Well guy's I FINALLY graemlins/hurray.gif got my front end completely back together late last week after a TOTAL REBUILD. So being all axious to drive it of course I decided to take that Friday off for my allignment, well I drove it over to NTB only to find out that they seperated from Sears and are now a stand alone company.

To make a long story short is that most of the good allingment Techs stayed with Sears due to Loyalty and service years with them. So unforchunately I ended up with a character that weighed in at about 360+ and could not quite get over the fender to get at the shims graemlins/clonk.gif So I basically grabbed the wrench myself and added and removed shims. Didn't mind at all, but the issue was that I really do not feel that the allingment is right due to the fact that he was very unshure of himself and the specs that I had to supply due to the fact that the Hunter machines computer did not go back to 71.

Enough rambling here is what I ended up with guy's:

Camber......... LF -0.34 deg. RF -0.48 deg.
Caster......... LF -0.64 deg. RF -0.59 deg
Toe............ LF +0.24 deg. RF +0.27 deg.

Total Toe ........... +0.51 deg. * seems high ??
Cross SAI ........... -1.37 deg.
Cross Caster ........ -0.05 deg.
Cross camber ........ +0.14 deg.


What do you think guy's :confused: :confused: are these spec's acceptable, it really seems to drive fine, though it could center from a corner a little faster but in general it really seems OK ?? Worried about the Total Toe though.

Opinions and comments please ........ graemlins/beers.gif

Thanks Guy's;
ZIGGY454

Camber and toe are fine, caster is way low. If you could get it up around 3.00 degrees positive that would drive much better.

Ziggy,

If you want to do your alignment over again, bring it up to Dan at Methuen Getty on Bway, just before the Salem NH line. He just did my '72 El Camino that I just completed the front suspension as you did.

I have a Motors Manual with all Chevrolet Specs I can copy for you if you need them however what they had in the computer was very close.

I'm very pleased with the results.

David

Do the specs differ between radials and belted tires?

No, but using factory specs with todays tires is a waste. Since most guys have upgraded their suspensions you should run more caster and less camber for better handling/driveabuility.

Dennis, Dave and Keith, I really apprecitiate your replies on this one !!! I thought it felt just a little too neutral steering wise, Positve Caster will improve this graemlins/thumbsup.gif

So it is my understanding if is to be Positive Caster, I will need to remove some shims from under the FRONT bolts on the upper control arms :D This will ( should ) rake the upper ball joints Positive ( towards the front of the car ) this will improve both the Centering and most likely a better road feel as well.

Dave72elky, I usually get my cars inspected at that Getty !! Anyway I appreciate your advice on this but at this point I am going to go back to NTB even though I really do not want to :mad: But I have 6 Months to get it done there for NOTHING !! It will be a freebee under warranty, I will however try and get another Technician that does know the Hunter alignment machine a little better though graemlins/clonk.gif

Thanks again guy's for your input graemlins/thumbsup.gif and let me know if I am on the right track.

ZIGGY 454 ................. graemlins/beers.gif

Ziggy, removing shims from the front shim pack will make the upper ball joint move rearward and out. This will make both camber and caster more positive. If you take those shims you remove and add them to the rear shim pack, this will give you additional positve caster, while putting the camber back about where it is now, which is about right. I would shoot for 0.25 degrees negative camber with 4 degrees positive caster.

Ken

Ken thanks for correcting me on that !! It was a wee bit early when I posted the projected theory ;) Anyway sounds good, I was actually contemplating on removing 2 1/6th shims from the front shim packs and installing 1-16th to the shim packs in the rear. I know it would be a guess but untill I bring it up for an alignment at least it will steer better....... :D

Thanks for all responses guy's ........ graemlins/thumbsup.gif

ZIGGY454