DeTomaso Mailing List: May 2001, Message #21

I put one of my uprights back in tonight.  After installing the lower joint,
the upper ball joint fit exactly right in.  So, based on a sample of one, I
see no need for a "caster" adjustment on the upper ball joint.  I am also
going to suppose that any reasonable mis-alignment there will go unnoticed
and be taken up by twist in the lower a-arm.

Tired of this thread.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Poling" <andy@realbig.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <detomaso@realbig.com>
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 11:37 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Rear A-arm Caster?


> On Fri, 27 Apr 2001, Tony DiGiovanna wrote:
> [...]
> > Remember that the bottom link
> > between the a-arm and upright is no ball joint.  Therefore there is, in
> > theory, a binding that can be induced.  So, one might desire an
adjustable
> > upper ball-joint mount (adjustable caster) to custom fit the a-arm to
the
> > car.
>
> OK... Tony said the first thing that's made sense to me on this thread so
far.
>
> The lower pivot for the hub carrier is defined by two points (and the 11"
> shaft), and thus the hub carrier can only rotate in a plane perpendicular
to
> the line through those two points.
>
> If one wanted to reduce binding in this lower pivot, and reduce preload on
> the upper a-arm (and ball joint), one might want to be able to adjust the
> position of the upper a-arm ball joint fore and aft... and one could do
that
> with shims that looked exactly like caster adjustment shims.
>
> I must admit, though, that this assumes some sort of mis-design or
> mis-alignment that would lead to pre-load on the ball joint.
>
> There's my $0.02.  :-)
>
> -Andy
> #3822
>
> 72 Pantera - Rocky              91 Miata - Steve               84 RZ350 -
Sting
>
>
>
>