1. Do I need to have the upper control arms installed to set my Jeep back on the tires after new axle install? Will it rotate "down" too much? I have brand new DA Savvy uppers to put in & I've never installed an axle from scratch before & don't want to screw something up. I know I have to adjust the pinion angle, which is why I bought the DA's. Lower CA's are the fixed non-adjustable via a 2.5" Rough Country lift that was on TJ when I bought it a couple weeks ago.
2. Trackbar needs to be adjusted at ride height, correct? Currently disconnected and zip tied out of the way
3. PO had newer 16" Jeep wheels installed which need wheel spacers which are only 1" thick. I read another thread where those are bad & should be 1.25" to be safe... is this correct? Never used them before.
Summary:
Replaced original Dana 35 with a G2 Core44.
Kept existing lift (2.5" Rough country)
Replacing Rear upper stock CA's with DA Savvy CA's
Swapped over drum backing plates and installed 100% new brakes.
Thanks for any advice in advance, BTW I have read multiple threads (below +) before reaching out to the forum for such a simple question, but couldn't find an answer to my original question.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/double-adjustable-control-arm-install-tips.17061/
https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/how-to-setting-up-8-adjustable-control-arms.387330/
“To do the back is the same process. Start with lowers 16-16.25" eye to eye, uppers 1/4" longer then stock. Remove the tires/wheels and pull the coils. If you have the factory jounce bumper, remove it and jack to full bump. Depending on your rear coils, you may have had to loosen the rear track bar for enough droop. If so, loosely reinstall. Now adjust your lowers to center the bumpstop at full bump. Also pay attention to diff clearance, and track bar to gas tank skid clearance. Put the springs back in, and put the wheels/tires back on. Now put the jack under the pinion, and remove the uppers. Set you pinion angle with the jack, then adjust the uppers so the bolts slide in. Tighten until they are snug, lower the jack. Now measure your rear axle squareness. I like to measure just to the inside(diff side) of the axle tube beside the lca mounts. Find a place that is the exact same on both sides. I usually go from the back of the skid, to the axle tube. As a 2nd measurement, ill measure from the front axle tube, to the rear axle tube(now that your front axle is square). Then you can lengthen one lower, and shorten the other to square the axle. Once you do that, put your jack under the pinion, and remove the uppers. Re-check your pinion angle and adjust if necessary. Now adjust both rear uppers so the bolts easily slide in. Once both are in, remove the jack. Check rear axle squareness one last time. If everything is good go through and torque all your bolts, and tighten the jam nuts.”
2. Trackbar needs to be adjusted at ride height, correct? Currently disconnected and zip tied out of the way
3. PO had newer 16" Jeep wheels installed which need wheel spacers which are only 1" thick. I read another thread where those are bad & should be 1.25" to be safe... is this correct? Never used them before.
Summary:
Replaced original Dana 35 with a G2 Core44.
Kept existing lift (2.5" Rough country)
Replacing Rear upper stock CA's with DA Savvy CA's
Swapped over drum backing plates and installed 100% new brakes.
Thanks for any advice in advance, BTW I have read multiple threads (below +) before reaching out to the forum for such a simple question, but couldn't find an answer to my original question.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/double-adjustable-control-arm-install-tips.17061/
https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/how-to-setting-up-8-adjustable-control-arms.387330/
“To do the back is the same process. Start with lowers 16-16.25" eye to eye, uppers 1/4" longer then stock. Remove the tires/wheels and pull the coils. If you have the factory jounce bumper, remove it and jack to full bump. Depending on your rear coils, you may have had to loosen the rear track bar for enough droop. If so, loosely reinstall. Now adjust your lowers to center the bumpstop at full bump. Also pay attention to diff clearance, and track bar to gas tank skid clearance. Put the springs back in, and put the wheels/tires back on. Now put the jack under the pinion, and remove the uppers. Set you pinion angle with the jack, then adjust the uppers so the bolts slide in. Tighten until they are snug, lower the jack. Now measure your rear axle squareness. I like to measure just to the inside(diff side) of the axle tube beside the lca mounts. Find a place that is the exact same on both sides. I usually go from the back of the skid, to the axle tube. As a 2nd measurement, ill measure from the front axle tube, to the rear axle tube(now that your front axle is square). Then you can lengthen one lower, and shorten the other to square the axle. Once you do that, put your jack under the pinion, and remove the uppers. Re-check your pinion angle and adjust if necessary. Now adjust both rear uppers so the bolts easily slide in. Once both are in, remove the jack. Check rear axle squareness one last time. If everything is good go through and torque all your bolts, and tighten the jam nuts.”
