Rear Radius Advice

[discojay]

one ofthe rear radius arm brackets snapped off the axle on my disco today.. v scary moment:eek: have ordered a replacment bracket from steve parker landrovers and was wondering if any one has any advice on welding in the correct position to maintain alignment .....ie will just measureing the wheel spacing in the arches be enough ???

[Swingletree]

I wouldn't go off the tyre to arch clearance because that wont allow for tyre wear. If you want to do it properly, I would do it like a chassis drop test.

Take a length of string/plumbline and put a chalk on the end. Use it and a spirit level to mark crosses beneath fixed points on the front and rear axles and the chassis.

Use points like the bottom centre of the front radius arms, chassis outriggers, rear shock bottom studs etc. you can then use these points to correctly align the axle and be confident that it is in the correct place.

Even if you get it slightly out, you should be able to correct it with big washers on the rear tie rods but if you can't, the vehicle will crab down the road and tyre wear will be ridiculous!

[discojay]

cheers for the advice will give it a whirl
:)

[Swingletree]

Just re-read my post and realised I didn't say you need to lift the vehicle off the floor, put the axle stands on the chassis. This will mean that everything is hanging and relaxed and no stress from driving or parking is twisting an axle slightly.

Hope you read this before you crack on :eek:

[discojay]

read it just as well an all, was thinkin of strapping on the headtorch and crawling under the landy now....not:D

[Swingletree]

Coolio, measure twice, cut (or in your case weld) once. Take it nice and easy and you should get it spot on. Good luck mate, let us know how it turns out.

[discojay]

cheers mate will let you know if i get it right