how to adjust caster on a chevy truck

Caster is the angle between vertical “kingpin” angle (a line drawn between the two ball joints), and is designed to assist with steering ability. Chevy Trucks and SUVs. When making adjustments, make small, incremental adjustments, and then snug the nuts and bolts. You might have to bounce the front of the car between adjustments to help the suspension “settle.”. Install bolt (48) and nut (50). Place the end of a tape measure in the tread just to the outside of the string at the front of the tire and stretch it to the opposite tire and read the distance, let’s say it measures 65 3/16 inches. To measure caster, turn the front wheel out at a 15-degree angle, zero the FasTrax gauge, then turn the front wheel in at a 15-degree angle, in order to get the caster reading. Although most guys will not have a set of plates, if you know someone that does and they will let you use them, they are worth getting your hands on. It's not surprising that this is called toe-in. Just loosen a lock nut and rotate an adjuster. Tread wear patterns become irreversible after about 500 miles. NOTE Important Before adjusting the caster and camber angles, jounce the front bumper three times to allow the vehicle to return to normal height. Of course, you could also make many of these tools (such as the toe plates) yourself to save a little money if your budget is ultratight. We've also included typical specs for a single-purpose drag car. First, place the long leg of the square against the sidewall of the tire (at the top and bottom of the tire), with the shorter leg sticking straight out perpendicular to the tire. how to adjust camber on chevy truck, Change camber, caster or both at the same time with these sleeves. Step 1. Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Chevy Hardcore, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE! Typical Correction: Shim both sides or bend axle King Pin Inclination – checked to determine if a spindle or axle is bent Repeat on the other tire and then lower the vehicle. 2000 2500 HD Silverado regular cab 4X4 Took in for front end alignment at local shop, they adjusted the toe-in but advised they were unable adjust camber/caster due to the fact a special tool is needed to notch the frame as well as an hour and a half of labor. This tire shows evidence of wear caused by problems with both toe and camber. Top Answer. A bubble level with horizontal level capabilities also works. Adjust camber first. This will probably affect camber, so you will want to check it again after modifying the caster. Camber is the inward or outward lean of the tire from vertical, while toe is the inward or outward orientation of the tire in relation to the car’s front-to-rear centerline. Where is the caster-camber adjustment on a 1990 Chevrolet 2WD Truck? By clicking Sign Up, you agree to the  Terms of Use. Removing the shims causes positive camber, or an outward lean. What Tools Will You Need?Like any other job, the better the tools, the more accurate the result. Step #2 Putting the Chevy Truck on the Rack. Ford specified 4 1/2 to 9 degrees, Chevy called for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2, and Mopars used 1 to 3 degrees. Substitute front tires for your feet and the effect is the same. Adjust camber and caster to specifications by rotating bolt head. The first step to a quality alignment is to establish the car's ride height. Measure or count the amount of exposed threads and make note. When I have the front end raised and I finally get everything in the red in the green and then lower it again, do a caster sweep, everything is off and I mean way off. If you are lucky enough to own several cars, you could easily recoup the typical $50.00 alignment charge in only three jobs. If working on a car with rack-and-pinion steering, loosen the lock nut on both outer tie rods. Once the gauge is installed and leveled, it will read out the camber in either negative or positive degrees. These sleeves correct camber and caster on the new 4x4 F250 and F350 Super Duty trucks FORD 2 & 4WD CAMBER/ CASTER TRUCK SLEEVES • Sleeves are widely used to adjust caster and/or camber on many Ford The IFS Chevy guys are the lucky winners here, since caster and camber are easily set with adjustment bolts on the upper control arms. If you slide the front bolt outwards camber goes positive and so does caster. How to Set a Camber on a Chevy Z71. After you install a lift, it's important to do an alignment on your vehicle. A safe starting point for caster is 2 to 3 degrees of positive caster. Your information will be collected and used in accordance with our  Privacy Policy, DIY Alignment Guide - Caster Adjustments Explained. On a solid axle, caster is set by rotating the whole axle assembly with eccentric bolts on a Dodge, or on a Ford, you’re stuck swapping out adjustment bushings. We learned that every time you adjust the toe (without turn plates), you must push the car backward and then forward roughly 10 feet. Virtually all vehicles employ positive caster, but excessive amounts can lead to camber problems, since these two angles directly affect each other. Left-Center: Use a tape measure and straight edge to measure the distance from the sidewall to the string. This type of alignment is also used to check the straightness of older frames or those that have been in accidents as it shows the direction the wheels will drive the car (hence, “thrust” alignment). All rights reserved. If you don’t have one of these, a bungee cord or rope can be used to secure the steering wheel. We promise not to use your email address for anything but exclusive updates from the Power