Problems setting Caster on Rebuilt front end.

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64X2

64X2

Mohel at your service.
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I took one of my 64s to have the front end aligned after a front end rebuild. They where unable to get the caster to set on the passenger side, they just about stripped the eccentric turning it. Could I have over tightened the strut rod and that cause the problem and ideas.

They set the left camber 0.0 degrees the right -0.1 degrees

Toe left side was .14 degrees positive Toes right side .12 degrees positive

Caster left side 3.9 negative degrees Right side 1.9 positive

Any input would be great...thanks in advance
 
You need to get the strut adjusted for more adjustment going forward on the bottom and get the off center upper table bushing to give more backward caster on the top,so the upper table moves backward,this will help you out.If you can,make the strut rod more adjustable if you can.But try the new bushings first as this has worked in the past,mrmopartech
 
I replaced the strut bushing, and your saying that there is a offset bushing that corrects this problem? Where would that be installed, with the existing bush or does it replace the the bushing on the front of the rod?
 
64X2 said:
I replaced the strut bushing, and your saying that there is a offset bushing that corrects this problem? Where would that be installed, with the existing bush or does it replace the the bushing on the front of the rod?
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You replace the upper control arm bushing with eccentric ones. DO NOT install them per the instruction in the box.

To get more caster follow these instructions.
 

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ok not a expert on front end alignments just did them for 25years so I would set the caster at 2,5 on passenger side and 2 to 2 .25 on driver side this will keep the car up on the road now autoxcuda is right use the off set bushing to pick up the caster you need now you could drop the caster on the drivers side to match the passenger side and that will work too
 
Are the arms on the correct sides? It makes a huge difference. Fatter part to the front, moves the upper balljoint back, compared to lower joint. Are the brackets the cam moves in, to adjust it bent outwards? Beat back in and add fillet weld.
 
green1 said:
Are the arms on the correct sides? It makes a huge difference. Fatter part to the front, moves the upper balljoint back, compared to lower joint. Are the brackets the cam moves in, to adjust it bent outwards? Beat back in and add fillet weld.
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If he had the arms on wrong he would know it the bump stops would not line up.
 
It's possible that the car has been in an accident, some wrong parts have been installed along the way, etc. I don't like the thin part of the offset bushings, but they have been used successfully by many, so use 'em if you want to.

BUT, try this. Set the cams with the front one all the way out and the rear one all the way in. Then pull the rear one out until you have about 1/2 degree negative camber. Then check the caster. No matter what parts you have this will provide the greatest amount of positive caster you can get without further changes.
 
One thing you might wanna check. The tabs that the eccentric cams butt against to move the control are are supposed to be STRAIGHT. Over the years, they tend to become rounded which greatly reduces the amount of adjustment. By straightening them, you can restore some lost adjustment and actually make a big difference in some cases. I have also come in behind the tabs with small pieces of 1/4" plate and welded there for reinfoircement. Then it won't happen again.
 
I finally got to talk to the guy who did the alignment, he said that the eccentric bolts where to tight and he was afraid that he may break something. I then contacted the owner of the business, he had me bring the car back in on Weds. It was put back on the machine and everything was set where it was suppose to be.........I wish I could do my own alignments.....people don't know what to do with old cars....thanks everyone for the responses....
 
When I first bought my Barracuda I took it in to have it aligned. Left it for half a day. Went to get it & the guy hadn't done anything. He said "I just can't get my hands in there on those little Plymouths." If they were't going to do it why did they make the appointment? Or why didn't somebody say something when I dropped the car off? Or why didn't they at least call me to come get the car instead of keeping it for half a day? And this was in 1974, so it's not like they were some kind of oddball item. These cars were everywhere back then! :cwm10:
 
Jim Lusk said:
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BUT, try this. Set the cams with the front one all the way out and the rear one all the way in. Then pull the rear one out until you have about 1/2 degree negative camber. Then check the caster. No matter what parts you have this will provide the greatest amount of positive caster you can get without further changes.
Click to expand...

Do this BEFORE you take it to get the alignment done. That way you start of with max caster and it sort of forces them to just adjust to get back to the camber you want.

I just saw someone in Moparts that did that and had successful results. Sure it seems like you are doing there job for them. But it just give you more likelihood of getting what you want.
 

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autoxcuda said:
Do this BEFORE you take it to get the alignment done. That way you start of with max caster and it sort of forces them to just adjust to get back to the camber you want.

I just saw someone in Moparts that did that and had successful results. Sure it seems like you are doing there job for them. But it just give you more likelihood of getting what you want.
Click to expand...

Lol, I did this to buddy's car; him and his older brother questioned my about it-looked odd (had the uca all they way back), I was doing the front end guy a favor, as we love the + caster.

Ever pulled a shopping cart at 20 mph? (was young); They have - caster, and are evil handling, lol.
 
Took my '71 dart swinger in for alignment last summer, and they couldn't get the caster right. Apparently, something had taken a hit sometime, and this made it impossible to set with adjusting the eccentric bolts on one side.

Bought a set of hotchkis adjustable caster-rods, installed them and took the car back, then they could fix it and give me some extra caster for improved straight line stability! :)
 
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