Shimming for caster ??

[Steptoe]

OK. I bought a kit made to 'adapt' said kit to the EA81 engine crossmembers' lower control arm bolt hole.

At first it was sold to me as a kit for this model but when discussing some set backs with the engineer/ manufacturer over a bad telephone line he comes up with it is a universal kit.

This project was shelved a few years ago and recently tackled to completion

It is claimed that 2° of camber can be achieved

After a four wheel hook up alignment that near 2° camber positive was achieved.

What the rather crude and now evident 'generic' instructions did not indicate nor three telephone discussions with the design engineer/ manufacturer himself did anything suggest that you don't get something for nothing

See? I am getting there...the wheel aligner print of before and after spec sheet suggest that ~2° of caster disappeared !!

As did 5 mm of my wheelbase !

And as a bonus the wheel aligner said effing zip...so I discover for myself what this castor/ wheelbase change does to the LCA bush - cream and Brian like a Ford Foulcan that this adjustable camber kit is borrowed from & the tyres scrub the plastic mud flaps...the genuine Brumby ones

I got to thinking about adjustable castor bars ...then thought of shimming the castor bar !! Bought a pair of 5 mm thick flat metal plates 48 mm diameter and conned a friendly fella to use his 50 tonne hole punch to knock 18 mm hole in the centre.

Done. Painted up. Installed against the forward side of the body bracket and adjusted the tie rods defeating paying a dude to do the alignment last week

An old bloke, former mechanic I know used to carry around his telescoping pieces of extruded aluminium tube 16 mm OD with a 12.~ OD inner tube set to fit inside his rims to adjust his wheel alignment, so I copied 81 year old Don and did same just before upsetting things.

So, another subs dude then tells me ( hi Greg ) the washer shim trick is standard practice for caster bar when doing a lift kit.

heard a clunk tonight

have I upset the bushes jobs at the back of the caster bar from centreing the caster bar from hitting it's mounting bracket?

what a long story to ask a question !!