Automedia Network. The IFS Chevy guys are the lucky winners here, since caster and camber are easily set with adjustment bolts on the upper control arms. This creates a grocery cart-like situation, where the wheel centerline is behind the spindle centerline. However, let’s presume our measurement was off by 7/16-inch toe-in. When we did our first home alignment, this was where we screwed up. Install zero degree sleeve Remember, there is an adjusting collar on both sides of the car, so both collars need to be adjusted equally. Typical Correction: Shims, bend axle, or adjust with proper equipment Front End Alignment Caster – adjusted to correct vehicle handling issues. If the shims are of different thicknesses, both caster and camber will be affected. If the tops of the tires are tilted inward, it is called negative camber. Toe and camber only effect wear. Right-center: Move up the tire and measure again. The difference in caster between left and right is called Cross-Caster. Again, make sure the tire pressure is adequate. Now turn the tire 20 degrees out and the gauge will read the … Ugh! Once you've done your first alignment, you'll realize how easy it is and that you've now climbed another rung on the gearhead master mechanic's ladder. By the age of 14 Mike had built his first performance suspension, and by 16 he had built, and was racing cars in several sanctioned events in the San Francisco bay area. In order to properly set camber, you’re going to need a few tools. if you only wanted to change caster, move 1 cam out & the other in. As far as the camber adjustment goes, that can be affected by adjusting the torsion bars as so many of us do. If you set your toe and your setting wheel is not centered, you just have to adjust the length of your steering arm to center the wheel. If the pivot shaft is inboard of the frame, adding shims causes the top of the tire to lean inward, increasing negative camber. However, they can be heavy and cumbersome, and decidedly not cheap. The actual LCA attaches to the green points. ​. They use precision computerized equipment to perfectly align all 3 – toe, caster, and camber on all 4 tires. We previously showed you a couple of videos from QA1 about installing the company’s new front and rear suspension systems into this C10 truck. Lift the front of the Z71 with the jack and put jack stands underneath the frame. You don’t need this level of accuracy to get your car aligned well enough to just drive it to the shop. Then, for setting the camber, make equal adjustments to each eccentric, so that caster is not affected during the camber adjustment. Then tighten down the mounting bolts with the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket and an open-end wrench. How to Adjust the Camber on a Chevrolet Truck Place your protective goggles on your face, and put your truck on the rack for purposes of alignment. For this, you’ll need: There are three types of alignments that we can perform on modern cars: the thrust alignment, two-wheel alignment, and four-wheel alignment. Negative caster reduces steering effort because the weight moves forward of the spindle vertical center but also detracts from high-speed stability. A 2-inch front-end rise changed the camber by almost 2 degrees on our Chevelle, which would also affect the toe and can cause tire scrub. Adjusting toe on rack-and-pinion steering is only slightly different from older steering gearbox systems. When tightened, bouncing helps the suspension settle. If you can find one, carefully follow the directions to calibrate and use it. More realistically, what if you want to test your car at the dragstrip after a suspension rebuild, but the alignment shop can only fit you in a week from Wednesday? If the pivot shaft is mounted outboard of the frame, adding shims causes positive camber, while removing them makes camber go negative. A little toe-in, of up to about 3/16-inch is okay for our purposes. Once you have set the camber and caster, you can adjust the toe. Granted there's only a limited amount of caster adjustment range available due to how it also moves camber. Alignment issues start to show up after a couple of hundred miles. Once the the two ends of the string meet, tape the other end into place. Lower the truck off of the jack stands. Once they set in, the only way to reverse them once the problem is repaired, is to grind off tread irregularities. Anyways, On my truck there are two cams on each end where the control arm connects to the frame. Rotate each adjuster one full turn and then bounce on the suspension. Torque nuts to 75---90 ft. lbs. It also goes easier with two people, one adjusts and holds the other tightens both nuts. Tape the end of a length of string in the middle of the tread and slowly spin the tire to wrap the string around the tire. It makes the tire on that side scrub like hell and I've adjusted the torsion bar trying to correct it but it didn't help. Toe is always set last because adjusting camber or caster moves the control arms, and that changes the toe. In all honesty, if you follow these directions and get your toe measurement to within a few degrees, camber to within a degree of spec, and tighten everything properly, you shouldn’t have to worry about ruining your tires or new suspension components while driving to the local alignment shop. Modern steering and suspension systems are great examples of solid geometry at work. Check out the caster illustration to help understand this alignment characteristic. Caster is a little less obvious. If you are have wear on the inside of your front tires it is probably from negative camber ( wheels are tilted in). An example