The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk axle alignment

What amount if any, are you using under the axle for camber adjustment. The '37 manual calls for
1 3/4* (=/-) 1/2 degree of caster. I don't know what mine has, but it wonders around the road more then I like. It doesn't seem to have a center, its always left or right. At 65 to 70 it gets old! I have replaced the kingpins and everything related to steering. Box has all new bushings and bearings. Everything is still tight, so I hought maybe that was the problem, now I am not sure. I am thinking, now that everything is new, the caster angle is off. Before heading to the shop, I thought I would ask what you are using. Joe

They used to have caster shims that went under the axle between the spring & axle but I havn,t been able to find any. The camber is not adjustable. Have you checked the toe-in. Iv,e seen some posts on this websight about putting in a later steering gear.

Wrenchbender,

Chevs of the Forties stock the caster shims. They have them from one to four degrees in half degree
stages.

Bob

hey Mozzie, Theres no possibility that one of your king pin bushings are too tight?

Joe- Yup, shim some more caster into that thing. The kingpins are standing up too straight. Need to lean them back (top of kingpin towards the back more) a few degrees and road test again. Any good local truck alignment shop should have the shims. Keep playing with it until you get it to feel right, I can't give you a magic number to shoot for. Too much caster (like a rail dragster) will make it track straight, but turn hard because the wheels are trying to "flop" over when you turn. Too little caster (kingpin straight up and down) and it will turn easy, but wander and not seem to have a "home" position.

I would suggest at least 2 1/2degrees caster. The camber is adjustable by bending the axle ends, but it is hard to find anyone with the bending arms, small enough for the pickup axles. Toe in with make your truck wander also. I run about 1/8 toe out on mine. Make sure you don't have the steering box too tight. It should have just a touch of free play at dead center straight ahead. If it is too tight, it won't let the wheels center up after a slight turn of the steering wheel. Find a truck shop that does truck tractor straight axle alignments, instead of a car alignment shop. Most cars shops have never aligned a straight axle vehicle.

Joe -

Caster shims will definitely stop the wondering and even the shimmy, if any, but it will be much harder to turn the truck steering wheel.

Your axle will have some "from the factory shims" on it, but you can buy thicker shims from Chevs Of The 40's.

I have that problem with my truck and in an effort to stop it, I have completely rebuilt the front end - side to side, top to bottom. I didn't "up" the caster because I didn't want the hard turn of the wheel, and I'll tell you right now - it is hard and you won't like it! :p I hope you can do something else to avoid "upping" the caster. I still haven't totally figured out what to do, myself, but while more caster is a solution, it's not a good solution! When, and if, I figure it out, I'll let you know.

I see two more things mentioned here to try, increase the camber and "open" the toe-in. I haven't tried those, but I'm ready to try anything!!!! :mad:

I don't recommend bending an axle to adjust camber. It's fallen out of favor in the alignment world. If it's bent, find a better axle.

-Your Hunter alignment guy (non-practicing).

Joe, are you still using bias ply tires? My '37 pickup was wandering badly also. I put on radials and almost all the wander went away. The radials made a world of difference.

BTW - Joe(6cylindersovertexas
)I just bought a steering box & shaft from a '41 pickup on ebay and plan to install it the same way you did. I will overhaul the box before installing it. Do you happen to still have the part numbers for the bushings and recirculating balls that I will need to overhaul the box?

Eric -

Well, here's where the "small world" begins!

I bought the 41-46 steering box you are speaking of from Joe H!! He is actually the one who rebuilt it!

I have installed it in my 37, but still need to do a few other things before I can test drive it.

I'll let him tell you why he installed it in his truck and then decided against it.

You do make a good point about the tires, and I even asked Joe H what size tires he was running not to long ago as I was begining to look at the tire situation on my truck. I don't recall if he has radials or not. I do remember he is running "bigs and littles".

I have been told by more than one source that radial tires are one of the BIGGEST improvements you can make on the steering and overall ride of these trucks (1936-1955).

