Upper Control Arm CAMBER ADJUSTING BOLT

[kikgas01]

According to my paper, I need more caster correct? There isn`t any air shocks or anything on the rear. Just R/T springs and tall, wide 15x8.5 tires al the way around. That is just how the back sits. I`m worried I`m not going to get the problem fixed.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Are the tires the same size? I tell you what, I would be looking for a second opinion on front end specs. I think something is fishy. I know guys that do "alignments" without the legs down with the rack in the air. Dumbasses. I also know guys that do caster sweeps holding the tire instead of using the steering wheel. Dumbasses. I'm beginning to wonder if your alignment problem isn't the alignment at all, but the "mechanic". How does the car DRIVE? If it has pretty good road stability and does not wander, those caster specs are WRONG.

 

[kikgas01]

Here is my tire size, and all 4 are matching.

 

[Mike Z]

I have to agree with Rusty
I've been a front end guy for over 20 years I've seen many so called dumbasses
So how does it drive?
Does the steering wheel return well?
I would like to see more camber too though
That is if the print is correct

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I have to say i like the stance of your Charger looks good.
If you look at the front tire from the front are they leaning top in?
Mike Z.

 

[kikgas01]

It seems like they are. The steering box is a rebuilt one but it seems to have a lot of play and yes the car wanders BAAAADDDDD!!!!!!! It`s annoyingly bad. If a cop was to follow me, he would think I was drunk. I don`t want to give up on the car because it`s very nice. I have the money to fix it. Sadly, just can`t find anyone to do it... Frustrated.

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I will take a pic from the front on.

 

[RustyRatRod]

You know......the upper control arms ARE interchangeable. I just wonder if somebody inadvertantly swapped right to left? That would explain the caster. You know the car looked like it had a rake in the first pics, but it looks good on the rack. I like that rack too. Old school. Still though, I think there's room for error. I know......a second opinion will cost. But how much is it worth to be damned SURE? Take a look at the upper control arms. If the ball joints look swept forward, instead of back, there's your problem.....and I've seen it before. Lastly.....are all the bushings in good shape? Especially the lower control arm and strut rod bushings? GAWD, you're another member I wish was closer. I'd love to help you figure it out. Maybe we still can.

 

[wvmarv]

Are the Ft. cams all the way out meaning bolts twords you?
Are the back cams all the way in?
Don't look like on the print out a caster sweep was done after the camber adjustment it has be be remeasured after any cam adjust at all
It would have chanded some with a camber increase.
Does your Charger have power or manual Steering?
Can you post pics of the cams where they are at?
Mike Z.

Mike, that's wrong. You can adjust camber without changing caster reading. But you must recheck to make sure you didn't change it. If you rotate the bolt in both the cams toward the outside the same amount you increase positive camber without changing caster. If you rotate inward the same amount you change negative camber without changing caster.

 

[kikgas01]

Here are a bunch of pics.

DRIVERS SIDE LOOKING DOWN

PASSENGER SIDE LOOKING DOWN

LOOKS TIKE TOO MUCH TOE OUT TO ME AS WELL. I HOPE THIS ISN`T A BAD OMEN.......

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I will have to pull a wheel and take a photo of how the ball joint is sitting. It has new bushings in the control arms..

 

[RustyRatRod]

Here's the thing. The toe will certainly have an effect on camber. Too much toe out (which is how it appears) will make camber go negative, because as the tire toes out, the top of the tire leans in due to both caster and SAI. Since both are actually an arc, this is why the top of the tire leans in as the tire toes out. So, get the toe toed in like it's supposed to be, and the camber will improve.......possibly enough to the point where your alignment man can jack those rear adjusters in to give more caster. But lets find out about the control arms first. I mean, IF it's really toed out that much, I would be looking for another alignment man. It's leanin that way strong. I know this is exasperating.....we're tryin to help. lol

 

[Mike Z]

wvmarv
I guess I was being case spacific here.
No big deal but in this case All the cams are topped out for positive camber
Meaning if you put the back cam in caster will increase but the camber will decrease.
The Charger needs more of both
I'll leave this to you experts

 

[kikgas01]

I appreciate the help too. After looking under it, does anyone notice anything??? This is the passenger side

Now drivers side....

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Left side looks bent......

 

[RustyRatRod]

Right Mike, but it appears to be toed out like hell. Get that right and camber goes up. If it does, then there might be room to jack the adjusters in on the rear and get caster good. I'm bein optimistic.

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ehhhhhhhhhh........what is THAT circled in red? appears to be one on the right side too. Was this a General Lee jump car? And yeah,. the left upper arm looks funny. We'l be able to tell better with the wheels off looking straight in at the control arms.

 

[kikgas01]

That is the pushbar, no it wasn`t jumped. I think it has a bent strut rod on the pass side. Looks s shaped in person...

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Guess, new strut rods, control arm bushings (offset) and steering box......

 

[RustyRatRod]

That's normal. The strut rods get tweaked like that over time.....similar to torsion bars. Don't sweat it. The problem is somewhere else. I am almost starting to think it's just aligned wrong.

 

[kikgas01]

See, I didn`t know that as well, I thought maybe that was a issue~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>>> is learning.

 

[wvmarv]

wvmarv
I guess I was being case spacific here.
No big deal but in this case All the cams are topped out for positive camber
Meaning if you put the back cam in caster will increase but the camber will decrease.
The Charger needs more of both
I'll leave this to you experts

Your right Mike, there is no adjustment left. I think I would see what a good frame shop would charge to straighten it up. I was never big on offset bushings unless that is the only way. We had what was called a port-a-power back in the day(I haven't done any alignments or frame work since 1999, so I don't know how good they are today) to tweak them which ever way we needed to get more adjustment. That may be his problem. If that car had any new frame or inner fender work it should have went on a frame machine to have it put back to factory spec.

 

[kikgas01]

Won`t that mess up the alignment of my body panels?

 

[wvmarv]

Won`t that mess up the alignment of my body panels?

No, unless it was wrecked and not put on a frame machine before panels were hung. Were only talking a few degrees which is probably less than half an inch. A good frame shop will check it, then tell you what needs to be done.

 

[kikgas01]

Taking it to the body shop tomorrow morning to have it looked at. Nothing else, I will Have the shock towers pulled a half inch on each side....

 

[RustyRatRod]

I think without proper diagnosis, that might be a mistake.