1 Front wheel rubbing frame, steering rack off center?

[62phoenix]

I was checking out a friends recently aquired 1963 polara last week. He mentioned the drivers side front wheel rubs on lock. A look under the car shows where the tire is scuffing on the frame. The passenger side doesn't scuff.

That led us to think the steering rack is somehow off center. The drivers side front wheel measured out at being nearly an inch closer to the frame than the passenger side, Wheels being set straight.

I know squat about steering but promised to post this for him.
He mentioned it had had an alignment just before he'd purchased it, about a month before or so. Car seems to drive really well...no crabbing or anything. Brakes well with no pulling to either side.
Any1 got any thoughts on this?

 

[benno440]

have a look at the upper camber bolts, are they the same on both sides? check the length of the lower control arms, maybe a mismatched LCA

 

[idrivemopar]

Have you checked the pitman arm to make sure it is correct? The reason I ask, I swapped out my steering box on my Roadrunner way back in the day for one out of a newer car, and not knowing any better left the pitman arm on the new box, and I experienced the same problem you describe. Turns out the pitman arm angle on the newer box was off set by two inches from the original, so when I turned right, the drivers side wheel would rub on the frame and turning radius was much different from turning right then turning left.

 

[62phoenix]

Hey guys thanx for this. I'll pass it onto the owner as he is pretty stumped over it. When I hear what the problem was i'll share the info.

 

[62phoenix]

Just a follow up...

Put her up on a jack under this k frame, put the tape across everything. It was all pretty uniform. Maybe a mm or two out in places, ...set it onto the slab, she sits ok but still gives the impression I posted of originally.
I think the camber looked a touch positive on the pass side which may account for some of the apparent difference in wheel stance. I did run a measure over points on the fenders, just to ensure one wasn't out and they are good.
It's kind of an odd thing.

 

[67 coronet]

have you checked to make sure the wheels have the same offset.i always check the simple stuff first.

 

[62phoenix]

have you checked to make sure the wheels have the same offset.i always check the simple stuff first.

Yes we did...like you say, sometimes it's simple things. Although in this case it's not!

 

[Cranky]

Is the car all stock or does it have other than stock steering components or larger wheels and tires? I've had several factory original cars over the years that one side touches and the other side doesn't but it mostly happened with other than stock wheels etc. Steering geometry isn't perfect especially when it's in full lock position and can different from full lock left vs full lock right and my most recent vehicle that does that is my 95 Dakota which is still all original except for wheel size and larger tires. It went from a 6" wheel to an 8" from a 2000 Durango with 255-65-15 tires. The right side rubs slightly at full lock....

 

[62phoenix]

Is the car all stock or does it have other than stock steering components or larger wheels and tires? I've had several factory original cars over the years that one side touches and the other side doesn't but it mostly happened with other than stock wheels etc. Steering geometry isn't perfect especially when it's in full lock position and can different from full lock left vs full lock right and my most recent vehicle that does that is my 95 Dakota which is still all original except for wheel size and larger tires. It went from a 6" wheel to an 8" from a 2000 Durango with 255-65-15 tires. The right side rubs slightly at full lock....

It is all stock wheel size, but there has been a disc brake conversion. I actually told him he should get an alignment done - I suspect its well off its marks in spite of what he's been told. I say this because after a good look around (and again I stress I'm no steering guru), I can see the pass side wheel is toe out. The drivers side looks toe in; so I'm betting if that is the case, the issue is due to a poor or non existent alignment.

- - - Updated - - -

have you checked to make sure the wheels have the same offset.i always check the simple stuff first.

In view of what I have written in the above post, I should have paid more attention to this remark! Thanx again.