BILLY 63 swc

I have seen a few different front end alignment specs for the C1 for different uses of the car. This car is now restored and has original type front end, radial tires and gas shocks and will be driven as a pleasure car with no auto cross stuff. What alignment specs work best for this type of driving. THANKS

Plasticman

I have been using the following specs for several years for radials, and am pleased with them (except I have additional caster that you probably will not attain - the more Caster, the better), and you will be lucky if you can even get to 2 Deg. Caster and get to 0 Deg. on Camber.

Caster: +2 Deg. +/- 1/2 Deg.
Camber: 0 Deg. +/- 1/4 Deg.
Toe In (total): 1/8"


Stock spec. with Bias tires is:

Caster: 2 Deg. +/- 1/2 Deg.
Camber: +1/2 Deg. +/- 1/2 Deg.
Toe In (total): 1/8" to 1/4"

Plasticman

59BlueSilver

I just rotated my radial tires and the wear looks pretty even except for the left front. There is excessive wear on the inside half of the tire. Not real bad but more than the right front. Is that camber or a toe in adjustment?

GTOguy

Probably camber. Toe out would be scrubbed looking. Look at the car head on from a short distance and see if the top of the tie is canted slightly inward, as opposed to straight up and down.

Plasticman

Jack it up and look for some slop in the kingpin on the worn side (compare it to the other side), or the adjustment was set incorrectly, or the adjustment cam has rotated - doubtful).

And I am sure GTOguy meant "top of the tire"........

Plasticman

GTOguy

Yep...'tire'. Typing with only my left hand sux.....Meant also to say, generally, toe-outthat is excessive will have feathered type wear. Camber wear will be even wear on one edge of the tire or the other, with no scalloping/feathering.

59BlueSilver

The wear looks feathered. I'll try to get a pic tomorrow and I'll check to see if that tire is canted.

59BlueSilver

Here's the pic. Hope you can see it.

Plasticman

From here, it looks like a camber issue (if there is feathering from Toe misadjustment, it appears minimal).

But as stated previously, it can be a suspension wear issue (kingpin / bushings, etc.). You need a "professional" (one who knows what he is looking at on this type of suspension) to check it properly.

Have you tried raising the car and pulling that wheel at the top and bottom, in and out? Then compare that movement with the other side?

Note that anytime camber or caster are changed, Toe will change, and needs to be rechecked and probably readjusted....

Plasticman

GTOguy

What Plasticman said. You can see that the inboard side of the tire is well worn, but the outboard side is like new. My guess is you probably have 5/32" tread inboard and 8/32" still outboard, with the tread getting deeper towards the outboard side of the tire. Classic camber wear pattern. You need to get it aligned by a competent tech.

59BlueSilver

I just checked the kingpin. There is movement but doesn't seem to be anymore than the right side.