Degreeing leaf perches

[Mikes Early Bronco]

Hi all,
I’m starting to mock up my chassis on a 77. My setup: 5.0L, ZF5, Atlas II, WH heavy duty engine mounts, 3.5 inch suspension, and rear end is stock pushed back 1 inch. I’m looking for someone with close to the same setup who has degreed the leaf perches. Typically, how many degrees from the stock location did you move them forward? I don’t have any of the drive train in yet as I want to get it on wheels. I won’t be using shims for this application. I’m glad to provide any additional info. Thanks. Have a great week.

 

[DirtDonk]

I’ll be interested to see if anyone else has documented, or even remembered(!) what they did when they were lining theirs up.
For the most part though, I think many, or maybe most, if not all, have simply tack welded them in place with only one or two small tack welds, and waited until the entire vehicle was situated at its full weight and expected ride height before fully welding the perches.
As I like to say, every bronco is different.
That’s perhaps a lame excuse for not knowing a lot of stuff to the n-th degree, but it’s actually mostly true!

Even though a lot of members have done one or more of the things you have done, I wonder just how many have done exactly what you have done?

Good luck

 

[Broncobowsher]

What is generally done is just bolt them in, maybe a light tack weld. Once you have the weight on, drive train installed, loosen the U-bolts and rotate to the right spot. Now weld in. Lot of angle of the dangle variables to play with.

 

[Mikes Early Bronco]

I’ll be interested to see if anyone else has documented, or even remembered(!) what they did when they were lining theirs up.
For the most part though, I think many, or maybe most, if not all, have simply tack welded them in place with only one or two small tack welds, and waited until the entire vehicle was situated at its full weight and expected ride height before fully welding the perches.
As I like to say, every bronco is different.
That’s perhaps a lame excuse for not knowing a lot of stuff to the n-th degree, but it’s actually mostly true!

Even though a lot of members have done one or more of the things you have done, I wonder just how many have done exactly what you have done?

Good luck

Thanks for helping me see this more clearly. Great advise. That’s the route I’m taking now.

 

[Mikes Early Bronco]

What is generally done is just bolt them in, maybe a light tack weld. Once you have the weight on, drive train installed, loosen the U-bolts and rotate to the right spot. Now weld in. Lot of angle of the dangle variables to play with.

Just the insight I needed. That settles it. I’ll get everything in first so that I can take my specific measurements. I got ahead of myself. Thank you.

 

[Mikes Early Bronco]

Great help as always. Thanks!

 

[Yeller]

There’s no real need to tack weld them, it just makes one feel like they are doing something, you’re not driving it. Just snug the ubolts, not to spec just snug. it will be just fine until it is all set and ready for you to weld them in place, which I would not do until everything is assembled and loaded up with everything that you think will live in it. That will have an effect on the ride height and also effect the pinion angle.

Many here may not believe me but there was a time in my youth I did not have a welder…. I would set up rear ends, install them, and make a slow easy cruise to a body shop 2 miles down the road and would pay them to weld the perches on. So I was serious about not tacking them in place.

 

[Mikes Early Bronco]

There’s no real need to tack weld them, it just makes one feel like they are doing something, you’re not driving it. Just snug the ubolts, not to spec just snug. it will be just fine until it is all set and ready for you to weld them in place, which I would not do until everything is assembled and loaded up with everything that you think will live in it. That will have an effect on the ride height and also effect the pinion angle.

Many here may not believe me but there was a time in my youth I did not have a welder…. I would set up rear ends, install them, and make a slow easy cruise to a body shop 2 miles down the road and would pay them to weld the perches on. So I was serious about not tacking them in place.

Thank you sir. I see how keeping it smooth after cleaning the axle tube would make it easier to clock the axle assembly when the time comes. That’s less to regrind and get in the way.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I would still tack. That way I can take the axle out and put it back in the same place during the build. Without having to get the tape measure out and starting over in the placement.