72 GMC 1500 - upper A-arm shims/spaces, and alignment

[centuryhouse]

Hi guys,

Please excuse my ignorance of suspension issues. My 72 GMC pulls to the right and I noticed the driver's side wheel/tire leans inward at the top. Would that normally produce a pull to the passenger side?

Comparing the driver's side to the passenger side (what I can see of it), it appears there are shims & spacers missing. Am I correct in thinking that more shims & spacers would correct the wheel/tire leaning inward at top? Are they hard to put on? Is LMC a good source?

Pics of driver's side - notice the exposed threading, and lack of shims/spacers:







For comparison on the shims & spacers, here is the passenger side:

[KY_GMC]

And you are driving it this way?

Doesn't it make a knocking noise when you go around corners?

If you look closely, the shims are laying below the rod on the cross member.

Take it to an alignment shop and have them installed and aligned.

[centuryhouse]

Wow, can't believe I didn't notice that in the pic before! It sure does look like the shims.

I haven't been actively driving the truck, other than around the block(short distance, low speed, low traffic) for tests after i work on things. But it doesn't make any noise, shift around or exhibit other odd behavior - just pulls to the right.

For future reference, how are those shims installed? And would that likely cause it to pull toward the passenger side?

[Wrenchbender Ret]

That will defenitly cause pulling & other alignment problems. If you can find the shims put them in similar to the other side & tighten the nuts. Then take it to an alignment shop. Someone didn't tighten the nuts good is why they fell out.

[davepl]

It looks like your wife is trying to off you for the insurance money, that's what it looks like!

You need to torque those down (ideally with maybe 2-3 shims temporary as a guess) and then get a wheel alignment.

I don't know -which- way that would make it pull. But it's very, very wrong. Glad you caught it!

[centuryhouse]

Excellent, thanks for the info and advice. Especially for seeing those shims that were laying there. Now that you have mentioned it I can clearly see them, but in person (not on the camera) I couldn't get down there close enough to see it with my eyes.