Alignment

[Dan yates]

70 gtx keeps slipping out of alignment any suggestions?

 

[twecomm]

Have you inspected for worn bushings on upper and lower control arms ? Would think that whoever has been doing your alignment for you would flag such issues..

 

[dan juhasz]

Had that issue once the bolts on the steering gear were tight but not torqued to spec and in a hard turn etc the box would shift a little and keep changing the steering wheel position

 

[Jeff K]

Dan,

Define "slipping out of alignment". What are you seeing when it slips?

My first thought was that they didn't torque the UCA cam bolts properly. I think they take 65 foot pounds? I had to take my cuda back to the shop three times before they got it right. They kept under-torquing the cam bolts on the UCA, the bolts would then loosen up with normal driving. So the car left the shop OK, but after a bit of driving (200 miles) when you looked at the front of the car from 50 feet away the wheels would look like this / \

It was a very noticeable change in camber angle when it moved. Two different alignment shops missed this, I had to ask around and find a shop that was used to working on Mopars before I got an alignment that would not move.

 

[dvw]

Something is moving. Either a worn part. Or a loose part. A cracked (or rusted part. Or a rusted out area.Prime wear parts; upper control arm, lower control arm , or strut rod bushings, lower ball joints, idler arm. Prime broken areas; K frame where the lower control arm stud passes through. If there are no cracks, worn parts, rust issues, or loose bolts you will not have an issue. I've aligned over 5000 cars in my day.
Doug

 

[twecomm]

My experience on alignments is that it's hard to find an alignment shop, or more important, a person working at the alignment hop that really understands front end alignment on a car older in age than they are. Years ago, I did a front end rebuild on my 66, new everything on the front end replaced, time to get a proper alignment... Took my 66 Charger to the place where I have had modern cars aligned and had bought tires from for many years. Great shop, but... after 3 tries on my 66, alignment was still not right.
Asked a fellow classic car guy where he got his many cars aligned. He referred me to a shop that was about 45 minutes from where I lived, but he assured me "This guy really knew what he was doing with cars our age". Gave them a try. Results were perfect the first time and still perfect many years later. Assuming you have no defective components or issues with your front end, it really matters who is turning the wrenches..

 

[WileE]

Before we go into a myriad of possibilities... tell us in detail about your suspension and steering.

 

[WileE]

Exactly. It's all in the details. Posting "slipping out of alignment" is akin to calling the doctor on the phone saying "my nose is running" . Don't be shy to type out the story, Dan.