Alignment Question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 0
From: Western North Carolina
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '07
Alignment Question
Had a 4 wheel alignment done. Everything went well except I don't have enough adjustment to get the caster I need. Anyone had this problem and is there a fix? Got 5 degree of caster,but need 7.4 to meet spec. All comments welcome.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Rogers, AR, USA
Re: Alignment Question (NEED FOR SPEED)
You don't need 7.4 degree of caster, I'm running about 5 degree also and is better for the tire wear problems of the runflats. Reducing the camber to 0 degree is the major change for improvement for runflat tire wear.
However, If you want 7.4 degree and can't get it by moving the lower control arm ball joint foward, then change the shims in the top control arm and move the top ball joint to the rear.
However, If you want 7.4 degree and can't get it by moving the lower control arm ball joint foward, then change the shims in the top control arm and move the top ball joint to the rear.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,766
Likes: 0
From: Western North Carolina
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: Alignment Question (alanh)
Alanh, thanks for the info. The reason I ran out of adjustment is because I was setting the camber to 0 at all 4 wheels. Are you saying that the top a-arms have shims like most other cars???? Thanks again!!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Rogers, AR, USA
Re: Alignment Question (NEED FOR SPEED)
Yes, the top control arms have shims. They're hard to see unless you hold a mirror against the frame at 45 degree so you can see behind the mounting bracket. Actually they are just a standard washer with a rubber center to keep them from falling off the bolt in the assembley line process. Mine originally had one washer on one bolt and two washers on the other bolt.
Setting the camber to 0 degree shouldn't have run you out of caster adjustment unless there was a problem getting enough movement in one of the cams to get to 0 camber. Without seeing it, and from what you said, I would guess you need to add some top control arm shims.
[Modified by alanh, 4:19 PM 1/21/2003]
Setting the camber to 0 degree shouldn't have run you out of caster adjustment unless there was a problem getting enough movement in one of the cams to get to 0 camber. Without seeing it, and from what you said, I would guess you need to add some top control arm shims.
[Modified by alanh, 4:19 PM 1/21/2003]
