69 camaro front suspension
 

Hi all
I've got some troubles with my camaro wondering what you guys have done to correct, the front tires when lifted off the ground are "towed in" 1 3/4" square on the ground also what can be done about the camber change with no load?

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

No answer so far, so last '69 Camaro I had, I heated the arms at the spindles to make the outer tie rods level at mid-travel. This was back in the 1970s, so I don't remember if the ends had to go up or down.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

"This was back in the 1070s," Some of us have around a long time!

Seriously though, the Mopar Chassis Manual had a section on correcting bump steer. That could possibly help.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

1070's....Damn Ed, you are older than I thought....you were already OLD when you ran junior stock.....LOL......

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

Just thought about that, that Camaro was in the mid 1980s. Sorry.
And, I just turned 73 this past Monday.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

Either Sphon or speeteck sells a bump steer kit. They use a heim joint for the outer tie rod with shims to get them level as possible. These ARE legal in stock!

Might want to take a look at the Global West offset shafts, not sure if they would help your problem.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

Sounds like a bump steer kit will solve most of your problem. Speedway sells all the parts to make one. They may even have a kit for a 1st gen Camaro. I put one together for my Duster and it worked out very well. They make a threaded stud that replaces the tie rod end, a couple of hiem joints and the right length threaded tube and your good to go.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

Baer brakes sells a nice bump steer kit that I have used numerous times, I like the tapered stud they give you that goes into the steering arm instead of just a standard bolt like a lot of them have. It doesn't completely eliminate bump steer but it reduces it to almost nothing.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

You may want to look at an upper ball joint extension, which changes the arc the upper A arm travel in relationship to the lower A arm.. It will change toe in, depending on where you adjust the upper A arm travel stop. The Coil spring height will as well change the static height of the upper A arm and the travel distance. Try running as much positive Caster as possible, 4- 5 degrees , it should help at speed down track .

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

One other issue to be carefully with I forgot to mention with increasing suspension travel with extend upper ball joints, make sure you check that you don't exceed the travel limits of the shocks.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

I did just that. I added tall ball joints up top. Pro forged. They helped with bump steer big time. Now have too much suspension travel. One repair makes another necessary. Is there a suspension limiter for these cars?
As the tall ball joint helped bump steer and really helped positive camber too.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

You should consider installing a 4"-6" long, ( as necessary ) 5/8" NC B-7 alloy all stud in the top Arm frame. Mill two flats in top end of the stud to fit an open end wrench size you want to use to allow turning the stud.
Position the stud in the upper A frame to allow the bottom of it to contact the frame pad correctly. TIG weld a 5/8" NC heavy pattern nut to the upper A frame. Use a 5/8" NC jam nut on the stud.
Adjust the Stud so it makes contact with the frame pad before the shock travel is fully extended. Lock the jam nut down. This then is max travel position.
Then adjust the stud clockwise to limit the travel more ( log and track the number of turns you use ) when you do not need the car to rotate as much at a track where the starting line is in good condition.

Reaction time and 60ft times will improve some then

Hope all of this helps you.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

I dont use any fancy tall ball joints...never heated any components to reshape and i have great bump steer with less then 3/8 toe in or out throughout the complete travel. Sounds too me like there isnt enough caster in the car to be honest. My tie rods are completely level at ride height, nose in the weeds with less then a 1/2 inch between the lower bump stop and frame with 6 1/2 inches of upward travel and the toe is set to 1/16 in at ride height. Id make sure noone has put a cheap set of drop spindles on the car previously or maybe something is bent? Id be looking at the alignment before i changed anything. 1/16 to an 1/8 toe in with as much positive caster as possible to start. I still have the original 68 control arms loaded with global west bushings...moog replacement steering components and Afco low friction ball joints with moroso springs.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

NOT LEGAL in Stock.

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

Use these in the upper control arms in place of the factory rubber bumpers. You can trim them and/or add washers to adjust how tall they are. Replacing the supplied self locking nuts with a serrated flange nut makes changing them a bunch easier.

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performan...61860/10002/-1

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performan...61861/10002/-1

Re: 69 camaro front suspension
 

In the 1970s (I'm also old!) I plotted toe-in vs. inches of lift and found that the last couple inches of lift caused the big increases in toe-in. The no-dollar solution was to lower the front and use snubbers under the upper A arms that were thick enough to prevent those last couple inches. I could still get about 5-6" of travel, iirc.