrockworks. I like everyone else was waiting forever for mine. I must have installed it about 2 years ago. It finally shipped via freight after the delivery production dates had been pushed back twice. So damn anxious to install it, so pulled the front end off just ripping at it. i was gonna chunk it anyways. Then start up bolting it from the freight and didn't have any of the fasteners or hardware. So ended up going to Home Depot about a dozen times getting the main bolts and finally called monday when the opened and they told me they forgot to ship the hardware and didn't realize it until i had called.

4 months will be mid-March, so that is when I am expecting to have it shipped by. It's coming up!

I would definitely keep the weight off your rear axle until it is aligned and buttoned back up.