While I have my engine out for a V8 swap, I'm going to move my front axle forward by cutting off the drop hanger and moving it foward. I'm also going to redo the shackle mount tubes in the frame. I'm trying to clean up the hackjob that was done originally, and trying to gain some tire clearance as well.

I was wondering, how far can I move the axle forward before I have to move the steering box forward? An inch or 2? And whats it going to do to my shackle angle? I have Sky's boomerang shackles.


Oh and this is on an 88 4Runner with a 85 front end with highsteer.

Thanks.

Measure the tie rod / drag link clearance, that is how far you can move the axle forward w/o issues. For shackle angle, see:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Ramp.shtml#Applications

Mine is 1.5" forward, but i have built them at 2" and had no problems. Shackle angle was steeper ofcourse but with longer shackles it wasn't to big of a diffrence. Keep in mind most of the front lift springs have the center pin 1.5" forward already.

You can also move the axle forward by redrilling the spring perch.

Yea. My spring hanger was welded on poorly, so I'm going to cut it off and re-weld it and figured I'd move it forward a bit.

I have a Marlin hangar, welded on the shorter direction, with rears up front. Which makes me about 1.5" forward, I think, and my pitman isn't close to clearing. When I start to lift the rear the zerk on the bottom of the draglinkend hits the tierod. This reminds me of a question that wanted to ask.

Is there anything wrong with mounting a box where there will be a little bit of angle in your steering shaft at one of the universals? Opposed to the pretty straight shot from the factory. To avoid cutting the core support I was going to angle it like this _/ a little bit. Where the back of the box would rest on the front body mount. _/ looks a lot more extreme than it really is.