News: Putting FUN and FRIENDLINESS, FIRST into owning and learning about AMC small bodied cars, primarily Eagles, Spirits and Concords as well as vehicles built in AMC's Mexican subsidiary, VAM.

The AMC Eaglepedia can now be accessed using the buttons found below  This is a comprehensive ever growing archive of information, tips, diagrams, manuals, etc. for the AMC Eagle and other small bodied AMC cars. 

Also a button is now available for our Face Book Group page.


Welcome to the AMC Eagles Nest.  A new site under "old" management -- so welcome to your new home for everything related to AMC Eagles, Spirits and Concords along with opportunities to interact with other AMC'ers.  This site will soon be evolving to look different than it has and we will be incorporating new features we hope you will find useful, entertaining and expand your AMC horizons.

You can now promote your topics at your favorite social media site by clicking on the appropriate icon (top upper right of the page) while viewing the topic you wish to promote.


  • March 29, 2024, 05:20:53 AM

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: Front end alignment how to?  (Read 8005 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline trapperjack

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 1847
  • Thumbs Up 47
  • The Republic of Texas
Front end alignment how to?
« on: January 24, 2007, 06:10:56 PM »
After changing the strut rod bushings and lifting the bird, I have a little wandering and bouncing (clunking from the strut rods is gone, though). I'm going to eventually have a shop do an alignment, but thought I had seen where some have done it themselves. I'm trying to save money where I can and want to see if I can fix it myself. Can't find what I was looking for and thought someone could either point me to it, or give me directions for it and I'll take pics along the way and make a how-to.

Any ideas?

trapperjack
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contsesting the vote.

"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

"When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny."
                  Thomas Jefferson
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference-they deserve a place of honor with all that is good."
                   George Washington
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
                   Abraham Lincoln
All generalizations are false, including this one.
There's room for all God's creatures, right next to the mashed potatoes.
Billions of electrons were disturbed to bring you these messages.

What? No Eagles?
1968 Chebby Panel Wagon "Woodrow"
2008 Jeep Wrangler 4 Dr "The Javelina"
1967 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4


<img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniStates_both/language/www/US/TX/Liberty_Hill.gif" border=0
alt="Click for Liberty Hill, Texas Forecast" height=100 width=150>

Offline Canoe

  • Eagle Sundaancer
  • ******
  • Posts: 1150
  • Thumbs Up 54
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2007, 01:49:48 PM »
On my '81, I aligned the front end on a hoist. It should be doable on jack-stands too, but with the wheels (or at least the rims) mounted. Center your steering wheel. Turn the sleeves until both wheels are facing front, nominally parallel. Check to make sure your steering wheel is still centered. Then take your tape measure. You measure the distance between the outer edge of the rims (at the point half-way up the rim that would split the rim into a top and bottom half), from the back left rim to the back right rim; record this measurement. Do the same for the front edge of the rims. Compare the measurements. If they're the same (they won't be first time) then the wheels are parallel. Adjust each side, remeasuring after each adjustment, until they're parallel. Don't forget to check that your steering wheel is still centered.

Once parallel, adjust each side slightly, measuring after each left/right adjustment, until the front measurement is 1/8" shorter than the rear measurement: this gives you 1/16 of toe in (front is 1/16 inwards, back is 1/16 outwards for a total of 1/8" difference in measurement). I used 1/16 on my '81 SW and loved it (mind you I'd also done the caster and camber - using a measuring tape - first, also on while on the hoist). Check the TSM for what range is recommended for yours.

Tighten everything up so it won't move. Road test. Depending on the result, you may not want to pay for a front wheel alignment.
« Last Edit: January 25, 2007, 01:53:40 PM by Canoe »

Offline trapperjack

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 1847
  • Thumbs Up 47
  • The Republic of Texas
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2007, 11:12:25 PM »
Thanks Canoe,
How do you adjust caster and camber? My Chilton's doesn/t show that. My pass. side front tire is out a little further on top than at bottom, not bad but easily noticed.
Thanks,
trapperjack
               
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contsesting the vote.

"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

"When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny."
                  Thomas Jefferson
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference-they deserve a place of honor with all that is good."
                   George Washington
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
                   Abraham Lincoln
All generalizations are false, including this one.
There's room for all God's creatures, right next to the mashed potatoes.
Billions of electrons were disturbed to bring you these messages.

What? No Eagles?
1968 Chebby Panel Wagon "Woodrow"
2008 Jeep Wrangler 4 Dr "The Javelina"
1967 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4


<img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniStates_both/language/www/US/TX/Liberty_Hill.gif" border=0
alt="Click for Liberty Hill, Texas Forecast" height=100 width=150>

Offline Pack Rat

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 3888
  • Thumbs Up 152
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2007, 08:01:17 AM »
Where your lower control arm mounts to the crossmember frame you'll see the adjuster bolts that have eccentric washers on both sides. they adjust the camber. Loosen the nut while holding the head of the bolt. Once loose, turning the bolt will either push the control arm out or pull it in. Pushing it out tilts in the top of the tire.
Caster is adjusted by lengthening or shortening the strut rods. To lengthen the rod and push the bottom of the tire forward you would loosen the two back nuts off a couple of threads and tighten the front nut which would push the rod forward. To pull the tire rearward you would do the opposite.
Now the fun part, getting everything to move. On the camber adjusting bolts soak with penetrating oil and slowly turn the bolt back and forth. It's a good idea to use a small chisel or punch and mark the washer and a spot on the crossmember so you'll have a reference point to start from before you try move the adjuster. You might get lucky and it will move freely. Us rust belt guys aren't probably going to get that lucky.
The strut rod bushings are going to be another story. Don't know if you've ever seen what a new one looks like but there's a sleeve that slides over the rod and goes into the bushings. This is what allows the rod to move when you're trying to adjust caster. Over the years water creeps between the sleeve and the rod. Best case, in dryer areas, it might actually still slide. Worst case, that sleeve becomes part of the strut rod because of rust. Again, for us rust belt area owners that's probably the rule rather than the exception. If it wasn't so freaking cold I'd go out and take some pictures, that would better explain it.

