which way to install offset bushings???

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mbaird

mbaird

mbaird
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I am about to install a set of MOOG problem solver offset bushings (upper control arms ) in my Dart
and have a question about the install.
The directions say to install them with the arrows pointing outward so that the holes are moved in towards the center of the car.
My question is : won't this just put the control arm at the same angle as before or does that give you acceptable camber and allow you to improve the castor.
They come 2 to a box , does that mean they intend for you to install just one of these per side ? Or should you put 2 on each side ?
It would seem that if you installed them opposite of each other that you could get more camber (or would that be overkill ?)

I'd like to hear from anybody that has used these SUCCESSFULLY .

Thanks
 
They were meant for solving caster problems if I am not mistaken. Installing one on each side, as per instructions, should give the alignment tech enough to work with for solving the aligment problem. I havn't used them myself, but the guy I have do the alignment work on all my old mopars, has 15 years expierence at alignments, and he verified that they were intended for fixing caster problems (I just talked to him 5 minutes ago and had mentioned your post). I forgot to ask him if your supposed to put them in the front or rear of the control arm but I will be over at his shop a little later and I will try to remember to ask him if that matters.
 
about 4 times the cost of regular bushings, but I hear they come highly recommended, i'm curious to hear the answer, as I am close to getting my front susp back together.
 
Mopars are hard to get enough castor and camber out of, then I
installed urethane bushings and that made it worse. If you compare the urethane strut rod bushings to a set of OEM rubber
you will notice that they are much thicker. this pushes the lower control arm back even further making it tougher to get the proper
settings. ( let me know if I'm wrong )
I got these moogs from summit for around $20 if I remember correctly and ordered 3 sets ('68 cuda ,70 charger and 73 dart sport)
 
He told me you could use two on each side if your car is so whacked that your camber isn't close enough for proper alignment, but that he has rarely seen a need for that, he says that it depends on which way you need to go to get the caster back into spec, he said he has put them in either front or rear before. All depends on your vehicles needs.

No offense to qwickscamp, but being a parts store checker (no matter how long you have worked there) does not make an alignment specialist out of you, and I don't know of any store that wont tell you "Sure, you need one set for each side" boosts there bottom line and empties your pocket.

You must have tried to have it aligned to have come to the conclusion that you needed the special bushings, talk to the guy that did the alignment attempt and find out where they need to be installed in the arm to allow him to align it to spec the car needs. If he says he couldn't get your camber back in to spec, then get another set, otherwise theres no need spending money you don't have to.
 
1 box per side is the CORRECT answer
and there are two(2) per box
a person would not use just 1 bushing....
unless it was on a wrecked car

really good for lowering front end, kicks the top
of the tire out for more camber
and yes, arrow out (or offset inboard) for max
degrees
 
Thanks, got it done. Installed them exactly like MrBill stated
I'll let you guys know how the alignment comes out
 
I've had those in my cuda for 14 years. You don't install them per the instructions. To get most caster you do this:

This is the left front A-arm:

1MAsusp4.JPG


Point the arrows on the bushings like this diagram:

3MAsusp2.GIF


Install arrows on bushings like diagram

Photos "Copyright 1991-1997 Richard Ehrenberg and Harris Publications, Inc. All right reserved. reproduced here with permision" Mopar Action 12/90

I just got it re-aligned last weekend. I could get 6 degrees of positive caster when I ran 1 degree of negative camber. But this time I went more agressive with 1.5 degree of negative camber so I only got 4.5 degrees of positive caster.

Some more info on my website: http://hometown.aol.com/pwall5/cars/tips.html
 
I was wondering about that. But it is too late now as I have already finished reinstalling them. If I can't get enough castor and camber I may have to
pull them and redo as per your advice.

I am thinking that by installing them as per the instructions the camber
will start off with a negative setting , allowing my castor more adjustability.
we will find out.

BTW , the reference to someone not being an alignment specialist is really a
moot point . I have found very few so called "alignment specialists" that
fully understand the true dynamics of steering and suspension. The one
alignment God I did have died in a plane wreck a few years back. (great person)

The last guy that aligned my car at a Goodyear store had the drivers side
torsion bar cranked up about 10 turns further than the pass. side. The difference was so great that the car listed down on the pass. side rear about 2" . It was so
noticeable that I convinced myself that I had installed my super stock springs
on the wrong side. So I spent all of yesterday swapping them, only to find that I
had indeed installed them correctly initially (that was fine since I wanted
to shim the front hangers anyway and I found that my rear hangers would only move
with the aid of a crowbar ) Once I set the ride height correctly the rear sat level.
 
Search the web for the local SCCA Solo II club in your area. They will know were to get a decent alignment by someone who knows what they are doing.

The shop that did mine was a custormer of mine. And they are sharp anyways. The guy who did mine was under 30 years old. Not a big deal for him at all. Since I know the tech, I was with him the whole time.

It's not about having an old tech. It's about having a guy do it with half a brain.

Steve

mbaird said:
....

BTW , the reference to someone not being an alignment specialist is really a
moot point . I have found very few so called "alignment specialists" that
fully understand the true dynamics of steering and suspension. The one
alignment God I did have died in a plane wreck a few years back. (great person)

The last guy that aligned my car at a Goodyear store had the drivers side
torsion bar cranked up about 10 turns further than the pass. side. The difference was so great that the car listed down on the pass. side rear about 2" . It was so
noticeable that I convinced myself that I had installed my super stock springs
on the wrong side. ...
Click to expand...
 
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