Camber adjustment ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Chrispbrown36 · 09-12-2015, 01:21 AM

So after putting new tie rod ends on I took it to a tire place up the road from me to get an alignment done. I have used them a fair amount of times since they are so close and they have always been straight forward with me. Today on my lunch break I called to see if they got it done and the owner wanted to talk to me. He told me that the camber needed to be adjusted but "those trucks weren't designed to have the camber adjusted." Not having any knowledge of camber, I pressed for causes, parts that might need to be replaced, etc. He told me over the phone that nothing can be done. When I went to pick it up I talked to him again and when I pressed it he mentioned shims, but said that it would be a BIG job if it even made a difference. I found this all hard to believe.
He gave me the print out on the alignment and it lists camber on the left at positive .4 and the right at negative .6. He said he didn't think that it would cause any major issues, but "I wouldn't even mess with it if I were you." So what do you guys think? Please feel free to educate me on camber and how to correct it.

**hatzie** · 09-12-2015, 01:40 AM

2WD is fairly easy to adjust Caber and Caster using shims on the upper control arm.
A lot of outfits have gotten used to the modern rigs that are not adjustable and don't like to do the whole job on older rigs that are.

Chrispbrown36 · 09-12-2015, 09:34 AM

Sorry, I forgot to mention.....It is a 87 4x4.

v30crewcab · 09-12-2015, 09:15 PM

pretty sure they make a shim that bolts behind the spindle.

cadillac_al · 09-12-2015, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

pretty sure they make a shim that bolts behind the spindle.

They do but it usually isn't worth messing with it for a 1/2 degree or so. Mine was off a little but I figured it lasted almost 40 years the way it is and the tires wear dead even so I don't worry about it. If it was off a few degrees and it looked like it might wear the tires then you go through the big job of putting a shim behind the spindle. It sounds like yours would be close enough for me.

BLE 'BURBAN · 09-12-2015, 10:30 PM

My right side was leaning in by 1 degree at the top. I installed a shim I ordered from these guys and got my alignment done.

http://www.ingallseng.com/26126-6-bo...mber-shim.html

Installation Instructions
1. Determine the degree of change needed to correct alignment. 2. Disassemble front wheel, hub, brake assembly and backing plate. Mark the top of the spindle to avoid camber changes during reassembly due to a slightly bent spindle. Remove the spindle from the steering knuckle. Clean all surfaces thoroughly. 3. Locate the notch of the shim for the proper degree of change needed. Place that notch at twelve (12) O'clock for positive camber and at six (6) O'clock for negative camber. 4. Reassemble the brake assembly, hub and wheel and adjust toe to specifications. Important Notes: The webs of the shim between the bolt slots will occasionally interfere with the steering knuckle bolt heads or studs, preventing the desired notch from being set at exactly twelve or six O'clock. When this occurs you need to simply flip the plate in the following manner. 1. Position the camber plate against the spindle with the desired notch for proper alignment at twelve or six. 2. Mark the location of the 1-1/2° notch on the outside edge of the spindle. 3. Flip the camber plate over on its back, keeping the 1-1/2° notch lined up with the mark on spindle. Although the desired alignment notch will no longer be at the original twelve or six O'clock position, the proper camber adjustment will remain the same. Due to the thickness of the shim, longer spindle mounting bolts may be required for reassembly. If so use 3/8"x1-1/2" grade eight bolts. If necessary, grind off bolts for hub clearance.

Chrispbrown36 · 09-12-2015, 10:41 PM

As of right now I am not too worried about it.....the camber isn't too bad. But the plan is to get it back to factory condition so somewhere down the road I might mess around with it.
I have seen the shims but I have also seen the camber adjustment sleeves....anyone know anything about them?

