Who knows a way to set camber and caster with digital level?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Injected68LS1 · 12-31-2003, 04:35 PM

Anyone? I'm wanting to setup my caster, camber, and toe by myself. I want to get it in the ball park. I'm sure I can get it pretty close. I at least need to do this so I can drive it to the alignment shop.

I have a very accurate digital level so I can use a bar across the wheel and set the level against it. Camber is straight forward but how do I set caster? I think I turn the wheel to a specific steering angle and then check the angle at the wheel just like with camber.

Thanks

Injected68LS1 · 12-31-2003, 04:39 PM

I can also use a Longacre camber/caster guage too. It's instructions say to check caster with the wheels turned at 20 degrees.

Frank_Zeller · 12-31-2003, 06:12 PM

see links for good reference info.

http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm#Cam

http://www.vtr.org/maintain/diy-alignment.html

http://www.allpar.com/fix/alignment.html

http://carcraft.com/howto/48938/

http://www.quartermax.com/IHRA/Iss05.html

Rooster's 67 · 12-31-2003, 06:42 PM

your gonna need bearing plates with an angle gauge on them to do angle sweeps to set caster, and you need a gauge that will read off of the rim or hub to get accurate readings

Injected68LS1 · 12-31-2003, 08:17 PM

thanks guys.

tommie · 01-01-2004, 01:40 PM

if you are just tring to get it close, so you can get to an alignment shop, just set the camber with the level, as close to level as you can, and then just adjust the toe with a tape measure, set it the same front and rear. don't worry about caster, you wont be able to set it correctly w/o an alignment machine.

if you set the camber and toe at zero, you should be ok driving to an alignment shop.

Frank_Zeller · 01-05-2004, 12:23 PM

A large plastic bags folded over works in place of a bearing plate.

Slammed67 · 01-05-2004, 02:35 PM

This is obvious, but make sure your truck is sitting on a perfectly level surface before you do anything.

*67Fleetsidedream* · 01-05-2004, 03:35 PM

If I may add. make sure the truck is level front to back and side to side. Also make sure tire pressure is the same all the way around.

12-31-2003, 04:35 PM	#1
Injected68LS1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 389	Who knows a way to set camber and caster with digital level?? Anyone? I'm wanting to setup my caster, camber, and toe by myself. I want to get it in the ball park. I'm sure I can get it pretty close. I at least need to do this so I can drive it to the alignment shop. I have a very accurate digital level so I can use a bar across the wheel and set the level against it. Camber is straight forward but how do I set caster? I think I turn the wheel to a specific steering angle and then check the angle at the wheel just like with camber. Thanks __________________ 1968 Chev SWB with 1998 Corvette LS1 305hp and 320 ftlb to the wheels (stock engine!) AEM EMS and wideband O2 sensors Bowtie Overdrive's 700R4, stage 3 Baer 4 wheel discs and 20s http://iciclelanding.com/aperture?album=2049&view=album

12-31-2003, 04:39 PM	#2
Injected68LS1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 389	I can also use a Longacre camber/caster guage too. It's instructions say to check caster with the wheels turned at 20 degrees. __________________ 1968 Chev SWB with 1998 Corvette LS1 305hp and 320 ftlb to the wheels (stock engine!) AEM EMS and wideband O2 sensors Bowtie Overdrive's 700R4, stage 3 Baer 4 wheel discs and 20s http://iciclelanding.com/aperture?album=2049&view=album

12-31-2003, 06:12 PM	#3
Frank_Zeller Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 796	see links for good reference info. http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm#Cam http://www.vtr.org/maintain/diy-alignment.html http://www.allpar.com/fix/alignment.html http://carcraft.com/howto/48938/ http://www.quartermax.com/IHRA/Iss05.html __________________ 69 SWB C/10 5-6 drop 700R4 69 Firebird Convert 455 4 spd 70 Torino GT Convert Austin-Texas

12-31-2003, 06:42 PM	#4
Rooster's 67 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: DFW Posts: 765	your gonna need bearing plates with an angle gauge on them to do angle sweeps to set caster, and you need a gauge that will read off of the rim or hub to get accurate readings __________________ The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

12-31-2003, 08:17 PM	#5
Injected68LS1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 389	thanks guys. __________________ 1968 Chev SWB with 1998 Corvette LS1 305hp and 320 ftlb to the wheels (stock engine!) AEM EMS and wideband O2 sensors Bowtie Overdrive's 700R4, stage 3 Baer 4 wheel discs and 20s http://iciclelanding.com/aperture?album=2049&view=album

01-01-2004, 01:40 PM	#6
tommie 97' Tahoe 2dr/2wd Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Huffman,TX Posts: 1,168	if you are just tring to get it close, so you can get to an alignment shop, just set the camber with the level, as close to level as you can, and then just adjust the toe with a tape measure, set it the same front and rear. don't worry about caster, you wont be able to set it correctly w/o an alignment machine. if you set the camber and toe at zero, you should be ok driving to an alignment shop.

01-05-2004, 12:23 PM	#7
Frank_Zeller Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 796	A large plastic bags folded over works in place of a bearing plate. __________________ 69 SWB C/10 5-6 drop 700R4 69 Firebird Convert 455 4 spd 70 Torino GT Convert Austin-Texas

01-05-2004, 02:35 PM	#8
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	This is obvious, but make sure your truck is sitting on a perfectly level surface before you do anything. __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

01-05-2004, 03:35 PM	#9
67Fleetsidedream Wiseass secured himself a BAN Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: MOON!!! Posts: 2,282	If I may add. make sure the truck is level front to back and side to side. Also make sure tire pressure is the same all the way around.

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