Author Topic: How To.....squaring axle housing.  (Read 42541 times)

Offline DARK AGE 53

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How To.....squaring axle housing.
« on: June 23, 2007, 05:23:41 pm »
Here's what I use.

1. Aluminum vertical drapery track.
2. Braided Nylon String, 14" or so long.
3. 4 multipurpose magnets from Harbor Freight ( 6 1/4" magnets for $2 each ).
4. Ruler.
5. A couple of nuts for the string.
6. Masking tape.

From the pics you can see how I mount the aluminum track to the frame, I use this to measure back to the string.
I like to place to the string as far out as possible, using masking tape to hold it to the top of the  axle tubes.
I measure from the track ( or what ever you're using ) to the string, if not square adjust one or both of the trailing arms......this can change your wheel base though.

Here's some pics.

Al



POW/MIA - YOU ARE LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA


Offline DARK AGE 53

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2007, 05:27:01 pm »
three more pics..

POW/MIA - YOU ARE LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA


Offline DARK AGE 53

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2007, 05:31:36 pm »
I think this is it..

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Offline DARK AGE 53

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2007, 07:36:59 am »
last pic, BTW, the reason the aluminum track is longer ( 60" long ) then needed is because that's what I had and it was free. ;D

POW/MIA - YOU ARE LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Offline gramps05

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2007, 07:05:12 pm »
For what its worth, to get the most accurate readings your string should be on the bearing carriers not on the tubes, they are usually not centered but the bearing carriers should be if the unit was built properly. One of the pictures shows  the string on the weld, if you moved it about 1/2 inch to the left it would be on the carrier. Some of the rear ends are way out of alignment, see the CMG motorsports web site for a how to check the alignment. Why so much lead?          http:cmgmotorsports.com/housings.htm


Offline Tom Cole

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2007, 07:58:20 pm »
I have my frame sandwiched with lead where Al 's rear piece is bolted.  We added it to get our numbers right and to keep it from transferring so hard over to the RS.

I wish I had a lift like that in my garage.


Offline DARK AGE 53

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #6 on: June 26, 2007, 04:28:49 am »
Why so much lead? 

Needed the lead to get the car/driver to the legal weight.


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Offline surfx

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2008, 08:26:22 pm »
how do you make sure you have the drapery track square?
thanks
mike
MALONERACING.COM


Offline justfreaky

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2008, 03:34:05 am »
To the best of my knowledge, Pick a common point (such as a cross member);
Then measure from there.

Steve
Better to be hated for who you are, Than to be loved for who you are not.

Offline IraceLegends77

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2008, 12:56:58 pm »
Call Roger Austin at Austin Legends. He has a real simple and quick tool.  www.austinlegends.com but it is best to call him.

Hope this helps

Scott
Scott Wilkerson #77   Vision Graphix Racing


knoxracing

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #10 on: April 29, 2010, 10:01:27 am »
I would be careful using this method, its not real accurate, I DO NOT mean to be disrespectful, just HELPFUL . You are squaring the housing to the rear cross bar located 10-12 inches apart. if you are off a 1/16th or the bar is off a 1/16th the error is greatly amplified by the time you reach the front area of the car. being out a 1/16 will effect the car, amplifying that number will make a much bigger difference.  I plumb bobbed cars for a long time as you are, it is ok, but I found out later its not that accurate and you are not squaring the rear to the front area of the car.  I have spent alot of money on expensive lasers and can tell you squaring to the rear cross member will  probably be close, but the difference between 5th and 1st on ASPHALT is being better than close.  Stand back and look at the car,  the housing is to close to the cross member, if there is an error it will be huge when stretched the length of the chassis, and after racing a car multiple times they all move and twist differently. If you plumb bob the car to the cross member, double check yourself by the following method. Remove the front clip(fenders, hood, grill).  Find the point where the shock towers rise from the frame rails. Measure forward on top of the frame rail to within an inch of the bumper and mark it, do the same to the other side.  Clamp your 60 inch bar across the front of the car on top of the frame rails on your marks. measure back to the rear wheels. (you can use the wheel base gauge to help you do this).  You will say how do i know if the clip is straight? You may not, but if the clip isnt straight, then squaring to the rear cross member is that much worse.  This is easy, takes simple tools and will give you alot of info. This car needs to be AS square as it can be,  you need the rear square with the front area of the chassis.
Dennis Knox
Buckyey Legends
330-310-9212

Offline JGRacing

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2010, 12:18:14 pm »
Thanks for the information Dennis.  It sounds like a really easy way to do it.  Now I just need to make sure that my front clip is reasonably straight.    :)

Offline JGRacing

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #12 on: August 19, 2010, 06:23:54 pm »
Just wanted to bump this post up again.  I used Dennis's method and it was much easier and more accurate than when I crawled around on the floor last year to measure the rear end housing to to the cross member. 

Offline slack11

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #13 on: June 22, 2011, 09:53:41 am »
I am trying to do this but running myself in circles.  Here is what I have...

I have set the wheelbase to the same on either side, both 72 7/8"  If I drop a plumb bob off the bottom ball joint from the grease fitting on either side.  If I then drop a line from the rear on either side,  and measure distances from the rear to the front lower ball joint marks, and then measure diagonally, if it all is the same I am square.

I was using the  method Dennis described above last night, and had a late model/modified guy helping me who is very experienced.  He was wondering if the shock towers on these cars are true and square to the car, if they are a good point to be measuring from to square the  rear.  He was saying that by using the lower ball joints, you are squaring all 4 contact patches with one another.
 
Would dropping lines from the lower ball joint be better, or just complicating things with all the measuring of diagonals....

Offline VMS Motorsports

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Re: How To.....squaring axle housing.
« Reply #14 on: June 22, 2011, 11:34:09 am »
Just my dirt driver 2 cents here...may not be accurate enough for the asphalt guys, but it takes me 5 minutes and can be done by myself anywhere.

Dirt Boy Hillbilly Rear End Squaring (patent not pending)

Duct tape
Nylon string
Two 3/4 Jam nuts
Tape measure

-As somewhat described above, except I duct tape (I can't afford magnets  :D  ) 2 pieces of the nylon strings with nuts tied to the end (hillbilly plumb bob) to the rear housing bearing carriers.

-measure from the string to the front of the cage/firewall/crossmember/whatever you call it in your local area (underneath) because most clips I've seen aren't straight, 'specialy on dirt, or from USLCi (my own personal opinion, not that of management of VMS Motorsports, their subsidiaries, Gimpster, or LegendsRacer.com). I agree with Dennis that the rear crossmember is too close to be a pure number.

This works great for me, can do it alone, and can do it with whats in the truck anyway. Also eliminates any "irregularities" in the front clip/shock towers
JIM BUCHER
VMS Motorsports
Worldwide Legends Parts Supplier
(262)255-7100
http://www.vmsmotorsports.com/