...'71 Chevelle with Global West tubular arms (uppers & lowers), new 12" disc brakes with 2" drop spindles, and all new steering components (MOOG tie rods, sleeves, ball joints, etc.). ...

...now that everything is assembled it's obvious that the front of both front tires are slightly splayed outwards. I was going to try and adjust this by turning the adjusting sleeves, but there is no room there because the tie rod arms are already snugged up against each other inside the adjusting sleeves. When I ordered the brake/spindle kit the guys at CCP they assured me that they would work with all the original steering components. Any ideas on how to correct this? Thanks...

TTT...anyone??

How is your camber? Excessive camber will have a drastic impact on toe.

I still think there a different problem though, the tie rods should not be anywhere near touching in the sleeves. How about a clear picture of the front-end.

Dennis...do these help?

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4035596&a=32112161&p=73863429

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4035596&a=32112161&p=73863430&f=0

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4035596&a=32112161&p=73863431&f=0

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4035596&a=32112161&p=73863480&f=0

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4035596&a=32112161&p=73863481&f=0

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4035596&a=32112161&p=73863482&f=0

What inner & outer tie-rods did you use? (For what car?)

Derek,

The parts were MOOG parts and for a 1971 Chevelle. I even crossed checked the part numbers on the web when I bought them. Hey, maybe someone can measure their inner and outer tie rods for me so that I can check these out...

What drop spindles are those? They have a cast-in steering arm, and you have 12" brakes, so I'm assuming the spindles are drop-spindles for '77-96 Caprice/Impala???? What ball-joints did they use? The cast steering arm is longer, lower, and located inward from where the stock arm would be, which is why stock chevelle parts aren't working.

I think you need 78-87 G-body outer tie-rods.

Your results are very common with a conversion such as this. You need to get the car professionally aligned by a qualified shop. They can bring the toe-in back to speck and give you more adjustment in the tie rods. Now this may sound like total BS,but once its aligned everything will be fine.
The shop will dial out the toe with the upper control arm with shims by adjusting the camber/caster. If the toe is too bad to drive a short distance to an alignment shop you can try adding shims to get it close enough.

The shop will dial out the toe with the upper control arm with shims by adjusting the camber/caster. If the toe is too bad to drive a short distance to an alignment shop you can try adding shims to get it close enough.Shims would make it worse. It's toe'd out already, so adding negative camber would bring the spindle inward, making it toe out even more. Besides, with the steering arm being that low on the spindle, Camber setting will have very little effect on the toe.

He needs to toe it in, which will require shorter outer tie-rods.

Hi Derek,

I found the paperwork from CPP. It states that the spindles can be used with the following components...calipers and rotors from 79-81 El Camino & 79-81 Monte Carlos; then lists specific application for the seals, bearings, etc. but of course no mention of the corresponding tie rods, etc... I'll check out those G-body outer tie rods.

Pro- I don't see how adding alignment shims would ever be enough to help in this case. It looks like I'd have to have about two inches of shims (at the rear of each cross-shaft to "straighten" the wheels out.

Thanks guys...

Those outer tie rods look very long, I think you need a pair from a late "G" body as already stated.

I found the paperwork from CPP. It states that the spindles can be used with the following components...calipers and rotors from 79-81 El Camino & 79-81 Monte Carlos
Is there some sort of an adaptor to run 12" brakes on those? Are you sure you have 12" rotors? If I'm not mistaken, those years of G-body would have had only 10" rotors. :confused:

I would take the chevelle outer tie-rods to the parts-store with you, and compare to the G-body ones. If you can't return the Chevelle ones, PM me, I may need a pair of them.

Just checked the diameter of the rotors - and they're 12". I don't see any adaptors? So Derek, you think I should be checking outer tie rods for something like a "1979 Monte Carlo"? Oh, and I'll let you know if I can't just exchange these...thank again.

James

"1979 Monte Carlo"? Try '79 Malibu also. I'm not sure if there's any difference, so you may want to compare, or at least check to see if they use the same part number. I think they had the same chassis, but I'm not too sure.

Why can't you just whack off about 1/2" of one of the tie rods and give yourself some more adjustment?
course, if they would exchange the parts for you, then i would do that.

david

The G-body "metric" cars were bulit from 78-88 and include Monte Carlo, Malibu, Grand Prix and Cutlass. They all had the same frame and for the most part the same suspension components. The Monte Carlo SS, Buick Grand National and T-Types used different steering boxes and I believe springs.

Looking at the pics I see a few things right off the bat. First of all you`re trying to align it when it`s not at ride height. That`s a big no no. With the front end off it looks as if the suspension is just about topped out. With stock height (overall) spindles this means that if the gauge says you`ve got 0 camber now,when you get it down to ride height you`ll have negative camber. Tilting the top of the spindles in adds toe out. Also the A body`s factory bumpsteer curve causes the wheels to toe out about .75" at 3" of droop so between the two you can`t get enough adjustment to set the toe. Wait until you get the front end on,battery in,water in the motor and rad etc. THEN set the alignment. You`ll find you`ll need to take some shims out and that you`ll probably have enough tie rod adjustment because it won`t have all that toe out anymore.
I`m kinda curious about this conversion. G body cars have 10.5" front discs. If this conversion has 12" discs why are they listing stock G body 10.5" discs for replacement parts? Did you have to change ball joints to install the spindles? G body and early A body use totally different ball joints tapers. Mark SC&C

Chevyrelic.

I sent you a PM, but maybe the email path is wrong?
I will be in Orlando all of next week. shoot me an email if you can. If you are out of town, just tell me where the keys are. ;)

Take a look at the tie rods sleeve in this pic
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4035596&a=32112161&p=73863481&f=0
on the outer tie rod there are still threads showing but the threads on the inner tie rods are bottomed out in the adjuster sleeve,while it looks like there still is space inside the sleeve between the tie rods.At least thats how it looks on my moniter.
If you took it apart and put it back together so the tie rod threads are installed evenly you would gain this adjustment area in the sleeve.After you're done you could "string it" to adjust the toe in.That will get it close enough to get it to an alignment shop.

John...unfortunately the picture just doesn't show it, but the tie rod ends are butted up against each other inside the sleeve just like they are on the drivers side. I did get a chance to stop by Advance Auto though and it looks like the outers from a '79 Monte are about 5/8" shorter. So swapping them in may work. I also want to check the inners for length before I finally decide on what to do. Thanks.