way too much caster - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Pletch · 05-19-2018, 11:14 PM

I have a 68 c10 2wd that was in need of a front end rebuild. Before I did the rebuild I checked the alignment. Everything was within specs but not perfect.

I replaced all 4 front ball joints, upper and lower control arm bushings and shafts. Tie rod ends, idler arm, pitman arm, steering box and shocks.

Now that this is done my caster is 10 on the left and 11.7 on the right. I cant compensate enough with shims to get it lower.

Could this have been caused by not evenly tightening the control arm bushings? I did my best to try to do even turns for each bushing.

Second theory I have. I didn't mark the left and right spindle when I had it apart. Is there a difference between the left and right spindle?

Should I swap my spindles to see if I can get the castor down to 2.5?
can I remove the control arm bushings and tighten them with a bias to move the lower control arm back and the upper one forward?

BTW, camber is okay.

**mongocanfly** · 05-19-2018, 11:51 PM

welcome....
what brand parts did you use?
spindles are left /right specific...the tie rod ends arms on the spindles....they'll either be sticking out the front or the back
did a alignment shop determine it can't be adjusted properly?

Bigdav160 · 05-20-2018, 09:07 AM

Lower control arms cross shafts shoved too far forward?

Pletch · 05-20-2018, 10:05 AM

I forgot to mention. I have drum brakes so they look very similar.

Pletch · 05-20-2018, 10:06 AM

This is what I'm thinking but I want to confirm that it is possible before I go through the work again.

**kwmech** · 05-20-2018, 01:10 PM

Did you do 1 side at a time or blow the whole thing apart at once? maybe got the upper arms on the wrong side. Wouldn't be the first time I've seen that. Top arm is like an offset triangle. The 90 degree part of the arm is forward or the front part of the arm is perpendicular to the frame

Pletch · 05-20-2018, 01:40 PM

I did do the whole thing at once. Looking at the upper control arms, I might have those on the wrong side. I tried to line up the mark on the frame from the rubber bumper.

I'm going to swap them to see if it makes a difference. Thank you for the suggestion.

Pletch · 05-21-2018, 10:53 AM

kwmech, Thank you for your suggestion. You were correct. Once I swapped the upper control arms the alignment came in perfectly.

05-19-2018, 11:14 PM	#1
Pletch Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Duvall wa Posts: 5	way too much caster I have a 68 c10 2wd that was in need of a front end rebuild. Before I did the rebuild I checked the alignment. Everything was within specs but not perfect. I replaced all 4 front ball joints, upper and lower control arm bushings and shafts. Tie rod ends, idler arm, pitman arm, steering box and shocks. Now that this is done my caster is 10 on the left and 11.7 on the right. I cant compensate enough with shims to get it lower. Could this have been caused by not evenly tightening the control arm bushings? I did my best to try to do even turns for each bushing. Second theory I have. I didn't mark the left and right spindle when I had it apart. Is there a difference between the left and right spindle? Should I swap my spindles to see if I can get the castor down to 2.5? can I remove the control arm bushings and tighten them with a bias to move the lower control arm back and the upper one forward? BTW, camber is okay.

05-19-2018, 11:51 PM	#2
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,581	Re: way too much caster welcome.... what brand parts did you use? spindles are left /right specific...the tie rod ends arms on the spindles....they'll either be sticking out the front or the back did a alignment shop determine it can't be adjusted properly? Attached Images __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver Last edited by mongocanfly; 05-19-2018 at 11:58 PM.

05-20-2018, 09:07 AM	#3
Bigdav160 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Klein Texas Posts: 3,852	Re: way too much caster Lower control arms cross shafts shoved too far forward? __________________ My Classics: '72 K20 Suburban + '65 Dodge Town Wagon '72 Corvette Roadster +'67 Corvette Roadster '73 Z-28 Camaro '63 Ford SWB Uni Pickup '50 Ford Coupe

05-20-2018, 10:05 AM	#4
Pletch Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Duvall wa Posts: 5	Re: way too much caster I forgot to mention. I have drum brakes so they look very similar.

05-20-2018, 10:06 AM	#5
Pletch Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Duvall wa Posts: 5	Re: way too much caster This is what I'm thinking but I want to confirm that it is possible before I go through the work again.

05-20-2018, 01:10 PM	#6
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,388	Re: way too much caster Did you do 1 side at a time or blow the whole thing apart at once? maybe got the upper arms on the wrong side. Wouldn't be the first time I've seen that. Top arm is like an offset triangle. The 90 degree part of the arm is forward or the front part of the arm is perpendicular to the frame

05-20-2018, 01:40 PM	#7
Pletch Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Duvall wa Posts: 5	Re: way too much caster I did do the whole thing at once. Looking at the upper control arms, I might have those on the wrong side. I tried to line up the mark on the frame from the rubber bumper. I'm going to swap them to see if it makes a difference. Thank you for the suggestion. __________________ Pletch 68 c10 2wd stepside longbed (Rusty Ginger) 69 Datsun Roadster heavily modified (Datster)

05-21-2018, 10:53 AM	#8
Pletch Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Duvall wa Posts: 5	Re: way too much caster kwmech, Thank you for your suggestion. You were correct. Once I swapped the upper control arms the alignment came in perfectly. __________________ Pletch 68 c10 2wd stepside longbed (Rusty Ginger) 69 Datsun Roadster heavily modified (Datster)



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