[fasteddy_1947]

Am finally getting around to doing something about my front suspension on 1951 Chev coupe. the left fron wheel was almost leaning on the frame. Motors manual says to position the lower/inner control arm shaft using gauge J-3184 "which fits into the shaft bracket hole". Not having that tool, and not knowing anyone who might even remotely think of having that tool, is here another way, or easy way to position that lower control arm shaft in the control arm? I imagine that positioning the shaft and bushings probably has alot to do with correct alignment, toe-in, toe-out, king pin angle, etc. Any help on this is greatly appreciated. My tech manual is 1956 edition Motors Auto Repair Manual (page 482)

[fasteddy_1947]

Also, what is that J-3184 special gauge supposed to be measuring? I'm assuming that it centers or positions the shaft straight in the control arm before the bushings are bolted in. But I don't really know as I haven't gotten my new shafts yet.

[fasteddy_1947]

OK, that was easy nuff. just had to make tool to measure distance & and center the shaft in the A-frame. Coming along nicely for the amateur that I am. Did find out though, that the reason the left side was so terribly worn out was that some previous owner had replaced some parts on pass. side and put it together wrong. The angle and sloppiness of the rt side lower A-frame was causing extra tension drawing in on the lft side upper. The lft upper shaft was worn more than halfway through and wouldn't last much longer (the way I drive it). Glad I finally did get round to tryin to fix this.

[haughtrod]

What did you make the tool out of? Also, you got a pic of it?

[fasteddy_1947]

My tool was piece of wood cut to fit inside the lower control arm between the wide ends, and a can of spray paint. Before I removed the old shaft, I snugged the wood jig in the arm, under the shaft, spray painted where the holes were and simply matched them up when installing the new shaft and bushings in the lower control arm. I am sure that the special tool j-3184 is just a device to center the shaft in the control arm, and a ruler would work just as well once you do the rithmetic. Anyway it worked fine. Now just need to figure out to determine if the steering knuckle support or maybe the spindle is bent on that side because I just can't get a Zero degree castor with pin fully adjusted out. The book says Kingpin angle 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 degrees, but I haven't figured where/how to measure that, or if I even want to. Have it all put back together and running nice now, and replacing all the pins/shafts was a bear. Guess I will have to do it ...later...
Any help on how/what to measure would certainly be helpful.