Author Topic: front end question  (Read 843 times)

Offline TRIPLE-GREEN

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front end question
« on: November 03, 2009 - 11:50:19 AM »
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS:

1. I was once told this would be the best alignment settings. I just want to make sure I have this correct. 4 caster, -5 camber, 1/16 toe in

2. I'm being told my steering box is bad. I don't think this is correct as it was rebuilt in the late 1990's with very little milange since. The issue is that the steering is pulling to the right. I was once told that the box has a adjuster on the top of the box that allows you to center the box. My question is how to I tell if my box is bad or this just needs to be adjusted? I don't want to replace or rebuild a box if it is just and adjustment. More to the point I don't want to get BS'ed by a Mechanic looking for a buck.




Offline ksierens

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Re: front end question
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2009 - 11:55:13 AM »
If you start the car and the steering wheel moves to one side or the other, the over center on the steering needs to be adjusted.  I am sure there were threads in the past on how to do this.
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: front end question
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2009 - 01:04:24 PM »
max castor , usually about 3 * , -.5 camber [1/2*] , 1/16" toe

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Offline Bullitt-

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Re: front end question
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2009 - 03:12:54 PM »
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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Offline autoxcuda

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Re: front end question
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2009 - 03:48:01 AM »
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS:

1. I was once told this would be the best alignment settings. I just want to make sure I have this correct. 4 caster, -5 camber, 1/16 toe in

2. I'm being told my steering box is bad. I don't think this is correct as it was rebuilt in the late 1990's with very little milange since. The issue is that the steering is pulling to the right. I was once told that the box has a adjuster on the top of the box that allows you to center the box. My question is how to I tell if my box is bad or this just needs to be adjusted? I don't want to replace or rebuild a box if it is just and adjustment. More to the point I don't want to get BS'ed by a Mechanic looking for a buck.

Is this from an alignment shop that been around for a while and works on older and custom cars?

Getting a good alignment shop is half the battle. Make that, most of the battle.

 4 degrees postive caster, -0.5 negative camber, 1/16 toe in if you have some suspension mods done to the car. Depends what you have done. If you have basically stock stuff you probably won't be able to get near 4 deg. postive caster. And 0.5 negative camber is probably too agressive with stock stuff, try 0.25 negative with a little more on one side for road camber.
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Offline TRIPLE-GREEN

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Re: front end question
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2009 - 06:26:09 PM »
I got the car back from the shop. It is a little off but not to bad (still need alignment). The wheel on the other hand is about 45 degrees off. But the steering is right on. I think the pulling was the alignment as the box doesn't seem to be pulling over anymore.
   Man I have had my tires on the car for about 4 months if that. The inner tread is really warn. The alignment must have been WAY WAY off. The car drives so much better hands down.

I totaly recommend the PST Super kits! That with the sway bar transformed may car from a sloppy ride to a new car feel. VERY HAPPY!!

Thank you everyone for your help! I don't know what I would do without your input.  :clapping: :clapping:

Offline 426HEMI

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Re: front end question
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2009 - 07:10:51 PM »
Your alignment will not be totally correct till you put a good set of tires on the front.  They need to be square so to speak also to make it align correctly. 
Got a pretty good start on my M46 optioned Barracuda restoration but now it is on hold till I can gather more funds.  Still need a few parts for it.  SIU Graduate 75 AAS Automotive Tech, 94 BS Advanced Tech Studies, 1997 MSED Workforce Education and Development

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