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Front end allignment woos
https://mail.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63998
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Author:  wjajr [ Tue Aug 27, 2019 9:46 am ]
Post subject:  Front end allignment woos

After getting the Dart back on its new wheels, tires, upper control arms, strut rods, it went to the alignment shop. They were willing to set +3 caster, but had a heck of a time getting camber close. Two hours on the rack later it drove nicely around town on 35 mph smooth roads.
Here are the settings:
Camber L -.2* R -.6*
Caster L +3.8* R +3.6*
Toe L +.11* R +.13*
Total toe +0.24*
Steer Ahead -.01*

This last weekend I took the car to a show 130 miles up I-95 from my place. Car drove nicely on smooth pavement, slight drift to the right. Once it got into the truck ruts that form in old pavement the car bucked left than right, deeper the ruts the more force-full the lurching while traveling around 65 mph. Power steering box was rebuilt about 25K ago by Steer N Gear, and all front end moving parts are ether new or close to new and tight. It felt to me the toe in had changed to toe out.

Before Measurements:

Camber L -0.7* R -0.8*
Caster L +3.9* R +2.9*
Toe L 0.64* R 1.00*
Total Toe 1.64*
Steer Ahead -0.18*


Current measurements set today:

Camber L -0.5* R -0.7*
Caster L 3.3* R -3.0*
Toe L 0.14* R 0.14*
Total Toe 0.28*
Steer Ahead 0.00*

It seams to drive alright, however I have not gotten out on I-95 and run the ruts.

I have a thrust angle of -0.66* The front end guy said a 1/16" shim behind right side front leaf spring mount would probably correct that, and the toe.

That rear 8 3/4" axle has:

Camber L -0.4* R + 0.4*
Toe L - 0.34* R 0.97*

Is there a method to shim an axle to correct camber? Or, it is what it is.

Author:  emsvitil [ Tue Aug 27, 2019 3:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Front end allignment woos

What's 'Steer Ahead' ? Never heard that term before...

As for the rear axle...… How about a BFH ? :mrgreen:

Author:  Dart270 [ Tue Aug 27, 2019 4:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Front end allignment woos

If you have 0.4 deg on one side and -0.4 deg on the other, it seems they just didn't zero their machine right, or maybe you have one tire that is flat or different height than the other. That would seem to be just a tilt of the whole axle relative to how the alignment machine was set up, or relative to the front end?? Am I crazy?

Lou

Author:  drgonzo [ Tue Aug 27, 2019 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Front end allignment woos

Quote:
If you have 0.4 deg on one side and -0.4 deg on the other, it seems they just didn't zero their machine right, or maybe you have one tire that is flat or different height than the other. That would seem to be just a tilt of the whole axle relative to how the alignment machine was set up, or relative to the front end?? Am I crazy?

Lou
Doesn't sound crazy to me. I doubt any 40-50 year old rigid axles are dead on anymore. I doubt they ever were. I don't know how they measured that rear camber. Seems to me both tires would have to have equal radii and equal air pressure does not necessarily give that.
Interesting for sure.

Author:  wjajr [ Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Front end allignment woos

New tires, wheels, and axle shafts with less than 500 miles on them. Could be air pressure differential left to right. I'm not going to loose any sleep over it, that thing has been out back there for over 50 years.

As to what "Steer Ahead" is, who knows. Previous print outs from other shops would list the turn angle stop to stop.

Google: "Steer ahead. This is simply to ensure the steering wheel is set straight when the vehicle is travelling along a straight and flat road." Dang.

Mine is a little bit off, big deal; one pot hole will probably fix that. LOL

Author:  Killer6 [ Thu Oct 17, 2019 3:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Front end allignment woos

1) Be absolutely certain the frt. spring-eyes & bushings in those leaves are in good shape.
2) Be absolutely certain the center-bolts are intact in the leaves.
3) If the above is OK yes, You can shim the thrust to zero at the frt. hangers.
4) The camber differential is likely an un-leveled rack or low tire, won't affect anything.
5) I'm more startled at how far the toe changed, something moved a bunch for that to happen.
6) The "current" specs You list have the Pass. side at -3.00 (Neg.) caster,.....an error??
7) The original caster split would lead to the right,..no surprise there.....
8 ) What was the frt.-end height initially, & now?
9) If the LCA pivot stud-nuts were tightened before the frt.-end ht. was finalized, that could be a clue
10) Absolutely sure there are no cracks around those LCA sleeves in the K-frame?

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