Add caster on 75 thing?

[csterl]

I have been working on the front suspension on a 75 (mexican) thing. All components with the exception of the ball joints were good. I replaced all 4 ball joints and, after alignment, it still pulls to the right. In talking to the alignment technician, he told me that both sides needed an additional 1 degree +/- caster and it was as close as he could get it with the cams on the upper joints. I know the joints have alignment slots on them; do the joints have an offset built into them and could the joints be reinstalled offsetting the slots to possibly gain a little camber? Is there any other way to add camber? Ride height appears to be at or just slightly below stock.

[Shadd]

Hey csterl, welcome to the samba,

I believe that you can get some additional caster by adding shims between the beam and the lower mounting point on the frame head. (at least this is true for king/link pin beams)
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[Wildthings]

Have been thinking that mine would steer a bit better with more caster as it tends to wander a bit. Anyone have a feel for what the maximum amount of shimming that can reasonably be added is? Don't have enough adjustment to get the camber to come into spec on one side, but can't see that anything is bent or made wrong. Any ideas here would be great as well.

[SilverThing]

[citroen]

i think this will fix your problems they are from bugpack. Caster shims, longer bolts and camber adjusters. They fixed mine.

[Wildthings]

I will have to check the spindles for straightness at some point, but would have thought the drum would rub against the backing plate if the spindle were bent much.

I have heard about eccentrics with more offset, but can Bug eccentrics be used on a Thing? I thought the Thing ball joints used larger studs.

[74 Thing]

Those eccentrics will not fit a 181 ball joint.

Those caster shims will though-get a set and loosen the 4 front beam bolts and slide the two shims between the lower beam and the frame then retorque.

[drscope]

I think you need to find a better front end alignment technician who doesn't belive close is good enough!

Probably one of the eccentrics is stuck and he can't get it to turn.



Why is this post in the split beetle forum?
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[Wildthings]

[citroen]

Sorry i have a thing axle with bug arms and ball joint so the adjuster work on mine. Correct the caster shims will work on bug or things.

[Ian Epperson]

I put a set of castor shims on my Thing a couple years back - I highly recommend them as it makes freeway driving much more stable.

For most other ball joint front ends, they're an easy install. However, for a Thing, you've got to either eliminate the side brackets for the front beam or oval out the holes to allow you to bolt them in place with the modified castor.

I removed the side brackets, installed the shims, loosely bolted in the side brackets for the holes that fit and used the new offset hole to mark the new shape of the bracket hole, removed the brackets, used my neighbor's mill to reshape the holes, reinstalled the brackets.
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[csterl]

[csterl]

[Wildthings]

[Ian Epperson]

Aluminum.
_________________
VW-181 shirts and stickers.
http://ian.epperson.com/vw

[Wildthings]

[74 Thing]

Start with one set of shims (you do not need longer beam bolts for these)-if you need another set you can always add it. It is probably the best cheap item to add to your car.

http://vwparts.aircooled.net/Caster-Right-Shim-Kit-Caster-Shims-Pair-p/6611-10.htm

[Ian Epperson]

[Wildthings]

Just presuming that the shims are about 3/16 thick that would give just shy of 2° of extra caster. Since I want to replace the body mounts above the front axle assembly, I might as well add the shims at the same time.