1955 Chevrolet front end alignment problem

Lyn Smith · 05-25-2021, 01:55 PM

Having some problems setting the front end on the 55 Chevrolet project. The guy that has done my front ends before can't get the caster ,which is suppose to be around 0 degrees, any closer than 2 1/2. He says the front frame saddle may have to be spread, or the upper A arms may have to be modified to get close to the specs. Any one have any suggestions on this problem? Thanks Lyn

Project 392 · 05-25-2021, 03:52 PM

2 1/2 positive or negative caster now? If I remember, shims on C.A. mounting bolts? Is C.A. shaft inside or outside of frame brackets?

Victor in Kingman

Project 392 · 05-25-2021, 04:29 PM

Found an image of front suspension online. An original car that with no shims. Been almost 50 years since I worked in a front end shop. Have not paid anyone to align my cars since. I remember some cars did not have much range of adjustment. Pulled all shims out to just get as close as we could. Frame bowing inward from road shock?

Ideas: after market offset upper control arm bushings available?. Check the LOWER control arm mounting points too. Moving those corners will have the same effect on camber/caster. Effort spent checking on camber and toe in change throughout suspension travel pays BIG rewards.

Victor in Kingman

FED 387 · 05-26-2021, 07:33 PM

2 ways to correct that

A) buy offset upper control arms --- from Danchuk or similar

B) cure the crossmember sag ----chain the outer parts of the frame and put a hydraulic jack under the front crossmember and give it a few pumps usually one at a time to correct the sag which raises the crossmember

If you do A the sag will still be there and eventually you will need to resort to B to get it back into specs

TRI 5's are famous for doing that --sagging

FED 387

Mark Yacavone · 05-26-2021, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyn Smith

Having some problems setting the front end on the 55 Chevrolet project. The guy that has done my front ends before can't get the caster ,which is suppose to be around 0 degrees, any closer than 2 1/2. He says the front frame saddle may have to be spread, or the upper A arms may have to be modified to get close to the specs. Any one have any suggestions on this problem? Thanks Lyn

Sure we're not talking camber here?

2 1/2 deg. POSITIVE caster would be minimal on a drag car.

Jeff Kempton · 05-29-2021, 11:31 AM

Tri-Five Chevys are known for this. I solved it by using these on my '57, they are OEM-style repros with extra caster built in.

https://www.classicchevy.com/chevy-u...-344513-1.html

Lyn Smith · 05-30-2021, 07:07 PM

Thanks Jeff. I did not know about the upper arms with the 5 degrees built in to them. In fact I was in the process of building some with the ball joint moved. I will just get some of these instead. Will let you know how they work.

05-25-2021, 01:55 PM	#1
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,126 Likes: 223 Liked 860 Times in 160 Posts	1955 Chevrolet front end alignment problem Having some problems setting the front end on the 55 Chevrolet project. The guy that has done my front ends before can't get the caster ,which is suppose to be around 0 degrees, any closer than 2 1/2. He says the front frame saddle may have to be spread, or the upper A arms may have to be modified to get close to the specs. Any one have any suggestions on this problem? Thanks Lyn

05-25-2021, 03:52 PM	#2
Project 392 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 38 Likes: 158 Liked 24 Times in 14 Posts	Re: 1955 Chevrolet front end alignment problem 2 1/2 positive or negative caster now? If I remember, shims on C.A. mounting bolts? Is C.A. shaft inside or outside of frame brackets? Victor in Kingman

05-25-2021, 04:29 PM	#3
Project 392 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 38 Likes: 158 Liked 24 Times in 14 Posts	Re: 1955 Chevrolet front end alignment problem Found an image of front suspension online. An original car that with no shims. Been almost 50 years since I worked in a front end shop. Have not paid anyone to align my cars since. I remember some cars did not have much range of adjustment. Pulled all shims out to just get as close as we could. Frame bowing inward from road shock? Ideas: after market offset upper control arm bushings available?. Check the LOWER control arm mounting points too. Moving those corners will have the same effect on camber/caster. Effort spent checking on camber and toe in change throughout suspension travel pays BIG rewards. Victor in Kingman

05-26-2021, 07:33 PM	#4
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,358 Likes: 350 Liked 282 Times in 152 Posts	Re: 1955 Chevrolet front end alignment problem 2 ways to correct that A) buy offset upper control arms --- from Danchuk or similar B) cure the crossmember sag ----chain the outer parts of the frame and put a hydraulic jack under the front crossmember and give it a few pumps usually one at a time to correct the sag which raises the crossmember If you do A the sag will still be there and eventually you will need to resort to B to get it back into specs TRI 5's are famous for doing that --sagging FED 387

05-29-2021, 11:31 AM	#6
Jeff Kempton Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 220 Likes: 892 Liked 50 Times in 24 Posts	Re: 1955 Chevrolet front end alignment problem Tri-Five Chevys are known for this. I solved it by using these on my '57, they are OEM-style repros with extra caster built in. https://www.classicchevy.com/chevy-u...-344513-1.html

05-30-2021, 07:07 PM	#7
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,126 Likes: 223 Liked 860 Times in 160 Posts	Re: 1955 Chevrolet front end alignment problem Thanks Jeff. I did not know about the upper arms with the 5 degrees built in to them. In fact I was in the process of building some with the ball joint moved. I will just get some of these instead. Will let you know how they work.