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3/17/2018 9:48 AM  #1


leaning front wheel on a 66 mustang

The front passenger wheel is leaning inward at the top .I have had it in 3 front end shops and it is still leaning . Does anyone have any good ideas . It drives great but the tire is not standing straight up. 

 

3/17/2018 12:57 PM  #2


Re: leaning front wheel on a 66 mustang

Hi , i am  not an expert on this , but  recently i done all the job at alignement shop and now is running good.
Does is possible that you have one broken shocks or spring on passenger ? 
Something that is not at right spot  after 3 times ? 
How may spacers you have between upper arm and frame ? 
Not a lot to work on ....but hope it helps 

 

3/17/2018 5:32 PM  #3


Re: leaning front wheel on a 66 mustang

If nothing is broken you have had 3 unacceptable shops work on your alignment.  Go to a shop that specializes in classic cars.  Your tire should be sitting vertical or zero degrees to no more than negative two degrees.  I am talking about your camber angle setting which is accomplished at the alignment shop using shims on the upper control arm.  It sounds like you need more shims on the upper control arm to position your tire to a more vertical position.  Again, not withstanding any broken suspension parts or mismatched front springs.

Last edited by almcgee (3/18/2018 2:32 AM)


Mustang Steve Bash in Gruene, Texas September29-30, 2023
 

3/18/2018 4:10 PM  #4


Re: leaning front wheel on a 66 mustang

Camber is off, like Al said. This can be caused by worn parts like upper control arm bushings and lower control arm bushings. Ball joints or other parts would have to be totally destroyed to affect camber.  Sounds like you ran into three shops that have no clue how to work on an old Mustang.

First, make sure all parts are in good condition.  This includes checking the shock towers for cracks or bent parts.  Then, look at the 3/4” hex nuts on the engine side of the shock towers. (Two per side).  Do they have additional threads sticking past the nuts, or are the nuts at the very end of the threads?  If there are no additional threads, the bolts have to replaced with longer ones (Moog makes longer splined bolts for this).  The extra length will allow a competent alignment shop to properly set the camber at zero degrees so the wheel is vertical. Any excuse offered by a shop is your signal to go somewhere else.

Installation of a Shelby export brace will help maintain alignment and should be installed prior to gettng it aligned. Only a Ford original or Scott Drake concours export brace will do the job. The Chinese versions that have a very flattened W shape are worthless. A real one has vertical ridges to make it strong.  Typically, if it is chrome, it is one of the worthless ones, although Drake has made chrome versions lately. They also make a cheaper version which should be avoided. Concours is the magic word.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

3/18/2018 7:21 PM  #5


Re: leaning front wheel on a 66 mustang

Thanks guys for the info .
Everything on the front end is new . Shocks, springs , control arms , tire rod ends , ball joints and 5 lug swap .I think I need to find a good front end shop. 

     Thread Starter
 

3/18/2018 8:00 PM  #6


Re: leaning front wheel on a 66 mustang

Wag8142 wrote:

Thanks guys for the info .
Everything on the front end is new . Shocks, springs , control arms , tire rod ends , ball joints and 5 lug swap .I think I need to find a good front end shop. 

When you replaced the upper control arms, did you reinstall the shims from the original?
If not, that's your problem.  Current realignment shops no nothing about upper control arm shims.
 


Dan      Presently own: 1965 Coupe, 200cid, 3spd.
 

3/18/2018 9:22 PM  #7


Re: leaning front wheel on a 66 mustang

What application are the spindles from?


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

3/19/2018 12:33 PM  #8


Re: leaning front wheel on a 66 mustang

Might want to look closely at your shock towers. Make sure there's no cracking around the upper control arm area.

 

3/19/2018 2:19 PM  #9


Re: leaning front wheel on a 66 mustang

Wag8142 wrote:

The front passenger wheel is leaning inward at the top .I have had it in 3 front end shops and it is still leaning . Does anyone have any good ideas . It drives great but the tire is not standing straight up. 

 
Is the tire leaning in enough to measure it with a level by holding the level against the bottom of the tire and measuring the gap between the level and the top half of the tire?

 

Board footera


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