Caltrac Weirdness Update
So here is a little update on the Caltrac process, bear in mind it's a QC:
1. You have to replace the top U bolt plate with the anodized plate supplied with the bars..it doesn't look stable like the factory plate but it is. It doesn't tell you anywhere in the instructions to do this.
2. When we tightened the bars like the instructions say and put it back on the ground it was about 4 inches higher in the ass than it was
Looked like a sixties idea of cool when you put shackles on your rear leaf springs to raise it up:dontknow: :dontknow: :dontknow:
3. We adjusted the bars to take off all the stress and then turned them 1 turn, and everything looked cool. Drove well, burned out straight (sweet) and was just what I thought it should be.
4. Brought the truck home from storage last Saturday and when I got to my rough road I'm hearing a big clank/clunk from time to time...so I take the old Caltrac box and crap out thinking that was the problem....it wasn't, it was the Caltracs, specifically the rocker on the front of the Caltracs (see pic).
5. So several adjustments later the lowest I could go on turns was 1.5 and not get the clunk when the springs reloaded on a rough road. You will probably only rarely hear this clunk at one turn on smooth roads or even a bump or two. It only happens on a double bump if that makes sense.
This is the anodized plate you put on in place of the stock one.
This is the stock one - looks a lot more stable
This is the rocker. Where it sits on top of the spring is where it bangs when the springs unload if you don't have the Caltracs tight enough.
So, I went back to the shop (yes, I worked in their shop with them and have a hernia to prove it, want pics of that too???
) and we experimented with different levels of tight from 1 to 3 turns in half turn increments. Too tight the rear end starts to rise, too loose it clunks on rough roads. So I ended up with 1.5 turns a happy medium with little or no elevation of the ass end, it's too high stock anyway. So, I hope this helps someone with a quad cab thinking of doing Caltracs. And despite what some have said in other posts, suck it up cause it ain't no piece of cake. Plan on a whole day or let the pros do it cause it's a grunt in spots. And for God's sake get a press or access to one, burning the old ones out is a last ditch option for too many reasons to go into here. Good Luck!!!!
