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Old 12-17-2019, 04:46 PM
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gto19 gto19 is offline
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Default 1967 gto steering alignment

Hey guys
I have a 67 gto with all original bushings still in the front end that still look descent for there age . Everything is greased well , brand new redline tires ...the old school kind . The car pulls slightly to left while driving so I’m holding the steering wheel always around the 1 to 2 o’clock position at all times . Does Not pull at all when I apply the brakes . Is there anything I can do myself to correct the issue some . I really don’t wanna take it in to the shop if I don’t have to .

Thanks Eric

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Old 12-17-2019, 04:59 PM
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Scott Thelander Scott Thelander is offline
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check the air pressure
and
spend the money at a qualified shop ...
why chance it
take it in for an alignment
maybe your oil pan is laying in the center link ??
unseen lower ball joint wear ?
how are your tires wearing on the edges up front?

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Old 12-17-2019, 05:02 PM
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Ya I know take it in . Probably will , just thought I’d ask .
Tire pressure is at 35 psi and even tire wear so far .oil pan is clear . If I can fix it just a little bit I’d be happy

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Old 12-17-2019, 05:22 PM
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Likely a caster and/or camber adjustment. Always possible to have a bent control arm or bad ball joint. Not much you can do accurately without using some type of measuring gauges/plates... or take it in I bought a set of alignment plates from Summit for around $200. Not as slick as a modern alignment rack, but gets the job done in my shop.

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Old 12-17-2019, 10:13 PM
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Ya not many old school guys around that will try and understand, it's now just a quick alignment and out the door for the
1 hour pay, do as little as possible. Modern Thinking. But if you can find an old school alignment shop that does not mind
doing a Proper job, get it done. Without putting it on a machine, it's real hard to try and help.

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Old 12-17-2019, 11:58 PM
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Do the roads you drive on have a crown? If the roads around you are basically flat and the car always pulls left, it may have a road crown alignment in it where it doesn’t need it.

All the previous suggestions should be checked as well.

I will add that if you have the factory bushings in the control arms, I’d replace them. They may look okay on the outside but they’re over 50 years old at this point. They likely need changed.

If you’re running bias ply tires, have the alignment set to the factory specs afterwards. If your redline tires are modern radials you’ll want a more modern alignment.

0 to -.5* static camber at ride height
+1-3* positive caster (as much as the control arms will allow)
0 to 1/16th” toe in

Ask the alignment shop if they have shims. If that answer is no, avoid them, they’re just used to working on modern eccentric stuff.

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Old 12-18-2019, 12:41 AM
Goatracer1 Goatracer1 is offline
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JLMOUNCE is correct on alignment but with stock front end parts you won't be able to get any where near 3 degrees positive caster. Get as much as you can though.

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Old 12-18-2019, 08:32 AM
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Inspect every part in your front end first and replace what is needed before you get it aligned. If your CA bushings are original, I would replace them all first regardless of how good they look. I had to buy shims for my shop that did the alignment on my race car, tough to find shops that will do an alignment on older cars without struts.
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Old 12-19-2019, 10:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AG View Post
Inspect every part in your front end first and replace what is needed before you get it aligned. If your CA bushings are original, I would replace them all first regardless of how good they look. I had to buy shims for my shop that did the alignment on my race car, tough to find shops that will do an alignment on older cars without struts.
Yup. No way shape or form are the bushing 'good' being that old, same with the rest of the suspension. Check the rear suspension too.


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