would coil springs cause this?

What do I need to look for in an "old school" allignment guy?

My guy puts it on the rack, hooks up the computer, and lines it up until all the lights turn green. What more should he do?

 

Here ya go

 

I don't see why the caster would need to be tweaked for radials...

Exactly for the reason that caster does affect steering effort. Low speed steering effort for radial tires is greater than what's needed for bias belted tires. A radial's soft sidewall causes the tire to squirm in a turn rather than roll through it. That's why all car suspensions designed in the last 25 years for radial tires have power steering. Our car's suspensions, using bias belted tires, were originally designed to have negative caster dialed in because they didn't need the decreased effort provided by positive caster and would self-center better. Now when we put radials on our cars it's a trade-off between adjusting the caster for self-centering or low speed steering effort. Unless, of cousre your Mav or Comet has power steering. Tires, wheels, suspension mods all affect this. On my own Maverick I've found that 1 1/2 degrees positive caster works best with my combination. I've been doing my own alignments for the past 15 years or so.

 

My post above has to do with my earlier statement about needing to change caster for radial tires on our cars and getting a tech who knows the differences rather than just some guy who turns on a computerized alignment system and sets everything to factory specs. You're right, the caster won't affect tire wear much. AdamMav's problem appears to be too much negative camber. Guess I got a little off topic trying to reply to Rick's post.

 

On these cars, lowering it by increasing weight or decreasing spring coils would increase positive camber, which would wear the outside of the tire, not the inside. I think its toe out.

Our suspension kinda sucks under hard turning, instead of the suspension increasing negative camber and helping hold the road while the car shifts weight and leans, it increases positive camber and increases understeer.

 

I ain't buyin' it.
Radials were optional on our cars....at least from '73-up. Caster is incredibly easy to adjust anyway unless something is bent. Like I say, if the car is not pulling to one side, Caster is not gonna be the culprit for uneven tire wear...

 

If you read my last post I said, "You're right, the caster won't affect tire wear much." I also said I was replying to Rick's mention of getting a good alignment tech who knows how to do our old cars, I was not addressing the tire wear issue. Sheese.

 

Looks good, sidepipes and all, doesn't it TL?

I got my new front springs today, and will install them if the weather cools down this weekend (and if Hurricane Dennis doesn't bring the surf up down here in TX!!!).

Any suggestions to minimize this kind of wear? Any suggestions at all for swapping springs in an easy manner?

 

Sorry 'bout that...

 

Sidepipes...uhh....don't get me started.

Where did you get your new springs from?...:confused:

 

"New", meaning unused, front springs from a 351, from Barry McDaniel. I think you made comments regarding weight and such on that thread.

I am pretty sure I made a comment that "I trust TL" regarding spring flex from a larger/heavier spring for my 302.

I will try to install this weekend, if it only cools down to under 95 degrees around here. It is sweltering this month, and less than 1" rain. Not conducive to working on cars in the garage... :evilsmile

I bought a marked down hot tub, and keep it loaded down with 80 lbs of ice per day, just to keep it cool enough to get into...seriously. Otherwise, I wouldn't have the motivation to mow the yard, which miraculously, continues to grow without rain. Still, too hot to work on the car.

 

You can't expect me to remember everything...I'm getting old...

 

ratio411 - Dave, are you still there?

Speaking of Hurricane Dennis, we got lucky here on the Mississippi Coast but I'm a little worried about Dave (ratio411). He's in Pensacola where they got a direct hit. Hey DAVE...are ya out there???

 

Pensacola got smashed pretty good, but I haven't heard much in the line of injuries... seems everyone got out of there.