[DeTomaso] machine ball joint to modify alingment

[Tomas Gunnarsson]

A close-up pic of the A-arms in the wheel well would be nice to see. With
the wheel removed that is.

Tomas

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
[mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com]On Behalf Of Julian Kift
Sent: den 20 maj 2010 22:59
To: steveblum2 at msn.com; mikeldrew at aol.com; De Tomaso List
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] machine ball joint to modify alingment


I see you have the modified upper a-arms to improve your caster. To take
advantge of that the ball joint (and wheel) should be moved rearwards by
ideally locating all the shims in front of the ball joint. Once done, get
the shop to fine tune using a caster gauge to get the two sides equal by
varying shims.



What I don't understand at present is the way you currently have the shims
would be about right for stock caster, but a stock car would not have the
wheel that far forward in the fender. Do you know who undertook the
modification to the a-arms?



Julian


From: steveblum2 at msn.com
To: julian_kift at hotmail.com; mikeldrew at aol.com; detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] machine ball joint to modify alingment
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 16:16:30 -0400



Attached are photos of both sides. The shims on both sides are to the rear
so that looks good. When I get it on the alignment rack i need to compare
wheelbase measurements, it looks like I need to move some right side shims.

Steven Blum
P.O. Box 81
Shoreham, N.Y. 11786
H (631) 744-6118
C (631) 235-1905






From: julian_kift at hotmail.com
To: mikeldrew at aol.com; steveblum2 at msn.com; detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] machine ball joint to modify alingment
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 09:15:55 -0700



That is a lot of forward shift, more than one would imagine possible through
the bushing orientation or having the ball joint shims on the wrong side, or
both. This might be a dumb question, but were both sides apart at the same
time, is there any chance that they got the a-arm sides or orientation mixed
up? e.g. an upside down upper a-arm would have significant forward shift of
the upper ball joint.

Can you take a photo of the suspension arms with the wheel removed?

Julian

> From: MikeLDrew at aol.com
> Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 11:34:58 -0400
> To: steveblum2 at msn.com; detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] machine ball joint to modify alingment
>
>
> In a message dated 5/20/10 8 22 49, steveblum2 at msn.com writes:
>
>
> > I recently found what I suspect is a problem with the front end.
> > Aparently when I had the suspension bushings changed the new ones were
installed
> > wrong causing an alignment problem. My question is, how much of a
project is
> > it to disassemble the front end, correct the busing and reassemble the
> > front end? Is this a job only for an experienced mechanic or someone
with
> > mechanical skills but limited experience can handle? What special tools
are
> > required?
> >
>
> Another point--when your front end was reassembled, all the shims etc.
> should have gone towards the front side of the upper ball joint, pushing
it
> relatively rearwards. It's possible that they were put towards the back
side,
> which would totally jack up your alignment and contribute to the problem
> you're having.
>
> You should post the photo you sent me so people can see what we're talking
> about. Or better yet, I will:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/22olpcz
>
> Mike
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