TTB Caster

[ronclark]

I want more caster, so i was thinking of adding washers in front of the radius arm bushings. I am hoping it will push it out more.
Good or Bad idea?

 

[Captain Ledd]

Bad, since it won't work. You'll just push the front axle farther forward.

You'll need new alignment bushings, they make them in all kinds of degrees. Order ones with a slightly higher degree number. They control both the caster AND camber on TTB/TIB trucks.

Oh, and to get it in spec you may need to order different bushings for each side, as they're often not the same. One side may take a 3° bushing while the other may only need a 1.5° bushing. I don't know if they even make a half degree bushing but I think you get the point.

This is also why so many shops say "the truck is unalignable!" Bullroar, it's just unalignable with the current bushings and they're too lazy to figure out which ones they need to order to put it in spec.

I feel your pain though, my beloved Red Ranger is set up with 0° caster. Yes, it's a bit "darty" driving down the road.

 

[ronclark]

Well shot, well i guess i just need to get the tools and start doing my own alignments.
I already have 3.5° adjustable bushings.
My truck is pretty much at 0° caster too. i am getting tired of shops tell me you can change the caster on these trucks.
Well thanks for the help

 

[scotts90ranger]

get the full adjustment 4* bushing, they aren't expensive through Napa or Rock Auto. I have been doing my own alignments for the last 6 months, all you need are eyeballs and a tape measure. On my truck I set the camber by eye then added as much caster as I could, and set the toe with a tape measure, it actually worked. On my car only toe is adjustable so I just set it up by eye and get even tread wear.

 

[84EB]

I have never used them but they make offset radius arm bushings that will increase castor

 

[brinker88]

They sell all KINDs of degrees of bushings (I work at an alignment shop) usually in 1/2 degree increments. Unfortunately once you get above 3 degrees, your balljoints are at such a massive angle, it destroys them in a matter of months. Best bet is to go to an old school alignment shop where they have degree shims that go behind your spindle so that you can keep a decent degree bushing in the balljoint.

This is just my .02

 

[ronclark]

I have the Napa bushings, i guess i just need to learn how to do the alignment myself.

 

[legoms013]

Shorter coils or radius arm drop brackets.

 

[84EB]

Here's what I was talking about.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Caster-Bushing-Kit-Moog_20517146-P_617_R|GRP60015_714689455____

 

[ronclark]

Shorter coils or radius arm drop brackets.

I would think with a heavy truck 4.0L ex cab level coils would be not be to hard to aligned.

 

[brinker88]

I was out 4 degrees on passenger side and 3.5 on driver side with rough country leveling coils (gave me 2.5" of lift)

 

[ronclark]

Here's what I was talking about.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Caster-Bushing-Kit-Moog_20517146-P_617_R|GRP60015_714689455____

Cool, I'll have to check in the those.
The last shop set my caster at L 1.1°, R 1.0°

 

[ronclark]

I was out 4 degrees on passenger side and 3.5 on driver side with rough country leveling coils (gave me 2.5" of lift)

I used Skyjacker coils i got about 1 1/2 lift, but its not my Camber that's the problem.

 

[brinker88]

Caster? I've never heard that before...that's odd...how far out is it? How far off is it and does the pinion need to go UP or DOWN?

 

[ronclark]

Caster? I've never heard that before...that's odd...how far out is it? How far off is it and does the pinion need to go UP or DOWN?

I am sitting at L 1.1°, R 1.0° i need to be at 3 to 4° from what i read.