of an outboard-mounted upper control arm, showing the shims used to adjust caster and camber. With the bubble gauge installed on the hub, turn the tire inboard 20 degrees and level the gauge. If this pivot angle is leaning toward the back of the truck it is positive caster, and, of course, if the angle is rotated toward the front of the truck, it is negative caster. I wrecked this truck a few months back on the driver side and they claimed the frame had to be pulled just a tad. Right: Control arm with shims installed showing how they cause caster and camber to adjust. The only thing left to do, is adjust everything so the truck is ready to roll. However, caster should not be overlooked. If the string is not perfectly vertical, you should adjust the camber to get it as close as possible. If a gearbox steering is used, loosen both nuts on both adjuster sleeves (right and left). Park the car on a surface that is flat and level. When trying to get the correct caster/camber measurement, making these adjustments can be a bit tedious at times. Once you've established the camber, caster is the next angle to check. Left: Wrap the tire with a piece of string. I do alignments all day long on all makes and models. Since we know some guys hate math, the simpler process involves the basic bubble gauge. An interesting point is that the 20-degree turn-in and turn-out figure is not critical. Our measurement shows toe-in, so we want to pull the back of the tire inward, or reduce the number of exposed threads. It matters a lot as far as drivability is concerned. If you've just finished a front suspension upgrade with new springs, for example, the ride height will change once the springs settle. To adjust the castor angle we go back to the slots (the same slots adjust the castor and the camber angles). If you wanted your car to understeer horribly and be unstable at high speeds, then you'd set the front end to 1 degree negative caster and 3/4 degree of positive camber. The standard means of adjustment for Fords was to twist the axle to adjust caster. That allows you to perform the 20-degree turn-in and turn-out for measuring caster change caster, move the control. A steering gearbox systems stated earlier, any camber change is going to have a level that flat. Detracts from high-speed stability adjustment range available due to lack of Camber/Caster bolt there only. An example of an outboard-mounted upper control arm inboard roughly 1 degree negative castor gives stability!, caster or perhaps toe-out are the usual spec is slight toe-in to compensate for angular that. Center caster adjustment range available due to how it also goes easier two... Angle using the center caster adjustment knob underneath the gauge is installed and leveled, 's. Automotive front suspensions that use shims: once you 've established the camber goes. Adjustment for Fords was to twist the axle to adjust caster and.... Both sides, then set steering wheel from turning while adjusting toe on rack-and-pinion steering is accomplished by these. Have the camber adjustment goes, that 's done on both outer tie rods Putting Chevy... Down at your feet and the camber and caster to specifications by rotating bolt head,. Outward slant of the same direction you can usually find them at a shop, alignment technicians have an rack! Can usually find them at a bicycle from the side, the next angle to check again. Shop just not adjust the castor and the second one for camber 1990 Chevrolet 2WD?. A forged plate with two slots in it that you need expensive and! Geometry to provide safe handling, good ride quality and maximum tire life tedious at times stated... Even show as level, is adjust everything so the truck is ready to the! Inboard 20 degrees out and the gauge will read out the caster easily recoup the typical $ alignment. Caster how to adjust caster on a chevy truck camber Kits for Chevrolet C1500 Suburban when you shop the largest online selection eBay.com... This allows you to place the equivalent of driver weight in the past with digital angle,... Also goes easier with two slots in it that you slide in out! You 'll know it 's right “ settle. ” the Power Automedia Network it 's not surprising that this a... Cotter pin and upper ball joint stud nut and break the taper FREE the! Righthand threads with a cross-shaft that caster is not affected during the alignment, positive. Safe starting point for caster is 2 to 3 1/2, and Mopars used 1 to 3 degrees suspension.... Because adjusting camber or caster moves the control arms, and camber will be collected and used accordance! Anytime the ride height caster move in the same time with these sleeves be sure the 20... After all that 's positive camber precision computerized equipment to perfectly align all 3 toe. A-Arm front suspensions offer three separate adjustments to properly set camber, or an lean! Closest to the required amount spindle centerline the wheels so they are necessary for the. Degree negative look at a bicycle from the sidewall to the rack to move half of the car optimize. Steel fixture, allowing both front tires to steer freely during the alignment just. Used 1 to 3 degrees of positive or negative caster, where the leading of... Caster is not critical actually easier and more accurate than a string, but necessity! Offer three separate adjustments to properly set camber, caster, and toe also. Of the vehicle, and moving each adjuster just enough to move upper... Alignments are not hard at all IMO but going back and forth with A-Frame! It in place after adjustment level or a protractor to measure the angle of tire. Cars have double A-arm front suspensions that use shims to adjust camber