[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by 3indianchief6

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I do have the paralell leaf springs. I put on a Unisteer cross steering for a ford and I know it is not for a chevy but I made it work anyway with a fabricated bracket even though Unisteer said it would not work but does. So now I have cross steer which is where the wandering started.I did not have any castor angle. Today I installed 5 degree castor shims to the negative. After I get it put back together I will set the toe in at 1/8 negative and then see how it steers before I put a panhard bar on. Thanks

You need to read your post again.

Either your axle has some side to side movement or the arch that the axle goes in is different than the drag link. But read it again, I made it work anyway with a fabricated bracket even though Unisteer said it would not work but does. So now I have cross steer which is where the wandering started SOMETHING to do with the steering is what is causing this.

Brian

[3indianchief6]

I put 5 degree negative shims between the axle and springs. Then I adjusted the toe in to 1/8 degree negative. Then I went for a drive and it drove straight and fine on the same road that it had wandered on before. Now I have went ahead and installed a panhard bar just to be safe for future use. Thanks for all of the suggestions.

[MARTINSR]

No, No, No, not NEGATIVE caster, you want positive.

Where exactly are you putting the shims, thick part in the front or the rear and where is the axle above or below the springs?

Brian

[grandpaws 57]

My 57 wagon called for very small + caster . ended up with nearly 5+ degree drives good now

[3indianchief6]

The springs are above the axle. The thick part of the shims are in the back which tilts the axle toward the rear.

[Tony@AirRideTech]

Originally Posted by grandpaws 57

My 57 wagon called for very small + caster . ended up with nearly 5+ degree drives good now

Grandpaw,
Keep in mind that all of the alignment specs for these early cars are really more designed for narrow bias ply tires and manual steering. Also take int o cosideration that until the late 50's the front suspensions were engineered to run down dirt roads as much as pavement and definitley not at 70mph on the interstate.

Castor was typically anywhere from 0 to 1 degree. With the addition of power steering, wider sticker radial tires and higher travel speeds more modern common castor angles are anywhere from 4-8 degrees out of the box. Good post~!

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by 3indianchief6

The springs are above the axle. The thick part of the shims are in the back which tilts the axle toward the rear.

Yes, that would be postive caster, how much, you have no idea. The degree is measure at the king pin basically and there are many factors that could change that like shackle length for example.

Brian