Offline trapperjack

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 1847
  • Thumbs Up 47
  • The Republic of Texas
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2007, 03:22:49 PM »
Thanks Packrat and Canoe,
Hope to get a chance to try it this weekend.
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contsesting the vote.

"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

"When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny."
                  Thomas Jefferson
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference-they deserve a place of honor with all that is good."
                   George Washington
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
                   Abraham Lincoln
All generalizations are false, including this one.
There's room for all God's creatures, right next to the mashed potatoes.
Billions of electrons were disturbed to bring you these messages.

What? No Eagles?
1968 Chebby Panel Wagon "Woodrow"
2008 Jeep Wrangler 4 Dr "The Javelina"
1967 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4


<img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniStates_both/language/www/US/TX/Liberty_Hill.gif" border=0
alt="Click for Liberty Hill, Texas Forecast" height=100 width=150>

Offline Canoe

  • Eagle Sundaancer
  • ******
  • Posts: 1150
  • Thumbs Up 54
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2007, 04:46:06 PM »
......Now the fun part, getting everything to move. On the camber adjusting bolts soak with penetrating oil and slowly turn the bolt back and forth. ..... You might get lucky and it will move freely. Us rust belt guys aren't probably going to get that lucky....... Over the years water creeps between the sleeve and the rod. ..... Worst case, that sleeve becomes part of the strut rod because of rust. Again, for us rust belt area owners that's probably the rule rather than the exception. .....

I had to really bite my tongue (fingers?) at the "how do I remove tie rod ends" post. Around here, also in the rust belt, it's usually with a blow torch.

Offline jim

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 6484
  • Thumbs Up 102
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2007, 08:24:00 PM »
My Eagle came from Philly, and it looks like it.  However, once I bought the $8.99 tie rod remover tool, I did not have any problems removing the tie rods.
I'm right 98% of the time, and I don't care about the other 3%.
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people;
that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."
--Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. ME 16:45
What part of "shall not be infringed" do they not understand?
08 Impala
01 Yukon 4X4
(There's more to life than fuel mileage)
83 Eagle wagon; shared responsibility as daily driver
88 Eagle white woody wagon; shared responsibility as daily driver
86 wagon parts car
Click for Little Rock, AR Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

Offline T5258

  • Eagle Limited
  • *****
  • Posts: 648
  • Thumbs Up 14
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2007, 10:43:11 PM »
pay close attention to adjusting caster....that's probably where your wander orginates....
1987 Eagle Limited
1985 Corvette
2009 Avalanche LT
2011 Volvo C30

remember:  no matter where you go.......there you are

Offline trapperjack

  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ********
  • Posts: 1847
  • Thumbs Up 47
  • The Republic of Texas
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2007, 11:08:18 AM »
I think I'm going to try this today, if the kids cooperate.
Do I want the front tires to hang down to do this? In other words, jack stands on the cross member (tires hanging) or under lower a-arms (supported)?
I have the tires and rims that were on the eagle before p.o. put jeep rims and new tires on. fronts are very scalloped, I'm sure that should tell me something, but what.
When I replaced strut rod bushings, I counted threads, and installed about like they were. At the ends of the strut rods I have about 4 threads showing on pass. side and 13 on d. side. Where do you measure from and to in order to determine how you need to change caster?
Sorry to have so many questions, but ya'll seem to know what your doing, and I want to get this thing going.
Thanks,
trapperjack
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contsesting the vote.

"Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

"When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny."
                  Thomas Jefferson
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference-they deserve a place of honor with all that is good."
                   George Washington
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
                   Abraham Lincoln
All generalizations are false, including this one.
There's room for all God's creatures, right next to the mashed potatoes.
Billions of electrons were disturbed to bring you these messages.

What? No Eagles?
1968 Chebby Panel Wagon "Woodrow"
2008 Jeep Wrangler 4 Dr "The Javelina"
1967 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4


<img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniStates_both/language/www/US/TX/Liberty_Hill.gif" border=0
alt="Click for Liberty Hill, Texas Forecast" height=100 width=150>

Offline Canoe

  • Eagle Sundaancer
  • ******
  • Posts: 1150
  • Thumbs Up 54
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2007, 12:06:13 PM »
I'm just checking quickly as I have to go out know. I have to check for the caster and camber, but for the toe-in, wheels hanging are fine. You only need the rims, not the tire, in case that makes less work for you; the tires don't matter for this. It's also easier to do the camber if it's just rims.

I'll get back to this when I'm in later this evening if no one beats me to it in the mean time.

Offline Canoe

  • Eagle Sundaancer
  • ******
  • Posts: 1150
  • Thumbs Up 54
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2007, 02:49:47 PM »
Sorry. I have been, and will be, out of commission for a few days.

Pack Rat has covered the how to, but I don't recall where the TSM recommends the measurements be made from. I don't remember how I did it so I'm going to have to look it up in the TSM to refresh.

Offline mojosmr

  • Hatchling
  • *
  • Posts: 6
  • Thumbs Up 2
Re: Front end alignment how to?
« Reply #11 on: May 11, 2011, 02:47:45 PM »
Any word on camber adjustment, as far as adjusting with tires hanging or on the ground?  Can the eccentric bolt adjust with that much weight?  Is it proper to put grease sandwich plates under the tires to do this?  I'm with trapper jack sorry about all the questions I'm new to this kind of stuff and ya'll seem to know.
thanks in advance.

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk