Thanks to those of you that have helped on other threads! I thought I'd try starting another focused on today's task at hand: alignment.
The truck is a 1974 FJ40 freshly reassembled. I initially had the front camber shims on backwards, that made it handle evil. It still handles terribly but that was an improvement. Here is what I find and have questions;
1. I used a laser and line setup I use on the race cars, using the centerline of the truck chassis as the reference point.
2. Both axles are seated towards the driver's (left) side. The front is 3mm too far left and the rear is 5mm too far left. Looking at how the spring perches and Ubolts sit, it doenst look like there is a lot of room for adjustment. Seems like this is something to loosen up the ubolts and try to pull the axle over a few mm each?
3. The front crossover rod runs out of adjustment (the rod is too long?) to get the steering centered. The front left tire is 10mm toe in, and the front right is 0 toe. so total toe is probably pretty close to right. Lengthening the drag link just made the steering wheel re-center crooked. Do I need to shorten my front center-pivot-to-passenger-side-knuckle rod a bit shorter to gain more steering centering adjustment?
4. Perhaps if I can get 3mm of shift to the front axle that will naturally pull the center-pivot-to-passenger-side-knuckle rod back into adjustment range?
5. I had some spare camber shims and when putting the rear axle on I guessed (maybe totally wrong) that these thin ones with the thick end forward would straighten the driveshaft angle. Now its all together and settled in, it looks like the driveshaft angle out of the rear diff aims above the transfer case. Like if the shims were out, it would be better? Whats the practice on shims in back? THe springs are re-arched ~3" lift...
THanks for the advice and help. Everyone loves pics...
The truck is a 1974 FJ40 freshly reassembled. I initially had the front camber shims on backwards, that made it handle evil. It still handles terribly but that was an improvement. Here is what I find and have questions;
1. I used a laser and line setup I use on the race cars, using the centerline of the truck chassis as the reference point.
2. Both axles are seated towards the driver's (left) side. The front is 3mm too far left and the rear is 5mm too far left. Looking at how the spring perches and Ubolts sit, it doenst look like there is a lot of room for adjustment. Seems like this is something to loosen up the ubolts and try to pull the axle over a few mm each?
3. The front crossover rod runs out of adjustment (the rod is too long?) to get the steering centered. The front left tire is 10mm toe in, and the front right is 0 toe. so total toe is probably pretty close to right. Lengthening the drag link just made the steering wheel re-center crooked. Do I need to shorten my front center-pivot-to-passenger-side-knuckle rod a bit shorter to gain more steering centering adjustment?
4. Perhaps if I can get 3mm of shift to the front axle that will naturally pull the center-pivot-to-passenger-side-knuckle rod back into adjustment range?
5. I had some spare camber shims and when putting the rear axle on I guessed (maybe totally wrong) that these thin ones with the thick end forward would straighten the driveshaft angle. Now its all together and settled in, it looks like the driveshaft angle out of the rear diff aims above the transfer case. Like if the shims were out, it would be better? Whats the practice on shims in back? THe springs are re-arched ~3" lift...
THanks for the advice and help. Everyone loves pics...