Front End Pull

[dsnyder]

My 78 Fiat that I bought about 2 months ago has a significant pull to the right. I replaced all the front end items... ball joints, tie rods, shocks, etc... $300 worth of parts and $250 to my buddy who is a mechanic to install all the items.

It still pulled to the right but that was expected as I needed to get an alignment. I took it in to be aligned today and they claim they got everything back into specs except for the Caster on the right front wheel. The tech said he had it as close as he could get it. The pull to the right is worse now. The following are the numbers from the computer alignment print-out:

Left Wheel (which seems to be in the appropriate ranges)

Caster: Desired Range= 3.00 to 4.00 Before= 3.61 After=3.32
Camber: Desired Range= 0.00 to 1.00 Before= .92 After=.43
Toe: Desired Range= .08 to .18 Before= 0.00 After= .14

Right Wheel (direction it pulls)

Caster: Desired Range= 3.00 to 4.00 Before= -.084 After= -.011 Note they are negatives!!!
Camber: Desired Range= 0.00 to 1.00 Before= .43 After=.43
Toe: Desired Range= .08 to .18 Before= 0.00 After= .13=

The tech said he removed all the shims but could not get the wheel to go any further toward correct Caster. There are no visible signs that the front of the car was in an accident. Any thoughts/suggestions are appreciated. The tech also said it will not cause tire wear, just the pull. -So basically, live with it. I hope I don't have to!

[So Cal Mark]

jeez, he should have reduced the caster on the left side. With that spread, it will make right turns on its' own. I'd look closely at the crossmember mounting to the body first.

[dsnyder]

OK suddenly I think I'm going to have to learn a bunch more about wheel alignment... I inspected the crossmember and I can't see any issues but I don't really know what I'm looking for. I looked at what the guy tried to do to align it and that appears real suspect. Nothing seems to have been done to the right side (the side that is out of spec) but the left side has a small square piece of metal jammed in the back bolt. I realize that is probably the shim he inserted to get the thing in to alignment on that side. However, the bolt on the front of the arm has shims (washers) but the bolt is not tight. I can spin the washers with my finger. The right side, the one that is out, has no new shims and the bolts are tight. Maybe he just wanted to go home and he gave up??? Thoughts?

Dave

[dsnyder]

I took it to an alignment specialty place and I have more information- To be able to get the right front wheel in alignment, I need to take out all of the shims and then he says that he'll be able to shim on the back and the front will have no shims. How much disassembly will I have to do to get those shims out?

On the left front wheel, (the one where the front shims could be spun around) he showed me that the stud coming from the crossmember is stripped. Can I try to use my tap and die kit to cut new threads or should I try and get the stud out and replace it with some kind of bolt?

Thanks in advance for all help.

Dave

[zachmac]

I took it to an alignment specialty place and I have more information- To be able to get the right front wheel in alignment, I need to take out all of the shims and then he says that he'll be able to shim on the back and the front will have no shims. How much disassembly will I have to do to get those shims out?

On the left front wheel, (the one where the front shims could be spun around) he showed me that the stud coming from the crossmember is stripped. Can I try to use my tap and die kit to cut new threads or should I try and get the stud out and replace it with some kind of bolt?

Thanks in advance for all help.

Dave

Dave,

How did this story end?

[zachmac]

Never mind, my bad! I searched on your handle and found the followup post. I am taking mine in tomorrow for alignment having just replaced basically the entire front suspension. Wish me luck.