dnikelshpu Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 I recently replaced my stabilizer links and stabilizer bar bushings, getting rid of an annoying rattling sound that had plagued me for some time. Off to alignment I went. The shop uses the hunter machine. All was adjusted fine except the caster. The front right wheel was, I believe, 2.8, while the frnont left was 2.1. As expected, the car pulled to the left, especially at high speeds. So I came back. The mechanic did manage to get the caster difference down to .6 (from .7), but that is all he was able to do. He also readjusted the rear left tow (more positive, I believe) to make the car track better, but I wonder if this was the best he could do? What is envolved in adjusting the caster anlge? Thanks! --D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 When this happens you need to enlarge the adjustment holes, see the diagram (View A) instructing you to use an 11/32 drill and file to make a larger hole to allow for more adjustment, Good Luck, Mike PS, this is directly out of my 96 FSM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regis Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 This information is a little late but it's not necessary to have an alignment done after new stabilizer bar bushings and end links installation. Of course, if there was an alignment issue before hand then sure. "Burns" rubber " I've never considered myself to be all that conservative, but it seems the more liberal some people get the more conservative I become. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnikelshpu Posted November 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 Thanks. Actually I had been putting off doing much needed alignment until I find the cause and fix the "annoying rattling sound," which I though may be struts or something else in the front end that may require alignment. The alignment was really bad. Scotty, thanx for the diagram -- awesome! Ok, so WHY would the mechanic not be able to adjust the caster (by more that 1 degree)? I had seen him loosen bolts and bang (I guess the left strut) with a hammer towards the rear. Can it be that difficult to move the strut (7 mm)? He told me that "it does not go any further..." ....Hmmm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 12, 2005 Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 It could be that he has hit the current range of adjustement limit. I don't know why you are at the limit of current range of adjustment however, but it must be common as the manual as you see above provides a solution to that problem when it occurs. I wouldn't worry about it. Show this page to your alignment guy and see what he says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poobah Posted November 12, 2005 Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 The first time I got my Eldo aligned, the guy had to elongate the holes to get the caster right. The car had been hit hard in the right front long before I bought it and I suspect this is what made the hole modification necessary. Anyway, I'm glad to know that the procedure is sanctioned by the factory. Happiness is owning a Cadillac with no codes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnikelshpu Posted November 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 Ahhh... when I was at the shop (the second time), the mechanic did use a drill, and I believe was elongating the holes.... Is there a limit to how far the hole can be elongated? Is this a difficult job? I have a suspicion that the mechanic just did not want to bother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 12, 2005 Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 Ahhh... when I was at the shop (the second time), the mechanic did use a drill, and I believe was elongating the holes.... Is there a limit to how far the hole can be elongated? Is this a difficult job? I have a suspicion that the mechanic just did not want to bother And he was still unable to get the correct caster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnikelshpu Posted November 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 Scotty, I was not able to see exactly what he was doing -- the car and he were on the Hunter alignment machine, but I could see him in a mirror. I could have sworn he was using a drill of some kind for a short period of time. He just said that "it can not go any further." Doesn't make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 12, 2005 Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 Its really hard for me to say sitting here, I would show him a print of what I gave you above and see what he says. Why was it unable to go to the correct SPEC? That would be my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnikelshpu Posted November 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 I will not be able to get to this service station for about a week. Meanwhile I took a look a look at the strut mount. The guy made a hole, apperently with a chisel and hammer in the rear of the mount, and a there are a few deep chisel marks in the front of the mount! He also tried to elongate one of the holes. Could he have damaged something in / under the mount? Does it make any sense that he would do this? I am dumbfounded. Apperently this guy has been doing alignments for many, many years. I took a few pics, but I guess I can only uplodad one at a time (hope it comes through ok): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 13, 2005 Report Share Posted November 13, 2005 I am unsure why he did this, but it looks a little rough if you ask me. Show him what I gave you, maybe that will help. Let me know how it turns out, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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