Hello,

I need your help.

I have a 86 trans am, I did my front alignment with my original setup, it was bad :
- left : -0.5 camber ; 3 degrees caster... I can't have better, I can't put adjuster more on the rear... the maximum caster I can have...
- right : -0.5 camber ; 4.5 caster,.... Adjuster at the maximum toward the front... the minimum caster I can have...

So I think... everythink is gone, I buy new a arms from BMR, and new caster plates.
I change everyhting...
And it is not really better :
- left : -0.5 camber ; 3 degrees caster.
- right : -0.5 camber ; 4.5 caster

what can I do ?
Do I have to change the brace which supports the engine and the two control arms ?

Thanks for your help

Marc

 

No; you need to elongate the slots that restrict the rearward movement of the strut, with a file or die grinder.

Moving the strut rearward increases positive caster. To get from 3 to 4.5 or whatever, it needs to go rearward.

Might not be a bad idea to verify that your left spindle is not bent.

 

Hello,

I understand your point of enlongate the slots, but there is not a lot possible, maybe 1/8" which would not be enough...

But what I don't understand is why on the right I can't have less than 4.5 degrees caster, as minimum, caster plate full on the front.... and the left is totaly the inverse, I can't have more than 3 degrees... none of the two sides can't have a standard caster.... this l

The two spindles are two new ones (I think refurbished) from baer brakes which came with my front brakes. I juste installed them before doing the first alignment with the old a arms.

It's like my front axle (or K member) would not be perpendicular to the body.

thanks for your help

Marc

 

How about figuring out what's bent/screwed up before throwing any more parts at it?

 

An old vintage car mechanic restorer used to say that the bodies deform over the years.
Also, if the car had a crash, the deformation has already occurred.


Normally, in an alignment workshop, the computerized machine detects the deformationof the front axle system.


Then, start with "what's bent/screwed up"

 

Check the alignment of the K-member.