1971 Front End Alignment - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

meatballsub97 · 05-13-2012, 08:17 PM

I have a 71 K15 that has all new parts in front and a recent alignment. I am still having issues with drivability. The truck is very "darty" and hard to keep going in a straight line without a lot of constant correction. It also does not return to center at all when turning. I am looking to add some caster and or camber to it. Is this possible? I have seen ball joint sleeves but I don't know anything about these? I have read tons of posts about these trucks and alignments but I am still having trouble figuring out what to do. As I said ALL front end and steering parts are new, right down to the rag joint and steering box. Thanks for all the help as usual.

**70cst** · 05-13-2012, 08:39 PM

ist of all meatballsub97 ...

to the forum and

from Ohio.

Here is a bump and I am sue you will soon get some feedback to your question.

BMERDOC · 05-13-2012, 08:48 PM

Welcome to the board! Did you get a print out of your alignment results? Can you post them?

71meangreenc10 · 05-13-2012, 09:27 PM

I just went through this and one issue was the power steering gear was adjusted incorrectly. Mine was too tight and I was moving the wheel back and forth like mad....

Just a thought....

Smitty

Hubscrub · 05-13-2012, 10:35 PM

i would check the center link, very easy to install backward mine did the same thing and found out it was backward now drives great.

meatballsub97 · 05-15-2012, 04:08 PM

These are the numbers that the guy hand wrote on the slip. I question if he actually checked anything since I did not get a print out.
Camber .4 and .5
Caster 3.23 and 3.23
Toe .5 and .5

meatballsub97 · 05-15-2012, 04:09 PM

How do I cehck to see if the center link is in right? I am guessing the center link and drag link are the same thing? Sorry if that is a dumb question.

BMERDOC · 05-15-2012, 06:46 PM

Caster looks fine. It would be great if camber was in the negative range. Toe however has me worried. I dont think thats a half inch and even if its in minutes or degrees thats still waay too much. The quickest way to tell if your centerlink is on backwards is to check for rub marks on the crossmember. A center link and drag link are indeed the same part. I'll see if I can dig up a good picture for you but I'm blinded by those toe readings if the are accurate.

Hubscrub · 05-15-2012, 10:22 PM

the center link install properly will be real close to the crossmember and also the inner tie rods will have the nuts on pointed foward. check this thread for picshttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=400205

meatballsub97 · 05-19-2012, 10:32 AM

Sorry about that, it should have been .05 each side with a total toe of .10.

meatballsub97 · 05-19-2012, 10:34 AM

Also, my truck is 4WD so the center link is different.

Hubscrub · 05-19-2012, 06:45 PM

sorry I missed the (k) good luck finding a solution
Posted via Mobile Device

mark Ephland · 06-12-2012, 10:41 AM

Hay, Meatballsub. 97. Just read your post. Just finished my 68 3/4,disk brakes and power steering.Same symptoms as yours, No caster! The shop says not enough weight on the front end, may be needs a big block???? Never had a big block before. Going to another alignment shop this week. Maybe a bent spindle or upper control arm bent? If you have any luck let me know. markephland@gmail.com

05-13-2012, 08:17 PM	#1
meatballsub97 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boylston, MA Posts: 5	1971 Front End Alignment I have a 71 K15 that has all new parts in front and a recent alignment. I am still having issues with drivability. The truck is very "darty" and hard to keep going in a straight line without a lot of constant correction. It also does not return to center at all when turning. I am looking to add some caster and or camber to it. Is this possible? I have seen ball joint sleeves but I don't know anything about these? I have read tons of posts about these trucks and alignments but I am still having trouble figuring out what to do. As I said ALL front end and steering parts are new, right down to the rag joint and steering box. Thanks for all the help as usual.

05-13-2012, 08:39 PM	#2
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,373	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment ist of all meatballsub97 ... to the forum and from Ohio. Here is a bump and I am sue you will soon get some feedback to your question. __________________ A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder!

05-13-2012, 08:48 PM	#3
BMERDOC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 2,934	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment Welcome to the board! Did you get a print out of your alignment results? Can you post them? __________________ Nick Carter 1967 C10 Short bed Fleetside Project Cheap Thrills! 2WD C10 Modern/Performance Alignments Easiest Alignment Ever!

