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| | | | Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 | I have replaced all the springs on the truck this past winter. The old springs on front had a broken leaf and on right side it was a 9 leaf spring wist no caster shim. Left was 8 with shim. It went straight then but now it pulls to right, slightly. Would putting a larger caster shim on right side help? Tires seem to be wearing okay. Thanks Grady. | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,060 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,060 | I would think that the caster shims should be the same on both sides. I'm also assuming that you replaced the springs with identical ones on each side. An alignment check should let you know what needs to be done.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 | Yes the new ones are identical. Also installed the shims. It's not a terrible pull but you always have to have your hands on the wheel. | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,060 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,060 | How's your tire inflation? Same on both sides? How about brake adjustment?
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 | Tire inflation is the same, just adjusted brakes. Haven't noticed it during braking. Only when driving down road. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 | Also just recently installed a new long tie rod and adjusted the alignment. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,212 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,212 | Swap tires left to right and see if the pull follows the tire.
I found my axle had some wiggle room in the locating holes for the spring pins, and shifting the axle would change the steering wheel location. Yours could be the same, one side could be forward and the other rearward causing the truck to want to go around a corner. Loosen the u-bolts and pull the axle forwards on the side the truck wants to turn to, or pull the opposite back. Rear axle could be the same way, slightly crooked.
Drop a plumb bob from each corner of each axle from the same location and mark the spot on some tape on the floor, measure criss-cross to see if its square, then front to back to see if its even side to side. Be accurate with the plumb bob or you will be chasing your tail for no reason, I've been there before! | | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,684 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,684 | King pins all good and tight?
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 | I will try switching tires. The king pins and the rest of steering all seemed tight. Will also do some measuring as suggested and report back. Thanks for all the information. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 | Just switched tires and it goes straight! You guys are the best! Thanks. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,212 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,212 | You got off easy on that one, keep an eye on the that tire. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,775 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,775 | Ya, I'd put it on the rear. How old are the tires?
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2019 Posts: 192 | 6 or 8 years. They're in good shape as the truck doesn't get ran much. | | |
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