09-12-2015, 01:21 AM	#1
Chrispbrown36 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cunningham, KY Posts: 351	Camber adjustment ? So after putting new tie rod ends on I took it to a tire place up the road from me to get an alignment done. I have used them a fair amount of times since they are so close and they have always been straight forward with me. Today on my lunch break I called to see if they got it done and the owner wanted to talk to me. He told me that the camber needed to be adjusted but "those trucks weren't designed to have the camber adjusted." Not having any knowledge of camber, I pressed for causes, parts that might need to be replaced, etc. He told me over the phone that nothing can be done. When I went to pick it up I talked to him again and when I pressed it he mentioned shims, but said that it would be a BIG job if it even made a difference. I found this all hard to believe. He gave me the print out on the alignment and it lists camber on the left at positive .4 and the right at negative .6. He said he didn't think that it would cause any major issues, but "I wouldn't even mess with it if I were you." So what do you guys think? Please feel free to educate me on camber and how to correct it.

09-12-2015, 01:40 AM	#2
hatzie Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wentworth, NH Posts: 4,977	Re: Camber adjustment ? 2WD is fairly easy to adjust Caber and Caster using shims on the upper control arm. A lot of outfits have gotten used to the modern rigs that are not adjustable and don't like to do the whole job on older rigs that are. __________________ 1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials... 1973-1991 GM Light Truck Service, Unit/Overhaul, Wiring Manuals, Parts Books and Some 1968-1999 GM Service Training textbooks in PDF 1988-1998 GMT400 CK service manual project 1988-1993 GMT400 CK parts books. 1967-1972 GM Light, Medium, & Heavy Truck Service Manuals in PDF Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions. And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful.

09-12-2015, 09:34 AM	#3
Chrispbrown36 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cunningham, KY Posts: 351	Re: Camber adjustment ? Sorry, I forgot to mention.....It is a 87 4x4.

09-12-2015, 09:15 PM	#4
v30crewcab Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chatt Tn Posts: 982	Re: Camber adjustment ? pretty sure they make a shim that bolts behind the spindle. __________________ 88 military v30 crewcab shortbed 5.9 cummins, nv4500, 205 86 k30, 89 diesel burb, 76 gmc pathfinder 71 longbed 5.3 4l80 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=522535

09-12-2015, 10:30 PM	#6
BLE 'BURBAN In the Forgotten far North. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 2,627	Re: Camber adjustment ? My right side was leaning in by 1 degree at the top. I installed a shim I ordered from these guys and got my alignment done. http://www.ingallseng.com/26126-6-bo...mber-shim.html Installation Instructions 1. Determine the degree of change needed to correct alignment. 2. Disassemble front wheel, hub, brake assembly and backing plate. Mark the top of the spindle to avoid camber changes during reassembly due to a slightly bent spindle. Remove the spindle from the steering knuckle. Clean all surfaces thoroughly. 3. Locate the notch of the shim for the proper degree of change needed. Place that notch at twelve (12) O'clock for positive camber and at six (6) O'clock for negative camber. 4. Reassemble the brake assembly, hub and wheel and adjust toe to specifications. Important Notes: The webs of the shim between the bolt slots will occasionally interfere with the steering knuckle bolt heads or studs, preventing the desired notch from being set at exactly twelve or six O'clock. When this occurs you need to simply flip the plate in the following manner. 1. Position the camber plate against the spindle with the desired notch for proper alignment at twelve or six. 2. Mark the location of the 1-1/2° notch on the outside edge of the spindle. 3. Flip the camber plate over on its back, keeping the 1-1/2° notch lined up with the mark on spindle. Although the desired alignment notch will no longer be at the original twelve or six O'clock position, the proper camber adjustment will remain the same. Due to the thickness of the shim, longer spindle mounting bolts may be required for reassembly. If so use 3/8"x1-1/2" grade eight bolts. If necessary, grind off bolts for hub clearance. __________________ 1987 R3500 CREW CAB DUALLY (BIG RED)Acquired 06/12/2015 1990 chevy suburban V2500 5.7L My cluster Mods-Nov 2007 overhead console Stereo install Round 2 Aug 2009 Heated/turn signal mirror upgrade

09-12-2015, 10:41 PM	#7
Chrispbrown36 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cunningham, KY Posts: 351	Re: Camber adjustment ? As of right now I am not too worried about it.....the camber isn't too bad. But the plan is to get it back to factory condition so somewhere down the road I might mess around with it. I have seen the shims but I have also seen the camber adjustment sleeves....anyone know anything about them?



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