69 dart converted to disk spindle ALIGNMENT

[COmidasGuy1]

Hi so I'm finished with the conversion to a disk spindle, new lower balljoint for disk spindle for 69 Dart. Using a KH 4 piston caliper ect ect. Installed an Energy poly bushing kit on the front end. Anyhow, put it on the alignment rack did a caster swing and Viola -4 degrees neg caster!!! maxed the eccentric cams and thats as high as I could get er.

Is there something that might have been overlooked? Reused stock UCA. Didnt see the strut rod bushings any different than what I removed/replaced.

Possible cures for my Neg Caster condition? Can provide pics if needed/wanted.

 

[COmidasGuy1]

nvm, searched the brakes forums and saw big BJ upper A arm reqired too...

So finding a new set of upper arms my next goal. Any suggestions?

 

[Snake]

need pics to help

 

[65 Dartman]

nvm, searched the brakes forums and saw big BJ upper A arm reqired too...

Big BJ upper control arms are required when using the 73-76 disc brake set-up. If you used the 4 piston KH discs, then you would use your original control arms with the smaller ball joint.

 

[COmidasGuy1]

So the first pic is what it looked like prior to doing anything. As parts went on, I took more. I hope this helps to nail my negative caster problem.

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[COmidasGuy1]

waiting for moderator to review for content O.o

 

[redfastback]

Are the uca's on the wrong sides? Did you use poly strut rod bushings? If you used the energy suspension strut rod bushings, you will need to lower the car to achieve positive caster. They are based on the E-body style and are 3/8" in thicker.

 

[COmidasGuy1]

Yup used em. Thems are pretty thick, but is also what I removed, possibly another rebushing job prior? If lowering the ride height will bring caster back to the positive, I have a lot of ride height at the moment. Will rack it today and start slammin' ! And as far as wrong sides, the A-arm flatspot for the strikeout bumper is over the bumpstops, so I'm pretty shure they are on the correct side. (See above pictures if they ever get cleared)

Thanks Redfastback, BTW your Hellwig swaybar post saved me from the chaos that is in one of my "in progress" pics. IE the nightmare that was their sway bar kit. Have recieved the updated brackets and they are SWEEEEET! :notworth:

 

[COmidasGuy1]

 

[COmidasGuy1]

 

[Jim Lusk]

I have no recollection of any discussion regarding the symmetry of the KH spindles, so just to be sure are your calipers rear mounted as original? Where have you set you alignment cams? Both all the way out? You want to start with the front cam all the way out and the rear all the way in. Move the rear cam outward until camber is in spec. At that point you will have the most positive caster that is available with the current set of parts.

 

[COmidasGuy1]

So, with the rears full in and the front full out, I still had 3-4 deg neg caster.
I blame the geometry shift on the thicker strut rod bushings from the energy kit. Even the lower control arm bushing was being "pushed out" from the set back. So I found this site: http://www.firmfeel.com/adjstrut.htm and installed adjustable strut rods.

Current alignment angles DS: .5" camber 1.0 caster PS .3" camber 1.0 caster. ALL Positive! set toe to .14" only gripe i had is having changed the PS box, I misaligned the steering column by about 45 degrees, ez fix tho.