| Alignment question [message #88523] |
Mon, 14 June 2010 11:06  |
Wayne
Messages: 106
Registered: August 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Alignment question
Can you adjust for too much caster on our GMCs?
I installed 3 urethane bushings along with 1 offset for the upper rear. I set them up for max caster and then set camber to “o”. The toein is set to 1/16th .
It drives very good and NO pulls.
At this time I don’t care about tire wear as I have to replace by time as I don’t put on many miles.
Will having max caster damage any thing? I don’t have a way to measure caster.
Wayne Lawrence
76 Birchaven
Bellflower CA
w.lawrence@verizon.net
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| Re: Alignment question [message #88531 is a reply to message #88523] |
Mon, 14 June 2010 11:40  |
George Beckman
Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
Karma: 11
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| Wayne wrote on Mon, 14 June 2010 09:06 |
Alignment question
Can you adjust for too much caster on our GMCs?
I installed 3 urethane bushings along with 1 offset for the upper rear. I set them up for max caster and then set camber to “o”. The toein is set to 1/16th .
It drives very good and NO pulls.
At this time I don’t care about tire wear as I have to replace by time as I don’t put on many miles.
Will having max caster damage any thing? I don’t have a way to measure caster.
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I would think you are good to go.
Some guys like lots of caster. I thought I wanted lots of caster. I could not get the caster I wanted with one offset bushing. I ended up with 1.n. Luckily, my coach runs straight as an arrow with what I got. Tires look great. (Randy Van Winkle and I aligned our coaches working as a team.)
Dave Lenzi has taked about caster and he builds front ends with _lots_ of caster. Dave knows his stuff. Bob Drewes is another GMCer who is very sharp with alignment.
As I understand it, the only problem with a great deal of caster is that as you begin to turn the wheels you are actually raising the coach a bit and it is sometimes hard to do if you are not moving.
Dave also talks about getting the cross tie rod parallel or your wheels get funny leverage when turned. I saw it demonstrated, but am not sure I am explaining it well at all. If you have not heard Dave speak at one of the GMCMI rallys, it is really worth the trip. He is very kind with his time at his vendor's spot, patiently explaining things to dolts like me.
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
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| Re: Alignment question [message #88693 is a reply to message #88523] |
Tue, 15 June 2010 15:23 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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There are a lot of good things that come with increased caster, and a few bad things. Increased caster can cause increased wheel fight over large bumps, but I doubt that is much of an issue on our GMC's. The biggest drawback is that it increases dynamic steering loads to the point that it can break a pitman arm--which as Martha would say "is not a good thing". Frankly, I'd be surprised if you could increase caster on a GMC to fall into that category, but is can become an issue on many cars. If you have any loose steering components or a misadjusted gear, I think you will feel the effects of increased caster through the steering wheel.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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