Frame head straightening

jason · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 12:53 pm Post subject: Frame head straightening

Frame head straightening. Anyone know of a shop local to Los Angeles that has experience on straightening pans? My body is off, I measured it and it is off a few mm's from being square. The caster is off a bit also, 1-1.5 degree from side to side. I know nothing is perfect, what would be an acceptable tolerance? I want the steering to go back straight when turning.

kielbasa · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:01 pm Post subject:

Caster shims are your friends
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jason · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 7:06 pm Post subject:

I have been messing with some. The problem is if I get the caster right the beam isn't square. If I square it the caster is off. I am trying to think in 3D but it isn't working.

wcfvw69 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:19 pm Post subject:

Any body shop with a frame rack can straighten it out. Call around to a few and get some quotes to tie it down and pull it back straight.
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VWCOOL · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:27 pm Post subject:

If it is only a MM or tree, I wouldn't be too worried... jacking/pulling/heating the frame head square can be a big/impossible task and you will probably have to sacrifice a beam to do so

Yes caster shims will help, I have different caster side-for-side... doesn't really matter, as log as the wheelbase is within (let's say...) an inch each side

jason · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 9:12 pm Post subject:

I know nothing is perfect, my main concern is the steering returning to center.

drscope · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 11:56 am Post subject:

jason · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 1:40 pm Post subject:

It is about 5 mm off at the shock tower and between the top beam tube ends,from side to side.

my59 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 6:16 am Post subject:

From the shop manual, the allowable lateral displacement tolerance of the front plate is 2 mm.
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jason · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 1:52 pm Post subject:

Lateral is left and right?? I need the fore and aft.

splitjunkie · Samba Member Joined: April 04, 2006 Posts: 4094

you really need to get a shop to look at it and straiten it correctly. VWs are kind of handicapped in the handling department to start with. A bent chassis certainly won't make it better and can make it more dangerous under the right circumstances. If you are planning on lowering the car or any other suspension mods, having a strait chassis is even more important.
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