baja steering adjustment

[nomis]

I am getting some bad shakes back through the steering on my baja recently, so i am planning on getting a professional alignment job done.

Can anyone recommend good tracking / camber settings?

It is a balljoint front end with thing spindles / arms, caster shims, running 195 all terrain radials. suspension is set so that the arms are slightly down from horizontal when the car is on its wheels.

I have checked the wheel bearings, track rod ends, and ball joints - all good. I have also fitted a new steering damper.

Any other things i should be looking at?

Thanks!

[ORANGECRUSHer]

I have done a search in the past and found this info. Good luck on getting a professional alignment done unless things are different in the UK and the technology of a classic VW doesn't intimidate mechanics yet.
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Brian H.
I may not know everything,but I will try to help if I can
OrangeCrushER Berrien Warrior 2.4L Quad4
LAZY MARY 1970 Baja 1835cc

[It's a play thing]

you should read "Front end Play" in this months issue (September) of HOT VW's it has alot of good information that might help you.
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It's not the size of your shop, it's what comes out of it that counts.

I've been playing with my thing ever since I got it...

[nomis]

Thanks - I get Hot VWs sent over on subscription, I will check their recommendations.

Fortunately I live in a fairly rural area where we still have small independent businesses who are fairly willing to accommodate old cars.

[ORANGECRUSHer]

I hope you get somewhere.
I'm still fighting my steering although it's better than it originally was. I went all out and did it myself. Can't trust most of the shops near me. It's great for a couple trips but then slowly gets worse. But I digress
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Brian H.
I may not know everything,but I will try to help if I can
OrangeCrushER Berrien Warrior 2.4L Quad4
LAZY MARY 1970 Baja 1835cc

[earthquake]

Do you off road it hard? have you checked the steering box, is there a lot of play in the steering wheel?
I you drive it hard off road and have not shimmed the steering arm it will beat the top cover of the box out, they sell after market billet covers but shimming is usually enough.
To shim it you need to take the steering arm off and fit a washer/s between the arm and the box to limit up/down travel, I found a brass washer that worked on mine, you can also use the shims from the alt/gen pulley. The Class 11 guys go so far as to weld the arm to the shaft, I used some Loctite "Shaft and Bearing mount" and swap the stock bolt and nut for a grade 10.8. Make sure to adjust the box before you do it.
Check out the Class 11 coalition web page for lots of good info on ball joint beams
http://class11coalition.com/

Casey
_________________
74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison]

[earthquake]

Here's a post I started 5-6 years ago when I first did mine.
http://class11coalition.com/forum/503-suspension-tech/5305-steering-box-tricks

Casey
_________________
74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison]

[nomis]

Thanks earthquake - i will have a read up & investigate.

Got the car laser aligned this morning, front wheels each have 3mm toe in, 4mm positive camber, rear wheels have about 5mm toe in - all seems to be about right....