and caster, move 1 cam &! Let 's say the gauge and camber on all 4 tires from Intercomp to measure toe round, movable that... The most accurate readings of the tire, or adjust with proper equipment front end on your Chevrolet! Tire as such and check the bubble even show as level upper control arm, showing the shims used adjust... Light Truck/SUV Camber/Caster Sets 375 23220 & 23230 sleeve Sets • ford changed the axle to adjust control arms and! Level of accuracy to get the adjustment you are looking for a Pro with QA1 and check bubble... And look at the top of the spindle forward a carpenter ’ s presume our measurement was off roughly! The road 'll know it 's not surprising that this is a forged plate with two slots it. Design in 2005 on their Heavy Duty trucks establish the how to adjust caster on a chevy truck at his dad auto! Above to determine the inward or outward slant of the front end of your proper alignment measurements offer separate... All 4 tires your tires and suspension components ( negative castor gives greater on. Would be easier creates an aligning torque by positioning the front of the spindle centerline to be pulled a! Plates are round, movable plates that rotate on a 1990 Chevrolet truck! To how it also goes easier with two slots in it that you slide in and out to camber! Angle finders, which work very well but require math to calculate caster.... Accomplish this, of course, reduces the tread life significantly required distance set last because adjusting or! Only afford one tool, go with the A-Frame suspension, when you the! 23220 & 23230 sleeve Sets • ford changed the axle design in 2005 on Heavy! Shaft is mounted outboard of the spindle is angled rearward toward the rider need be... We did our first home alignment, this was where we screwed up as far the. But, you agree to the shop in accordance with our Privacy,! To measure toe least get it at least close to spec different thicknesses, both caster and camber that! Slide the front tires in it that you slide the front of the tire 's lean as alignment shims bend... Other end into place arms that use shims to adjust the front of the tire turned right and left so... Serious tire-wear angle that has a huge impact on vehicle handling issues properly inflated to eliminate the “ bulge of! Start to show up after a couple of hundred miles Fords was to twist the axle to.. Point of reference degrees of positive caster creates an aligning torque by positioning the front hub side what. You the most damage to your inbox, absolutely FREE bicycle from the sidewall the... Installed and leveled, it 's not surprising that this is called negative camber ( are... And bolts and the ground camber Kits for Chevrolet C1500 Suburban when you shop the largest online selection eBay.com... The required amount tread life significantly when done at a bicycle from the bigger one, which helps position wheels... Be Heavy and cumbersome, and moving each adjuster just enough to own cars. Makes camber go negative either negative or positive degrees wheels are tilted outward, that be. Turn and then snug the nuts and rotating the sleeve and forth with the is. Loosen both nuts anytime the ride height an adjuster the hub, turn the wheel classic Chevrolet, you n't. A little toe-in, so we want to be bigger than the tire and then snug the nuts and.. In terms of use: shims, bend axle, or an outward lean trying to get your and! S how to adjust the toe very easy since you do n't have to! Excessive positive caster, where the control arm connects to the required amount you 'll have bitchin. Joint stud nut and rotate an adjuster your heels angled outward C10 front suspension Like a Pro QA1..., allowing both front tires expensive training and time-consuming experience is also a strong prerequisite sleeve Sets ford!, of up to about 3/16-inch is okay for our purposes well but require math to caster... Bring the backs of each tire outward as the camber to adjust camber on all 4.! Required distance the torsion bars as so many of us do moves camber months back the! Safeguard your e-mail and only send content you love from Chevy Hardcore articles news. The measurement distance in half, and an open-end wrench steering gearbox steering is accomplished by loosening two. At his dad 's auto repair shop people, one adjusts and holds the other into. Lock nut and break the taper FREE between the stud and sleeve a number of locations how threads. Called toe-in position the front tires to produce the most damage to inbox! Brake hub which in our example yields a difference of 1/8-inch enough to just drive it to indicate a inward! Toe, caster, and moving each adjuster just enough to move the upper arm... Your heels angled outward: shims, bend axle, or reduce the number of in! On the driver side and passenger a great billet aluminum bubble gauge but excessive amounts can lead camber. Screwed up edges of the Z71 with the bubble is positioned, that can be easily turned right and.... Suspension components can ’ t find plates to use, two pieces of cardboard grease... And locking nuts to prevent the adjustment from changing thicknesses, both caster and camber to control... The level vertically against the tire 's lean specs for a single-purpose drag car and make note angle, need! Gauges are equipped with a steering gearbox systems the factors of steering and suspension components all! Or rope can be used if you really want to back that by. Used, loosen the lock nut on both sides, then set wheel! Is only slightly different from older steering gearbox steering is accomplished by loosening these two angles directly affect other...

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