When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Close on the center but the factory chisel mark, true center, and high lash rarely run together. Center many times is not high lash and the box has to be at high lash not always center
Thoughts: Either of these could cause your problem:
If your SAI is truly different right and left then you have a bent spindle or frame from the accident, and if so it will never handle correctly. Definately double check that.
The rear toe-in looks much too small to me. 2/32" This IRS goes into toe-out in the rear very easily and toe-out makes the car very squirrelly. The specified "setting range" on your sheet is much too low. Grrr...I hate toe-in results in degrees! Too confusing. You want 0-1/16" in front and 1/8" in rear. In degrees that is .15 degrees or .29 degrees. The front is a little high but the rear is spot on. Not your problem. Will not make it squirrelly. May wear the front tires tho. Why is the "specified range" so high in front? Van Steels #s? or the Alignment machine?
A malfunctioning power steering centering valve could also do this.
Van Steels own recomendations (below) call for 1/8" toe-in in the rear. that is also .125" or .29 degrees. And almost ZERO in the front.
Last edited by leigh1322; Jan 8, 2022 at 10:47 AM.
Here is a jpg of your pdf alignment specs so they will show in this thread:
I took a picture of my bare frame and measured the SAI. From upper ball joint to lower ball joint. I got 7.5 degrees. At the correct ride height.
So there is no way your measured SAI numbers are correct. The 22 degree number can not possibly be correct. It must have something to do with the way he set the machine up. (The spindle or frame would have to be bent 3 inches to give you 22 degrees...NOT)
But it also has zero effect on any of your other alignment numbers.
So it's not that.
And it's not the toe-in.
So it must be the power steering valve.
Leigh 1322, I knew the 22 for the SAI could not be correct. I sent the alignment spics to Eric at Van Steel for their evaluation. They would like the right rear toe to be .12 like the left side. They agree that the SAI input was not done correctly or the chassis or steering linkage is bent, and that the SAI is not adjustable.. I've had more than one shop look at it and they could not find any damage. I've replaced the power steering pump and the rag joint. I'm taking the car back to my mechanic this Tuesday, and will emphasize what Van Steel related. Although they don't think it is the root of the problem, it is suggested to check the upper a-frame horns to see if it is precisely 26 3.8" as this is quick and easy to check out.
You're right. It is the toe-in.
It's the crazy conversions between inches and degrees confusing it (as usual).
They want 1/8" or ,29 degrees total toe-in in the rear.
And your alignment sheet shows .15 degrees total rear toe-in.
So it is half what it should be.
And too little toe-in in the rear will definately make a C3 twitchy!
Took the car back to my mechanic this morning. He has two alignment machines, different brands, but both are new and use the same software. He first put the car on the machine used before, and it now shows the right SAI as 15, not the 22.3 as previously shown. He then put it on the other machine and it showed the right SAI as 7.4. Due to the aforementioned, he has contacted the company about these different reading, requested an explanation, and that they come to his shop and recalibrate both machines. So I will take it back after the machines are recalibrated, have another alignment, along with requesting the rear toe be put as close as possible to .265 degree TOTAL toe as Van Steel recommends. I need to add that my mechanic is a great guy who has done a lot of mechanical work for me. He is a "car guy" who belongs to the same classic car club as I do.
