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  1. Kern Dog

    Massive caster variance Side to side

    My point exactly. The bubble level allows for what equates to a reset for each time it is used to measure.
  2. Kern Dog

    Massive caster variance Side to side

    This is where there is difficulty in understanding the difference. This gauge: Does not stay in place the entire time. It can be removed and reattached. This gauge is used in a different manner than what is used on an alignment rack. Think of it this way: Turn the steering wheel 20 degrees to...
  3. Kern Dog

    Massive caster variance Side to side

    This must be a way to check alignment that you’re not familiar with. If you refuse to watch the video, you won’t understand. This gauge attaches to the hub. Here are the instructions. If this type of tool is foreign to you, I understand. Young guys in construction used to bring...
  4. Kern Dog

    Massive caster variance Side to side

    I know that with a strong caster angle (positive or negative) there is a pronounced tilt to the wheel and tire at full lock. Yes, I'm aware that this can lift or droop the car based on the angle. What I'm missing is how the brakes affect this in any way. I'm not rotating the tire. It does not...
  5. Kern Dog

    Massive caster variance Side to side

    This still doesn't make sense. I have these: If you didn't see his video, here it is: He used a gauge like this: It is held against the hub. The wheel is not turned with the gauge attached, the wheel is tuned hard left and measured, then hard right and measured. New tricks on...
  6. Kern Dog

    Massive caster variance Side to side

    Thanks for trying but that still makes no sense to me. I watched the video that junkerup (Chris Birdsong) put on YouTube and using hand held gauge, the brakes were never touched.
  7. Kern Dog

    Massive caster variance Side to side

    That isn’t very clear, Rob. Why would an unlocked brake matter? Cars don’t move on alignment racks so the brakes are redundant.
  8. Kern Dog

    How to fix steering slop?

    The next step is a new or rebuilt steering box. The Mopar unit is notorious for wearing out faster than other models. I had Chevy steering boxes that felt great despite being over 100,000 miles. Saginaw built the units for GM. Ma Mopar built theirs in house. The design you see in the last rear...
  9. Kern Dog

    Alignment change after changing from drum to disc

    MORE great information here. I don't know much about the 73-76 DRUM brake cars except that they used large upper ball joints....the same UCAs as the disc cars. I didn't know that the lower ball joints were standardized but it makes sense, 1973 brought several steering and chassis changes for...
  10. Kern Dog

    Alignment change after changing from drum to disc

    That is nice of you to suggest that. When I started the thread, I had a different title for it, one that was vague. I changed it to pertain specifically to this issue so it will be easy to find with the search feature. I don't know if this issue exists when changing to the 1972 and earlier...
  11. Kern Dog

    Alignment change after changing from drum to disc

    They could have made the disc unit's steering arm bends the same offset as the drum setups had. They are obviously different but who knows why..... I just wondered about this a few times over the years but never had an understanding as to what specifically caused it. Now I do. My curious...
  12. Kern Dog

    Alignment change after changing from drum to disc

    Just confirmed. Center to center on outer tie rod ends of disc: 48”. Drums: 46 3/8”. That is 1 5/8 further apart on disc cars.
  13. Kern Dog

    Alignment change after changing from drum to disc

    Drum: Looks like about 6 3/4 inches from center of zero on the ball joint to center of the tie rod hole. Disc. Looks like the same number. It appears to me that the difference is in the bend. I’d need to measure the offset of the arm from its mounting point on the spindle.
  14. Kern Dog

    Alignment change after changing from drum to disc

    Different lengths? That would change the overall steering ratio. I can go measure these and report back. I'd like to get two cars on the lift and measure the steering linkage center to center of drum versus disc.
  15. Kern Dog

    Alignment change after changing from drum to disc

    Like many of you, I’ve owned a few A body cars with 4 wheel drum brakes. Many of us convert to front discs, many times using the popular 1973-76 A body 11” discs. Throughout the years, I’ve noticed that every time I’ve made this switch, the front end alignment changes a LOT. Going from drum to...
  16. Kern Dog

    Small Upper ball joint adaptors

    I would have NO problem using them. The small ball joints are plenty strong enough.
  17. Kern Dog

    68 Charger steering issue

    The shops that rebuild OEM steering boxes do VARY in quality. Firm Feel and Steer and Gear offer options to increase the steering feel and cut down on the overboosted sensation. Other vendors often just disassemble, clean and reassemble the units with no regard for addressing the loose...
  18. Kern Dog

    Borgeson or Firm Feel steering?

