Changing caster.....
#1
Changing caster.....
Ok I’ll be the first to admit, I’m weak on alignment knowledge.My 63 Cutlass is not near as steady at speed on the freeway as my 70 convert. After some Google searches and reading the factory service manual, I realized that a little more positive caster might counteract the “wandering” that the car has. The manual states that removing a .030 shim from the front bolt only of each control arm will increase caster by 1/2 a degree. Easy enough I thought, if it doesn’t help I’ll just put them back in. So I open the hood, took a look at the passenger side control arm shaft and find there are no shims installed at all.The drivers side has a couple of shims installed front and back.My question,Instead of removingshims from the front (since there aren’t any on that one side) can I add to the rear of that one control arm instead, on that one side, or will that change the camber?And how many degrees change are normally needed before you can notice the change in driveability?
#2
No, if you add shims to the rear it will effect your camber. I would take it to a good alignment shop familiar with older cars, not one of the franchised places. It's well worth the $50 to see what it's set to now and to correct it properly. Is the front end in good shape?
#4
X2 to the above statements as well as you need to add and subtract shims front to back togeather as the seem to affect each other's readings. I've done a few of these styles and it's well worth to call to several shops and techs and explain what your goals are. I had my customer come in on a sat a few hrs from closing time so I could spend my time with it
#5
the front end is in very good shape, steering linkage & gearbox are tight, ball joints good, previous owner obviously really went overboard on pumping the grease in every fitting he could see and there are many, been cleaning excess grease off for quite a while....I was hoping not to have it taken to an alignment shop, most don't even have the shims any more and they keep bringing up 4 wheel alignment, not needed for a 52 year old Olds! will have to ask around for a place that knows the older cars.....
#6
the front end is in very good shape, steering linkage & gearbox are tight, ball joints good, previous owner obviously really went overboard on pumping the grease in every fitting he could see and there are many, been cleaning excess grease off for quite a while....I was hoping not to have it taken to an alignment shop, most don't even have the shims any more and they keep bringing up 4 wheel alignment, not needed for a 52 year old Olds! will have to ask around for a place that knows the older cars.....
Last edited by oldstata; February 18th, 2015 at 05:31 PM.
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