Joe (6cylinders . . . )

Radials and shocks and tightening up every steering and tie rod joint.

Eric, the steering box bushings stayed the same for many years, I've been buying them right from the GM dealer when I'm in too much of a hurry to mail order them. Same with the seal. You may not need the balls, they don't usually wear too much, it's the pitman shaft bushings that give the most trouble. The bushing on the cover can be hard to get out and replace, but usually necessary to do. You going to Iola? I'll be there Wed. and Thurs.

Joe and Joe- Ever get the feeling that a small handful of us 'bolters own all the same parts and just pass them around in a circle and eventually they come back to us?

So, Barry, what if I sold you the steering box and column Joe H sold me! Your theory would be correct!!

If it doesn't work on my truck, you could get the call that it's FOR SALE!!

Where's Tony P.? You got your ears on Tony? I'm sure you guys have talked to him, but he has a '37 PU with a '41-'46 steering box and radials. Maybe he can add more to this.

Hello - Tony P!

Stovebolt to Tony P??

Come in Tony P!

Tony P., you out there? Must be out driving one of his fleet. Or sleeping like we should be.

I'm here,I put a 41-46 type steering box in my 37,It's a bolt in and makes a big improvement.The 37 steering wheel is keyed not splined,change the wheel or splice the steering shaft.Do spend the time to adjust the steering box once it's installed in the truck.I use a small fishing scale to measure the preload as shown in the manuals.Do not guess on this,proper preload is important .I have 6 degree castor shims cause the truck is raked,front end lower.My 37 steers a little hard,too much negative camber .Camber is adjusted by bending the axle with hydraulic equipment.The axle is forged,but bends surprisingly easy.Most truck alignment shops will do it for you,if your truck will fit on their rack,mine won't,been like this for 7 years.It tracks straight and the tires don't wear funny,so I treat it like a sore peter,don't screw with it.

Joe I have radial tires on my 53 had it aligned at a turck alignment shop and then I installed a universal steering dampner from a Jeep. Took all the wander and shimmy out of the steering. Works pretty good and you aren't working the steering wheel all the time on the highway. Don't know if it will help you guys but it is something to consider.

Thanks for all the ideas guys, sorry I have been away from the computor for a few days. I am leaning towards more caster. It has some in it now, so I think I will go with a 2 degree starting out and see what happens.

I have radial tires and have checked the toe-in so many times I lost count. This isn't a big problem, it just when I run out of work, I get bored and start thinking of problems! Nobody else has noticed the problem, its just a truck to them. I like it to drive as best it can, that means no wondering around. I had thought about the rake of the truck like Tony's, that will sure change it.

I can't believe a steering box can make a difference on how it drives in a straight line if two boxes are adjusted correctly. I had the 41-46 box on for a while and it was worse. It was to easy to steer, had no feel to it at all. The '37 box is still tight so it feels better, but still not right. I belive with the right caster, the 41-46 box would have worked great. It was easyer to steer at slow speeds.

I will keep you up dated, but now back to the garage sale...... Joe

Tony - good analogy!!! Very clear and easy to understand!!!!

Joe H - tell us what kind of tires you are running on your truck. Radials? :confused:

Joe

Barry,
Thanks for the tips on overhauling the steering box. I'm starting to get worried. I won that auction 2 days ago and requested a total with shipping from the seller. Still haven't heard from him. Hope he doesn't shaft me on this. I NEED that box! Yah, I go to Iola every year. I generally go on Friday. I was wondering why I haven't seen you there for so many years. I didn't know anything was happening there as early as Wednesday.

Anybody got a descent steering wheel for the '41-'46 steering gear for sale? The box that I bought doesn't have one. If the wheel doesn't look too out of place in a '37 it would save me from having to cut and splice the two shafts.

Hey Eric -

I got a 41-46 wheel with the box and shaft I bought from Joe H. I can send you a picture, if your interested.

I did the cut and weld the shaft on mine. It keeps the totally 37 look. The 41-46 wheel is different.

Drop me an email it you want a picture. My email is in my Profile.

Joe