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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,513
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Getting rid of darting and wandering.
I thought I would post this up in hopes of helping someone else with the same issues.
My truck has been working flawlessly since I finished it, but I never liked the way it went down the road. It liked to dart and wander a bit, so you really had to pay attention to keep it going straight. It wasn't so bad to make it dangerous, but just didn't feel comfortable. Since this is my first Blazer, I just figured that's the way they were because of the short 104" wheelbase. Yesterday I decided to figure out a way to tame it down a bit. I machined tapered shims to give me a bit more caster, and just took it out for a test drive. Holy crap, it's like a new vehicle !! It still feels like a solid axle truck, but 90% of the darting and wandering is gone. It's amazing what 2 little shims will do. I made them from 3/8 thick aluminum, and they measure 2 1/2 X 4 1/2. I machined a 3 degree taper on them, and now have a total of between 6 to 6 1/2 degrees of positive camber. I had put 1/4" of toe on it, but will try and reduce that a bit so I don't wear out my tires prematurely. Dan |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Oregon City
Posts: 228
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
Congrats on getting it to drive better. It is amazing what some caster can do!
If it were me, I'd make them out of steel or purchase steel units. I had aluminum shims that I needed to change for a different degree. Pulled out the aluminum that had less than 500 miles- one came out in two pieces, the other was stressed cracked and failing. Mine were most likely cast and not billet, so maybe you'll be fine? I have read you need to stay on top of the aluminum shims, they wear quickly and may allow the axle to shift.
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1972 Blazer build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=615744 |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,513
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
I wanted to make them out of steel, but had no 3/8 X 2 1/2 stock on hand. I really just wanted to prove the concept, and aluminum is a lot quicker to machine. I'll get some next week.
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Chatsworth Ga
Posts: 400
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
Will you start selling some of these?
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Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=706924 |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,513
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Chatsworth Ga
Posts: 400
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
o ok. I'll check it out. Thanks
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Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=706924 |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 215
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
Did the same thing to my last 72.
Amazing what proper geometry will do, I must of argued with everyone I know that this is the problem and this is what it needs
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1972 Dark blue, Cst, Highlander |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Chatsworth Ga
Posts: 400
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
Is something like this what your talking about?
https://www.wfoconcepts.com/pr/4-0-D...3225/4383/3227 Could you post pics of yours?
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Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=706924 |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,513
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
Quote:
Dan |
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#10 |
I'm trying....
![]() Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Athens, GA
Posts: 2,600
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
Brilliant.
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1970 K20 Z62 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...56#post9334756 1970 Blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=645076 1969 K10 SWB CST http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...52#post8520352 1971 K20 Z84 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...90#post9047290 1946 B.F. Avery Model A Tractor http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...55#post8292555 "Sometimes I wonder if zander208 was even real..." |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Woodstock, Ga.
Posts: 183
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Re: Getting rid of darting and wandering.
great info. thanks
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