adjustable front beam

[Rick]

Hi All:

Can someone please tell me the right way to adjust the front beam? Would the right front sitting about an inch lower than the left have anything to do with the the adjustable beam setting? If I jack the car up from the center then lower it it set level untill I move the car.

Thanks
Rick

[Aquabuggy]

I doubt it would be the front, you can't adjust the right and left front separately. It could be in the rear, try jacking up the rear with your jack centered under the rear then see if the front is level also do the same in the front and check if the rear is level.
Could also be the pan is twisted.

[Bill K]

Do you have a swing or IRS rear end?

With a swing axle, uneven torsion in the rear can make one side of the front unever from the other.

[Jack Duncan]

I'm pretty sure the IRS will do the same thing.

[Rick]

I tore into the back end again last night and sure enough that is where the problem was. Now back to the original question. How is the right way to adjust the front end? I need to raise it just a little as the tires hit the fenders on a rough road. Originally I jacked it up and tightened up the one screw and then the other. Surely it's not that simple. Second question is will I have to re align the front end after jacking with it?

Almost ready to get it on the road (legal like)

Rick

[Jack Duncan]

Rick,
Jack the car up to just a tad higher that you want it, tighten the set screws and let it down and check it. Repeat if necessary. It's that simple.
No wheel alignment necessary, you're not changing camber, caster, or toe in.

[jspbtown]

If it is lower you may want to consider caster shims on the lower part of the beam. Caster is effected when the front is lowered and the rear is raised.

Increased caster will help its ability to track straight.


Ooops....just re-read....you are RAISING the front. Sorry.

[Jack Duncan]

Hey, you're right. I did put caster shims under my bottom beam. Thanks for the correction.

[Rick]

Okay,cool I'll do that this evening. next question. When you turn to the left the tires will kit the body but when you turn to the right it's like my Peterbilt,it takes 10 acres to make a "U' turn. the stops are out but it doesn't even get close to where they were turning right. What's the fix for that?

thanks
Rick

[jspbtown]

Sounds like the tie rods were not installed when the steering box was centered.

I would turn the wheel all the way to one direction. The rotate it, counting the revolutions, until it locks in the other direction. Then turn it back exactly 1/2 of the revolutions you counted and check your wheels. Perfectly straight? They should be (less any appropriate toe in).

If the wheels are not straight then remove the tie rods, straighten the wheels, adjust the tie rods and re-install them, then get it aligned.

[Jack Duncan]

Be sure the tie rods are not making contact with anything while turning.