[DeTomaso] machine ball joint to modify alignment

[Charles Engles]

Dear Boyd,

            First: machining the upper ball joint mount will not change the
camber.   The camber is changed by moving the upper ball joint in or out
along the channel of the upper a arm where the ball joint mount sits.   OK,
so the upper ball joint mount sits in the channel of the upper a arm and
moves in and out to adjust camber.

           Second: machining the upper ball joint mount will change the
caster.  Machining it requires removal of the upper ball joint mount and
removal of the ball joint.     A machinist then removes from the rear edge
of the mount a small amount of material, say five-hundredths of an inch.
You then replace the upper ball joint mount in its normal upper a arm
channel, but you can now shift it rearwards five hundredths of an inch.
That movement is maintained by placing five-hundredths of an inch of shims
in front of the mount to provide snug fitment.  Replace the bolts and the
new rearward position of the mount by our theoretical five-hundredths of an
inch provides a rearward tilt of the vertical axis of the front wheel, which
will add, perhaps, one or two degrees of Positive caster.   Positive caster
is a good thing.

           The rearward tilt of the wheel axis can be obtained by the
modified front upper ball joint mount; by physically modifying the upper a
arm; and by modifying the front upper and lower a arm bushings----or by a
combination of techniques.  They all have advantages and disadvantages, but
all produce the desirable increase in positive caster.

          I hope this makes sense.


              The Rookie Mechanic,  Chuck Engles



-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of boyd casey
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 4:49 PM
To: De Tomaso List
Subject: [DeTomaso] machine ball joint to modify alingment

Can some one out line the procedure  for machining the ball joint to improve
or increase the caster or camber available while alignment on a 73 Panteras
suspension.
Please explain the process and the principal if you know and can take the
time to explain it. Thanks,
Boyd
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