Initial Suspension Settings for my Dart Before Alignment
Are the UCA’s on the correct sides?
“Bouncing” on the car will NEVER fully settle the suspension. It has to roll. The camber changes as the suspension goes through its travel. But when you lower the car onto the ground the tires hit with the suspension at full extension, and the friction of the tires on the ground resist the changes in the suspension. It will not fully settle until the car rolls.
The ride height in those pictures is far above the stock height, it’s sitting VERY high. That is also effecting your camber. When the suspension is fully extended, the wheels move toward positive camber. That could be a big part of it. At that height are the UCA’s on the upper bump stops?
As for what to do about it, make sure you have the UCA’s on the correct sides. Then check your ride height vs the stock height, higher than stock is very bad for the suspension geometry. Once you’ve dealt with that, you need to roll the car. Even a couple feet forward and back will make a difference. With all of that taken care of, I suspect the problem will be solved.
If for some reason after all of that the camber is still positive, all you can do is adjust the front of the UCA’s further in. If the rear leg of the UCA is already all the way in toward the frame that will be the only way to reduce the positive camber and move toward negative camber. But you’ll be sacrificing caster to do it. With everything installed properly and at the right ride height that shouldn’t be necessary.
The factory ride height is described here in the FSM, “V&L” lines is for an A body
Are the UCA’s on the correct sides?
“Bouncing” on the car will NEVER fully settle the suspension. It has to roll. The camber changes as the suspension goes through its travel. But when you lower the car onto the ground the tires hit with the suspension at full extension, and the friction of the tires on the ground resist the changes in the suspension. It will not fully settle until the car rolls.
The ride height in those pictures is far above the stock height, it’s sitting VERY high. That is also effecting your camber. When the suspension is fully extended, the wheels move toward positive camber. That could be a big part of it. At that height are the UCA’s on the upper bump stops?
As for what to do about it, make sure you have the UCA’s on the correct sides. Then check your ride height vs the stock height, higher than stock is very bad for the suspension geometry. Once you’ve dealt with that, you need to roll the car. Even a couple feet forward and back will make a difference. With all of that taken care of, I suspect the problem will be solved.
If for some reason after all of that the camber is still positive, all you can do is adjust the front of the UCA’s further in. If the rear leg of the UCA is already all the way in toward the frame that will be the only way to reduce the positive camber and move toward negative camber. But you’ll be sacrificing caster to do it. With everything installed properly and at the right ride height that shouldn’t be necessary.
The factory ride height is described here in the FSM, “V&L” lines is for an A body
