C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 12:17 PM
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After installing the Borgeson steering box, I has the 78 aligned to facitory specs. The car wondered quite a bit and did not feel stable. The good people at Borgeson recommended that I have the caster increased to 3-4 degrees positive. If I understand, it is a removal of shims. The passenger side has plenty, but the drivers side only has one thin shin. What can I do to gain the adjustment flexibility to have the shop alainged it to Borgeson recommendation?
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 12:30 PM
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take it to the shop and let them do it
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 01:01 PM
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The best way is to replace the upper control arms with aftermarket arms with more caster built in (VBP, SpeedDirect). With the stock arms you will have lots more shims in the back than front to get to 4 dgr.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 09:24 PM
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is there a after market upper A-arm mounting shaft that can be used ?
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 10:03 PM
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Moog has an offset cross shaft that allows more adjustment, but it is equally offset side to side so you'd still end up with way more shims at the rear.
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Old Sep 16, 2012 | 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by manfroni
After installing the Borgeson steering box, I has the 78 aligned to facitory specs. The car wondered quite a bit and did not feel stable. The good people at Borgeson recommended that I have the caster increased to 3-4 degrees positive. If I understand, it is a removal of shims. The passenger side has plenty, but the drivers side only has one thin shin. What can I do to gain the adjustment flexibility to have the shop alainged it to Borgeson recommendation?
I don't think you really need to increase the caster dramatically. The factory specs should be fine for a street driven car. I'd suspect your alignment was poorly done. Or there is some suspension part that is loose or worn. My 74 has the factory caster spec (positive 2 1/4 degrees) and you can drive it hands off at 90 MPH on a straight flat section of interstate highway.....
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Old Sep 16, 2012 | 09:19 AM
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with the borge, it isnt as much for straight line driving as it is for being a bit to sensitive to steering corrections and tracking the road imperfections a bit to closely. another issue with some installs is that when you turn a corner , the steering doesnt return to center as quickly with out input from the driver. Thats why they recommend setting the caster to 3-4 degrees left to right positive. There are a few other things you can do to aid this, but the caster change is the easiest and least costly. A good shop can get it to 'within' specs. so it drives straight and doesnt chew tires. hope this helps
btw, depending on current settings , its probly an 1/8" shim per side taken from the front and installed in the rear, if that

Last edited by oldalaskaman; Sep 16, 2012 at 09:29 AM.
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