05-13-2012, 09:27 PM	#4
71meangreenc10 Its a Truck Thing...... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sierra Vista, Arizona Posts: 3,179	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment I just went through this and one issue was the power steering gear was adjusted incorrectly. Mine was too tight and I was moving the wheel back and forth like mad.... Just a thought.... Smitty __________________ 71 C10 283/3SPD Full Resto 71 GMC 1500 Sierra Grande http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=518599 70 C10 Suburban Former military GSA truck. 72 Chevy Blazer 4X4, Sloppy Jo, Mountain Climber. Wife says no more trucks. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=707378 72 GMC 1 Ton Motor Home, wife said no more trucks until she saw this one. Gen 3 6.0/4L80E 4.10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=761110 68 GMC Suburban was 3/4 ton, now 1/2.Wife shook her head 71 C30 Wrecker 71 C20 Scott-Bilt As weird as it gets..BB Cheyenne AC Truck 68 GMC Long Stepside. They keep following me home 69 C30 Former Motor Home, Flat Bed time 70 G20 Red-E-Kamp Conversion "I'm your Boogy Van"

05-13-2012, 10:35 PM	#5
Hubscrub Cruzin Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: on the road Posts: 2,835	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment i would check the center link, very easy to install backward mine did the same thing and found out it was backward now drives great. __________________ Lime Wife's 67https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...wZEMODaS2d94u8 Back to the Fifties 59 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...NAeStpydfrcj_U Proverbs 3:5,6 "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."Charles Kuralt In memory of our first baby daughter, daddy and mommy love you. Danica Grace 6/26/14

05-15-2012, 04:08 PM	#6
meatballsub97 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boylston, MA Posts: 5	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment These are the numbers that the guy hand wrote on the slip. I question if he actually checked anything since I did not get a print out. Camber .4 and .5 Caster 3.23 and 3.23 Toe .5 and .5

05-15-2012, 04:09 PM	#7
meatballsub97 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boylston, MA Posts: 5	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment How do I cehck to see if the center link is in right? I am guessing the center link and drag link are the same thing? Sorry if that is a dumb question.

05-15-2012, 06:46 PM	#8
BMERDOC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 2,934	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment Caster looks fine. It would be great if camber was in the negative range. Toe however has me worried. I dont think thats a half inch and even if its in minutes or degrees thats still waay too much. The quickest way to tell if your centerlink is on backwards is to check for rub marks on the crossmember. A center link and drag link are indeed the same part. I'll see if I can dig up a good picture for you but I'm blinded by those toe readings if the are accurate. __________________ Nick Carter 1967 C10 Short bed Fleetside Project Cheap Thrills! 2WD C10 Modern/Performance Alignments Easiest Alignment Ever!

05-15-2012, 10:22 PM	#9
Hubscrub Cruzin Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: on the road Posts: 2,835	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment the center link install properly will be real close to the crossmember and also the inner tie rods will have the nuts on pointed foward. check this thread for picshttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=400205 __________________ Lime Wife's 67https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...wZEMODaS2d94u8 Back to the Fifties 59 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...NAeStpydfrcj_U Proverbs 3:5,6 "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."Charles Kuralt In memory of our first baby daughter, daddy and mommy love you. Danica Grace 6/26/14

05-19-2012, 10:32 AM	#10
meatballsub97 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boylston, MA Posts: 5	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment Sorry about that, it should have been .05 each side with a total toe of .10.

05-19-2012, 10:34 AM	#11
meatballsub97 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boylston, MA Posts: 5	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment Also, my truck is 4WD so the center link is different.

05-19-2012, 06:45 PM	#12
Hubscrub Cruzin Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: on the road Posts: 2,835	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment sorry I missed the (k) good luck finding a solution Posted via Mobile Device __________________ Lime Wife's 67https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...wZEMODaS2d94u8 Back to the Fifties 59 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...NAeStpydfrcj_U Proverbs 3:5,6 "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."Charles Kuralt In memory of our first baby daughter, daddy and mommy love you. Danica Grace 6/26/14

06-12-2012, 10:41 AM	#13
mark Ephland Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: crescent city caUnited States Posts: 2	Re: 1971 Front End Alignment Hay, Meatballsub. 97. Just read your post. Just finished my 68 3/4,disk brakes and power steering.Same symptoms as yours, No caster! The shop says not enough weight on the front end, may be needs a big block???? Never had a big block before. Going to another alignment shop this week. Maybe a bent spindle or upper control arm bent? If you have any luck let me know. markephland@gmail.com



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