    I am often surprised to hear that guys haven't heard that the Borgeson unit can be bought and installed without cutting the column. Where have you been? It has been at least 10 years that the universal coupler has been available. Peter Bergman, a sponsor of this site, sells a complete kit with...
  19. Kern Dog

    Quick Ratio vs Standard Pitman and Idler Arms

    Yeah, there is a noticeable difference in the length.
  20. Kern Dog

    Where to find 7 1/4 rear end shock plates??

    Just about anyone that pulls their 7 1/4" axle to swap in something bigger seems to throw away the stock hardware. Put up a Want To Buy ad here. Someone may have some and not think anyone wants them.
  21. Kern Dog

    P.S. box rebuild FirmFeel or Steer & Gear?

    Make sure you confirm that they will ship immediately. There have been reports online of people ordering parts back as late as September of last year and they are still waiting. If you can wait AND if they don't charge you UNTIL they ship, it may work out for you. I don't dispute their quality...
  22. Kern Dog

    What SWAY BAR to choose

    I always like the appearance of rear hung front calipers and front hung calipers on rear disc systems. Also, I prefer the 73-76 A style K member and sway bar design. The sway bar tucks up neater and in tighter. It weighs less due to it being shorter in each dimension while still being effective...
  23. Kern Dog

    P.S. box rebuild FirmFeel or Steer & Gear?

    I don't "hate" them. They do what they can for the factory design. They are limited by the design constraints of the unit. Think of it this way....If you take a 1950s straight six and did every trick you could think of, (porting the head, extrude hone the intake and exhaust manifold, add EFI...
  24. Kern Dog

    P.S. box rebuild FirmFeel or Steer & Gear?

    The Borgeson units are a new design. Keep in mind, when the Mopar power steering was first designed and released in the Late 50s, super easy steering was a huge selling point. Their design was aimed to capitalize on that. Cars didn’t have to handle well. Tires were tall and squishy, springs and...
  25. Kern Dog

    P.S. box rebuild FirmFeel or Steer & Gear?

    I heard someone post that the Firm Feel rebuild was $600. Shipping your core to them could be another $100. That is less than a Borgeson but not by much. This really is a matter of “spend a little more and you’ll not regret it”.
  26. Kern Dog

    P.S. box rebuild FirmFeel or Steer & Gear?

    OR........ Ignore both of them and use a Borgeson from BERGMAN Auto Craft. This isn't a shill....I have no stake in your decision. My experience is that every Mopar steering box is saddled with a design flaw that is impossible to eliminate entirely. That is the dead spot in the middle of the...
  27. Kern Dog

    A body Steering Boxes

    If you trust Rick Ehrenberg, the ratio is 15.7 to one.
  28. Kern Dog

    The man wants MORE caster. How about this idea?

    I don't know. If it does, where would it show? Do you think it would result in a premature failure? If so, at which point? Early bushing wear? Cracks in the UCA somewhere? I've had neither. The car steers great, it tracks straight and is extremely stable at any speed. There is no irregular tire...
  29. Kern Dog

    The man wants MORE caster. How about this idea?

    Yeah, thanks for that. I am well aware of it and have seen it numerous times. Some may have not so posting it may allow them to copy and paste it to their files for future use. 72Blu was right in that it IS a really old chart that does apply in most cases with most people but doesn't take into...
  30. Kern Dog

    A body Steering Boxes

    Yeah… they did offer the convenience of a packaged suspension and steering “unit” to use in older vehicles with straight axle stuff. I have a buddy that had a 56 F100 with the Volare setup. He didn’t drive fast around corners. The independent suspension, power steering, brakes and 4.5 bolt...
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