CPP control arms caster angle?

[osdmike]

A friend of mine own this Chevelle -66.
We are wondering about the control arms.
The control arms were allready mounted when the car was purchased.
Are they mounted backwards, or....?(see pics.)

http://www.pixbox.se/alb_show_id1169128_page0.html

It seem to be a problem to get a correct caster angle.
We have put a lot of shims(se pic.), but it´s not enough.
What´s wrong here?

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[Roadbuster]

Looks like the upper arms are swapped left and right.

See Popular Hot Rodding install: http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec.../photo_10.html

Looks like that bend in the upper arm should be toward the front.

Jon

[killer69]

Sure looks like they are backwards.

[osdmike]

I found this info from CPP "Car Suspension Component Instructions"

6472TCA-UK

So it looks that the C-arms are correctly mounted.

But I still don´t understand why all shims are needed to get a decent caster angle.

Any thoughts?


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[sik68]

Perhaps it is the lower arms that are swapped Left / Right? I think so because look at the angle that the spring and shock are making...seems wrong in comparison to the way the shock mount is oriented. But maybe I'm wrong because it looks like the bump stop is in the correct spot....

[Roadbuster]

I found this info from CPP "Car Suspension Component Instructions"

6472TCA-UK

So it looks that the C-arms are correctly mounted.

But I still don´t understand why all shims are needed to get a decent caster angle.

Any thoughts?


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They are installed correctly according to the document you referenced.

Thinking about this, I now remember that the CPP upper arms copy the factory geometry. The factory castor angle is nearly zero on these cars, so to get a decent amount of castor you need to use a lot of shims.

The Popular Hot Rodding article mentions replacing the upper studs with bolts pointed outward for header clearance. The photo does not show the shims they needed to get a 'modern' alignment. http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec.../photo_09.html

You have to look close but this shot does show the amount of shims they have on that car:
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec.../photo_19.html

[osdmike]

As you mentioned,..I have also read about that the caster angle is nearly zero on CPP c-arms.

So , now we are looking at adjusable c-arms.
(SPC or similar)
That will solve the problem, I guess.

Anyone have experience with these?

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[6'9"Witha69]

Something is definitely backwards!! If not the uppers, then the lowers, as stated. The top of the upright should be tilted toward the rear, nor forward as seen in those pics.

[osdmike]

I checked with CPP "Car Suspension Component Instructions".
Bump stops should be on front tube. So lower arms are OK.
Also seen in "Popularhotrodding"-link above.



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[silver69camaro]

With that much caster, you've moved the outer tie rod pivot point by quite a bit. You should probably adjust that to get bumpsteer back to acceptable levels.