| Ride height [message #175797] |
Fri, 06 July 2012 16:27  |
biggreen
Messages: 347
Registered: June 2011
Location: Northeast Florida
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
My 77 Palm Beach 403 is 1" low in the front. I would like to set the ride height to factory specs to get a better ride and steering, etc.
Everything steering and suspension is new except the steering column.
I had a front end alignment from a local truck shop, set the toe and caster/camber.
I can raise the height by adjusting the torsion bars (6 turns to = 1").
What would this do to my caster/camber setting?
Will set rear height when front is set.
Is this a big deal?
Drives ok, but could be better. A lot of wander.
Would like the front wheel extensions, but want to solve this first.
Whaddya think?
Thanks.
[Updated on: Sat, 07 July 2012 06:52] Report message to a moderator |
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Ride height [message #175800 is a reply to message #175797] |
Fri, 06 July 2012 16:45  |
 |
ljdavick
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Gene has some poop on ride height <http://gmcmotorhome.info/rear.html#height>
Jerry Work just put together a self-alignment package and he talked about the importance of ride height as well as the need to drive the coach for a few miles before verifying that your adjustments are correct.
Larry Davick
Fremont, California
A Mystery Machine
'76 (ish) Palm Beach
----- Original Message -----
From: "R.D. Hart" <regor5556@yahoo.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Friday, July 6, 2012 2:27:41 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Ride height
My 77 Palm Beach 403 is 1" low in the front. I would like to set the ride height to factory specs to get a better ride and steering, etc.
Everything steering and suspention (sp) is new except the steering column.
I had a front end alignment from a local truck shop, set the toe and caster/camber.
I can raise the height by adjusting the torsion bars (6 turns to = 1").
What would this do to my caster/camber setting?
Will set rear height when front is set.
Is this a big deal?
Drives ok, but could be better. A lot of wander.
Would like the front wheel extensions, but want to solve this first.
Whaddya think?
Thanks.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
|
|
|
|
| Re: Ride height [message #175814 is a reply to message #175797] |
Fri, 06 July 2012 20:49 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| biggreen wrote on Fri, 06 July 2012 16:27 |
My 77 Palm Beach 403 is 1" low in the front. I would like to set the ride height to factory specs to get a better ride and steering, etc.
SNIP
I can raise the height by adjusting the torsion bars (6 turns to = 1").
|
Just make sure you use the torsion bar unloader tool. Otherwise you will likely strip the adjusting bolt.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
|
|
|
|
| Re: Ride height [message #175819 is a reply to message #175797] |
Fri, 06 July 2012 21:05 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Yes the ride height adjustment will affect all three (Caster Camber, and Toe). This why you must set the ride height BEFORE having the other three adjustments done.
When I first got my Colorado, I took it in for an alignment and handed the mechanic the correct specs including the front ride height. He did the alignment without first setting the ride height which was about 1" low. I was very unhappy so I took it home and set the height. I returned the next day and demanded he set it again. Sure enough all three measurements had changed and he had to adjust it all over again.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Ride height [message #175860 is a reply to message #175839] |
Sat, 07 July 2012 09:37 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Steering wander is not a very explicit description of a symptom that may be
in the "eyes of the beholder". Generally speaking, wander is an imprecise
ability of the vehicle to track in a straight line on a flat and level
highway without constant correction with the steering wheel. It has several
causes, improper tire inflation pressure, worn tires, too much toe out, not
centered steering box, wear in every component from the steering wheel to
the tire, too little caster, positive camber are a few that come to mind.
It goes without saying that correct ride height fuels the whole discussion
here. If that is not corrected to factory specs before alignment begins,
all bets are off. Just what I have come to know after years of GMC work.
But, even when everything is within specs, an occasional problem with
tracking on individual vehicles rears it's ugly head. Don't ask me how I
know, I prefer not to have my memory refreshed by unsolved problems.
Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 GMC Royale 403
On Fri, Jul 6, 2012 at 9:27 PM, Rob Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au> wrote:
> Simple answer - mess it all up!
>
> 1 - set ride height front & rear
> 2 - align front end:
> 0 toe in/out
> 0 camber
> As much as possible!
>
> By the way if you have a lot of steering wander I would suggest you check
> out the ENTIRE steering system!
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: R.D. Hart
>
> My 77 Palm Beach 403 is 1" low in the front. I would like to set the ride
> height to factory specs to get a better ride and steering, etc.
> Everything steering and suspention (sp) is new except the steering column.
> I had a front end alignment from a local truck shop, set the toe and
> caster/camber.
> I can raise the height by adjusting the torsion bars (6 turns to = 1").
> What would this do to my caster/camber setting?
> Will set rear height when front is set.
> Is this a big deal?
> Drives ok, but could be better. A lot of wander.
> Would like the front wheel extensions, but want to solve this first.
> Whaddya think?
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
