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Old 01-16-2014, 06:52 PM   #1
swissarmychainsaw
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: san francisco, ca (east bay)
Posts: 674
New Steering stuff; alignment issues

Truck: 1975 2wd 350/350 Gentleman Jim

The truck is new-ish to me; I'm in the process of making it go stop, and turn
correctly (etc. etc. etc. etc. you know the drill).

The front end was a mess, it "wandered" when it went down the road, pulled
left and bounced.

4 New tires
Pitman
Idler
Tie Rods (all)

Make it MUCH better. I did shade tree alignment on it, and got it to go pretty straight down the road. Since the tires are new, I figured an alignment would be smart.

The PROBLEM: Does not return to center.
Turn a corner and the wheel sorta comes back to center but not all the way.
Point left STAY left! It should straighten up and center the steering wheel.
It's not to the point where you can't drive it, but I know it can be better.

SO! To the alignment shop I went this AM.
I told them about the "not returning to center problem".

They just called and said the TOE was way off. They fixed that. I asked him if the tech drove it (cause now days you can't actually TALK to the people who turn wrenches). He said yeah it does not return to center, and so I ask "and why do you think that is?"
"well, you know it's an old truck"

The whole reason I own something like this is so that I can do the work on it myself and not have to deal with people who say moronic things like that.

My research says the the issue here is CASTER which is the relationship of the upper ball joint to the lower. (front to back)
Namely that I need MORE CASTER, which will improve "return to center".
hey, we need a picture:




CAMBER:



Now One thing, the ball joints have NOT been replaced.

I'm willing to bet a sandwhich that for the $80 they charge they are not willing to go unbolting **** to get the camber and caster sorted out right?

So what do I do? I'm about to go pick it up, and I can either:
Give them the info they need to fix it (i.e. the specs)
Take it somewhere else
Fix it my own self.

Thoughts?

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