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Alignment off.....need advice

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pegleg71

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Soon I will be throwing my rebuilt 327 back in my chevelle, but there is just one problem. I took the car in a couple years back to get the alignment done and the front control arms replaced. The problem is that the shims they used around the front passengers side control arm, i'm guessing for the alignment?, have popped out. There is only one left and i'm not sure how many came out, but i know some did because i found a couple under my hood back when the car was running. I'm j/w if it would be ok to drive the car the 15miles or so to the place where i'm going to get the alignment redone? :confused: I know this question isn't loaded with details, but I don't know how to explain how far off it is on the alignment. It's not horrible, but you can tell with the engine and trans out of the car.

Also, what would cause this to happen? Might there be something else wrong with the car that caused this? :confused: Should I be concerned? Or could it just be that the nuts weren't tightened enough? because the drivers side control arm hasn't lost any shims that i'm aware of.

Thanks I'd REALLY appreciate any advice anyone can give me.
 
#2 ·
1 st YOU CAN'T TELL ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR ALIGNMENT
WITH ENGINE/TRANS OUT(HAS TO HAVE ALL WEIGHT IN PLACE)PUT THE ENGINE BACK IN AND CHECK CONTROL ARMS FOR GAPS WHERE SHIMS WERE, IF YOU FIND AN AREA WHERE THERE IS A SPACE LOOSSEN BOTH NUTS DROP IN SHIMS AND TIGHTEN NUTS, IT WILL BE FINE TO DRIVE TO A "GOOD" ALIGNMENT SHOP, HOPE YOU CAN FIND ONE ! THE NUT WERE PROBALLY NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY AND JUST LOOSENED UP OVER TIME AND SHIMS FELL OUT OR THE SHIMS YOU FOUND WERE LEFT OVER FROM TECH WHO DID ALIGNMENT. ROB...
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Thanks for the advice Rob. Yeah, I know I have to put the engine and trans back in, but I just thought i'd ask so I knew ahead of time.
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So the space between the two bolts the hold in the control arm should be equal to each other then? So if there is one shim on the front bolt, then there should be one on the back one? Sorry if i'm not being too clear. I only ask because there is a gap on the passengers side control arm on the back bolt. I plan on taking the car to a NTB, they do alignments for $60. A NTB is like a quick service shop so to speak, but I know a guy who works there so it should be ok. Do you recommend any places in particular?

thanks again
 
#4 ·
There doesn't necessarily have to be the same amount of shims front and rear. In fact, there probably won't be. The difference in the shim stacks controls the caster. If you imagine the upper ball joint directly over the lower, that would be zero caster. The more you lay the spindle back (upper ball joint behind the lower)the more high speed stability you get plus it helps the wheels to self center after taking a corner. I believe that is negative caster. But I could be exactly backwards on that.

Jeff
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Ok cool. I think I might just have a buddy tow it to the place i'm going to get the alignment done, and then i'll let those guys worry about it. Thanks for the replies.


oh....one more thing. Is there anyway i could measure it to see how far off the alignment is? :confused: I'm guessing no. thanks again
 
#6 ·
don't just drop it off and tell them to align it to stock specs- i guarantee you won't be happy with 35 year old alignment specs on new rubber.find out what the best specs are for your car, and tell them to do it to those specs and give you a printout after it's done that says where they set everything at.
 
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Discussion starter · #7 ·
Ok......but where am I going to find out what the alignment would be best at? Like Megadeth Novaderrik?
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"What do you mean I hurt your feelings?.....I didn't know you had any feelings.....what do you mean I aint kind....i'm just not your kind" fav line \m/ I love playing that song....kicks a$$ ! If you like megadeth i'd recommend checking out manowar.....if you dont already know who they are. You will like them too. :cool:
 
#8 ·
Here is where my 68 is set, I've played with it quite a bit and this works well. Camber 1/2 degree negative both wheels, Caster 3.5 degrees positive on left side and 4.0 degrees positive on the right side. Total toe in 1/4".
 
