Norm Peterson

There could be some advantage in separating how you make pinion angle and thrust angle adjustments if you need to tweak both of these angles. While pinion angle *can* be accomplished by tweaking LCA lengths by the same amount, you're less likely to inadvertently knock your thrust angle off if you adjust PA with the UCA.




Norm

Matt's 95 Stang

Sorry to also high jack but is a lower control arm relocation bracket always needed? Or when your lowered? Only when going with AM LCA?

Thanks,
Matthew

UPRSharad

LCA Relos are never "needed", but they have their uses. My 2011 is slammed. I'm going to add UPR's new style relo brackets just to level out the LCAs. I don't want to add anti squat because that stuff is just silly to me. I only want to correct the control arm geometry. (closer to stock angles at my lower height)

DTMR

So you think Im better off with fixed LCA and adjustable rear UCA?

Norm Peterson

If all you need to do is adjust pinion angle, fixed-length LCAs and an adjustable UCA would give you the simpler adjustment procedure with no chance of screwing thrust angle up in the process. Understand that swapping the UCA is a more involved job that can be physically more difficult.

Adjusting pinion angle with LCAs involves adjusting both LCAs equally in the same direction to bring pinion angle in to the desired number - assuming that the thrust angle is good. If you don't adjust them equally, you'll cause a change in thrust angle. This is a physically easier mod with a fussier adjustment procedure.

If your thrust angle is off to begin with, you have no choice but to use adjustable-length LCAs, in which case it's easier to get the thrust angle corrected before addressing pinion angle.


Norm

DTMR

Well how do I really know if it is off? I want whatever will give me the best handling. I am dropped so would that affect it? Should I get the relo brackets?

Norm Peterson

Thrust angle should show up on your alignment printout. You want this to be zero-point-zero degrees anyway - for steering wheel centering reasons if not for helping to get handling symmetry in right vs left turns.

Pinion angle will have shifted due to your lowering (probably to a slightly lower value). This is a lot more of a drag strip consideration that you aren't likely to notice on the street unless the pinion angle has gone far enough out to cause driveline vibration.


Norm