my A108 van has had the rear u-joint angle measured to be about 11* positive. i'm told it should be approx 2-3* negative. it starts to vibrate at about 65MPH.
it all looks like stock positioning. what is movable to adjust this angle?
D~~~!

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68 A108
73 Harley Servicar
71 BMW R75/5
48 Indian Chief
2003 Ford Ranger XLT extra cab
1997 Geo tracker(Suzuki Sidekick)

Only was to adjust that is to shim the rear axle. However, I would check things like the tranny mount and u-joints first.

You can buy 1 to 7 degree shims to put under the rear axle. It is not hard, loosen the rear U-Bolts around the axle housing and slide in the shim, then re-tighten. I run mine with a slight nose down, but level on the rear is fine too. You just don't want the nose parallel with the drive shaft or at a positive angle. When you apply torque the nose twists up as the rear of the vehicle squats. They make a bumper stop for racers to keep the wind up from happening, which bolts on the rear end above the rear U-Joint. $60 at Summit Racing.com

Most all auto parts stores carry axle shims.

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

just b4 the road trip i got lucky enuff to run into a friend that shimmed me back a couple degrees. that's why the vibe doesn't come in til 65. in all honesty, it worked as a guide as to when i was going too fast. i mean, it is an A108!
it looks like those shimms let my drivers side rear wheel drift forward about 1/2". seems the locator pins arent deep enuff. can they be extended? or replaced with longer pins?
D~~~!

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68 A108
73 Harley Servicar
71 BMW R75/5
48 Indian Chief
2003 Ford Ranger XLT extra cab
1997 Geo tracker(Suzuki Sidekick)

You can replace the stock pin with a longer bolt and ream out the shim and shock mount plate to fit the new bolt. That will keep everything centered.

_________________
Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

How can the angle be that bad to start with?

Did it originally have a CV joint at the tranny side?

When you have a CV joint on the tranny side, the rear u-joint needs to point at the tranny CV(within 1-2 degrees). Which 10 degrees sounds like it's doing.

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

the front joint, in stock form, was something called a "ball and trunion", ibelieve.
it was a disaster. whoever designed that thing should be hung by the balls till they r a falsetto!
i did have it changed to a conventional u-joint, many years ago. i never heard anything about the rear joint angle till last month.


D~~~!

_________________
68 A108
73 Harley Servicar
71 BMW R75/5
48 Indian Chief
2003 Ford Ranger XLT extra cab
1997 Geo tracker(Suzuki Sidekick)

is there anything special in the hardness of the locator pins? i finally got the out 2day. my local parts stores has reffered me to an alignment specialist to get axle shims. i think i can get it all back togetherrite this time.

then just a leaking inner axle seal and i think i can leave "the road trip from hell" behind me. . . . .


D~~~!

_________________
68 A108
73 Harley Servicar
71 BMW R75/5
48 Indian Chief
2003 Ford Ranger XLT extra cab
1997 Geo tracker(Suzuki Sidekick)

how much sag can i expect of my rear leaf springs? could this be a factor? i think they may be the original springs.
it seems there r no shims made with an angle as big as i need. it's been suggested to have my spring perches repositioned on the axle housing. i want to be sure it's not something simple b4 going such a drastic route.

could the factory really have sent A vans out with such a negative angle?

D~~~!

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68 A108
73 Harley Servicar
71 BMW R75/5
48 Indian Chief
2003 Ford Ranger XLT extra cab
1997 Geo tracker(Suzuki Sidekick)

I know squat about the "A" vans, but here's a couple Q's that should be asked/answered.

Does the "A" vans come originally with a two-piece drive shaft?
What type drive shaft is in your van?

(I'm speculating here....)
If there's supposed to be a two-piece shaft in there, and someone at some time converted yours to a one-piece, then it very well could be the problem.

Roger

to the best of my knowledge, it's always been a 1 piece shaft. there has never been any signs of any sort of center support bracket.

originally it had a front u joint of the sort called a "ball and trunion". i think that was it. i did have it converted to a conventional cross type u joint many years ago. a regular cross in the rear also. the conversion may have place the front joint a few inches farther rearward of the transmission. i doubt that could account for 11* positive tho.


D~~~!

_________________
68 A108
73 Harley Servicar
71 BMW R75/5
48 Indian Chief
2003 Ford Ranger XLT extra cab
1997 Geo tracker(Suzuki Sidekick)