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Discussion starter · #9 ·
You lost me there dennis. Sorry i'm not very knowledgeable on the subject. Do you think that would work well for my car? What sort of variables should I be considering when trying to figure out how I want it set? Will most places set your alignment to specs that you tell them to and still give you a warranty? Sorry for all the questions. I just want to try and learn/figure out the most I can.
thanks
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#10 ·
Just copy those numbers and give them to the alignment shop, yes they will warranty that the alignment will retain those specs as long as you don't hit anything. Camber will give you the best compromise of tire wear and handling. Caster will make steering return to center faster and provide better high speed (freeway) stabuility, and toe is the no brainer. Most cars run 0-1/4" total toe-in. Street cars need some toe-in for handling, drive a car on the freeway with toe all out of whack and you'll know what I mean. It would be real tough to explain exactly what each measurement means and how it is measured on this forum. Basically camber is the top of the tire in/out in relation to the bottom of the tire, caster is the position of the upper ball joint in relation to the lower ball joint, and toe is the measurement of the front of the front tires compared to the rear of the front tires. I hope you are now totally lost. :D because I am terrible at explaining this stuff.
 
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#11 ·
these boots were made for walking
and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna STOMP all over you...

or

in my hour of need
no, you're no there
and though i reached out for you
you wouldn't lend a hand.


hell yeah, but i respectfully disagree about Manowar...
 
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#13 ·
Pegleg, go Here and read how to get the alignment good enough to drive to the alignment shop. Heck, I've been driving on this roughed out alignment for 1000 miles and still no abnormal tire were. I did the b-body spindles and all. I know I need to get the right specs dialed in, but this article will get you rolling
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Discussion starter · #14 ·
THANK YOU guys. I really appreciate it. Actually dennis, I think I understand how it all works now. Or at least what Toe, Caster, and Camber mean.
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I will check out those sites guys. Once again you all come through.
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:D
thanks again


to novaderrik....

" I hear the sound in a metal way, I feeeeelll the powerrrrr rolling off the stage..... cause only one thing can set me free.....HEAVY METALLLLLL LOUD AS IT CAN BE!!!"

"Baby I was born to play music, i'm a man with a screaming guitar, there's light in the middle of the stage, in a minute i'll be wearing it alllll.....i don't know another way of living, and baby i don't really care, give me a pair of jeans and a riff that's mean and girls that loooveeeee to shareeee!" - Manowar..... Metal Daze

lol sorry.....I just think that song rocks. It's cool that you like megadeth though.....more people should. What do you think of Dio and Iron Maiden? j/w

Sorry to everyone else for turning this into a bench racing topic... I was j/w. and that will the the last said of it. :D
 
#16 ·
Metallica, Megadeth, Suicidal, Slayer, Testament. old Anthrax, Maiden, Motorhead, Sacred Reich, old Sepultura (with Max), Biohazard, Prong, Type O Negative, Monster Magnet (great cruising music) the first Manson album, Skynyrd (FREEBIIIIIRDDDD!!!!) etc..
hell yeah
all stuff i listen to when out testing the alignment of my Nova around twisty curvy roads on a warm summer night..
see, i brought it right back around to the subject at hand. listen to that stuff on a twisty road, and i guarantee you will find out how good your alignment is.
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
Those sites helped my understanding quite a bit. I think i'll have them set my alignment to the specs you gave me dennis. Just one question though.....why do you recommend the caster set slightly differently on different sides? j/w

Thanks guys


Novaderrik....

Awesome man.....that's all good music....and believe me I know what you mean about the music and alignment/handling dealy. lol The weird thing is that when I listen to heavy & fast music while driving on country roads, the car always seems to end up close to the tripple digits. :D *shrugs* funny how that works.

Unfortunately I won't have a cd player or speakers in my car after I get my .040 or .060 327 put in and the car going again. I had to take them out of the chevelle and put them in the civic because it's my daily driver, and the chevelle wasn't going anywhere. I understand that that's probably considered sacriligious by many lol.....but a guy has to have his tunes playing at a high quality level while driving.
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\m/ \m/
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Novaderrik.......what do you think about what Metallica has done recently with their music? I think it's horrible and they sold out personally....not that they sold out from much though. :D


We should carry this over to the bench racing room.
 
#19 ·
Yeah, left and right are from sitting in the drivers seat. Always set caster higher on the right side by about 1/2 degree to compensate for road crown, if both sides are equall most cars on most roads will drift to the right. They pave roads with a crown in the center for rain runoff.
 
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pegleg71
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