Four Wheel Alignment Question
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 676
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From: Usa
Alignment completed and drove the car home from the shop about eight miles away. Only a slight improvement in return to center. I am considering replacing the power steering cylinder as this is the only thing left to try. Although the current cylinder was installed new when I restored the car it is about 14 years old. No leaks but when I did the centering adjustment it didn't seem to be very sensitive to changes in the adjustment. I remember my 77 would swing with a fair amount of force when I made adjustments in the centering nut. Just not sure how much a weak power steering cylinder would effect the return to center. Any thoughts would be appreciated. BTW current alignment readings are:
Caster: +4.22 LH +4.24 RH
Camber: -.04 LH -.04 RH
Toe: +1/32" LH +1/32"RH
Caster: +4.22 LH +4.24 RH
Camber: -.04 LH -.04 RH
Toe: +1/32" LH +1/32"RH
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Joined: May 2004
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From: los altos hills california
My thought: just from common sense, why would the power steering hydraulic cylinder, which is being used to turn the wheels, also be expected to provide a restoring force? The adjustment is there to balance the pressure in either direction.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: BC
I understand Gary rebuilt your steering box but with that much caster you should have really good return-to-center on the steering. I was wondering if the box is just a little on the tight side preventing this? It only takes a quarter turn off on the adjuster to run into a problem. You might mark the position of the adjuster on the box then back the adjuster out a quarter turn or so and see if it improves. If it doesn't work you can set it back to his settings and it's also free and easy to try. With a fresh alignment and that much caster you shouldn't be having this problem.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Feb 15, 2018 at 06:56 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 676
Likes: 36
From: Usa
I understand Gary rebuilt your steering box but with that much caster you should have really good return-to-center on the steering. I was wondering if the box is just a little on the tight side preventing this? It only takes a quarter turn off on the adjuster to run into a problem. You might mark the position of the adjuster on the box then back the adjuster out a quarter turn or so and see if it improves. If it doesn't work you can set it back to his settings and it's also free and easy to try. With a fresh alignment and that much caster you shouldn't be having this problem.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
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From: BC
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Feb 16, 2018 at 04:29 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 676
Likes: 36
From: Usa
I backed off the adjuster one full turn which was too much and gave me too much slack in the steering although it did help with the return to center but not as much as I had hoped. Ended up backing off only a half turn return to center is better but still not what it should be. I am at a loss at this point as to what to try next. As always any thoughts on what I should try or check are appreciated.
