Re: Ugh.. never ending! Front end alignment
[Re: cal_gecko]
#1519752
10/18/13 09:03 PM
10/18/13 09:03 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 549 WV
JohnH
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 549
WV
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I aligned front ends in the 70s on these cars. You can lower the torsion bars down to lower the front end, this will change your camber, if you don't have any shock bounce your way too high. get it on the front end rack, lower your front end until the car is slightly lower in the front, first check your air pressure, then lower it,, bounce the front end several times, then go to the rear of the car, stand back several feet and see if the car looks level to you, then do your front end alignment, get all the pos. caster you can get, this keeps cars from road walking, if you can't get the camber to come in, raise or lower the car with torsion bar adjustment see if it will come in.. if you readjust the bars go to the rear again to see if it looks level..
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Re: Ugh.. never ending! Front end alignment
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#1519755
10/18/13 09:38 PM
10/18/13 09:38 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
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Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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Take the car to Linville Brothers on El Camino near I-80. They are the only ones I trust with my cars, and the Ram. Prices are fair and they do excellent work.
Last edited by Frankenduster; 10/18/13 11:49 PM.
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Re: Ugh.. never ending! Front end alignment
[Re: buildanother]
#1519758
10/19/13 10:11 AM
10/19/13 10:11 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,936 WI
Dcuda69
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,936
WI
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Quote:
They should be able to align it for you, and many A arm cars do become quite negative on camber when raised up too high.
This^^^ SLA(short/long arm suspension) cars will go negative camber when raised up. Drop it with a T-bar adjustment to where you want it and have it aligned..you'll be good to go.
P.S. Do not use the factory specs.....do what these guys are saying.
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Re: Ugh.. never ending! Front end alignment
[Re: Dcuda69]
#1519759
10/19/13 01:13 PM
10/19/13 01:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,589 Sacramento, CA
cal_gecko
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,589
Sacramento, CA
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Thanks guys!! This makes me feel better, knowing that it's normal for it to go negative when it goes too high. I'll work with the guys at the shop on getting the basic alignment set up the way you've suggested.. .Frankenduster, I may give your place a shot for the final recipe too.. thanks!!!
Guys - I'm getting stoked - the car is SO close to being done.. it's got ALL windows in it now, electrical/headlights/wipers all work, oil leak is fixed, exhaust is now done..
next up - alignment, install new (aftermarket retractable) seat belts, and check the rear end because they noticed it was whining a bit ... and then I'll get it back!!! I'll bring it back to them in a few weeks to have the rear seat finished up (I ordered a new cover from Dante, which will take a couple weeks to get to the shop).
I'm sure that when I get it back, there's still gonna be some things to work out, little gremlins and such.. so I'm sure I'll be posting more on the QA section. Can't wait to get it on the road - it's been 10 years since I bought the car and I've never driven it.. but SOON!
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Re: Ugh.. never ending! Front end alignment
[Re: cal_gecko]
#1519760
10/19/13 02:10 PM
10/19/13 02:10 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808 Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
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Quote:
Thanks guys!! This makes me feel better, knowing that it's normal for it to go negative when it goes too high. I'll work with the guys at the shop on getting the basic alignment set up the way you've suggested.. .Frankenduster, I may give your place a shot for the final recipe too.. thanks!!!
!
Mark, not that it really matters since you will be getting an alignment, but lowering the front will move camber to the negative, raising it will move it to the positive. In your case lowering the height will make your already excessive neg camber even worse.
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Re: Ugh.. never ending! Front end alignment
[Re: ahy]
#1519765
10/21/13 10:38 PM
10/21/13 10:38 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808 Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
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Quote:
Yes TB's need to come out for strut rod bushings. If other parts have not been replaced yet (tie rod ends, ball joints, LCA bushings, UCA bushings) now is the time to do it while its apart. As you have seen, the cost is mostly labor. As posted above, its not that bad to DIY. A factory service manual and a few tools make it straight forward. I use Mancini's front end tool kit with good results.
Exactly, it's a 40 plus year old car, do it all now, and put in offset bushings in the UCAs.
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Re: Ugh.. never ending! Front end alignment
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#1519766
10/22/13 12:41 AM
10/22/13 12:41 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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If they're shooting you a quote of $600 then bring it home & do it yourself then get it close as I described then drive it back there to be aligned. EDIT I have my doubts that the strut rod bushings are bad & they are just trying to get over on someone (but I ain't there & they could be bad), save em & post pics
Last edited by RapidRobert; 10/22/13 12:44 AM.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Ugh.. never ending! Front end alignment
[Re: cal_gecko]
#1519770
10/22/13 01:05 PM
10/22/13 01:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,266 Renton Washington
Triple Threat
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,266
Renton Washington
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MY opinion, just pay them to do it. To do the strut rods and Idler they're going to have a lot of it apart anyway. Just have them rebuild and align it, and you wont have to worry about it again for years. If they do half the work now, align it, and then you have to do more later, its going to need aligned again. You're better off spending the $600 to have it done. Then take that weekend you would have spent rebuilding it this winter and go snap some pictures to pay for it. Judging by the 10 years it took to get to this point, you're better behind the lense, then you are with a wrench. Play to your strengths, and let those guys do the same.
-Dustin 67 Dart, 9 second, 392" G3 Hemi 68 Barracuda 340 F/SA
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