upper A-arm shaft bolts

[chevn-up]

Ok I'm talking about the bolts that the cross shafts bolt onto. After more than a four inch drop, the alignment has required like an inch of shims, (my truck, probably yours too). The retaining nuts are at the end of the bolts. Now I have seen where folks have made the upper arms longer to reduce the number of shims, and even seen the lower arms narrowed to bring the uppers in. I have been driving the truck for several years like this without incident, but it just seems a little scary. So, for my question, is there anyone making a longer bolt, or is there a different route I need to take?

 

[74 Shortbed]

Aftermarket control arms for lowered trucks, they are longer so you don't need a ton of shims, they also add Caster to them too to make it easier.

 

[smoothandlow84]

Hmm. My upper arms are stock and I have plenty of threads and adjustment...very few shims. 5 inch drop up front too

 

[74 Shortbed]

I had 3" coils on mine and I had well over a 1/2" worth of shims.

 

[smoothandlow84]

I had 3" coils on mine and I had well over a 1/2" worth of shims.

Let's see...I have 3" drop coils, 2 inch drop spindles. Possibly a 1/2" worth of shims, but plenty of adjustability for alignment non the less.

 

[74 Shortbed]

That's strange I had more shims than that, and I could barely get 4* of Caster took a lot more shims on one side than yours???.

 

[chevn-up]

....

Guys, this is what I have. 2 1/2 spindle and 2" spring. The other side is identical. the next pic shows the tread-wear.

 

[chevn-up]

...

not sure about the mileage, guessing over 30K.

 

[smoothandlow84]

That's strange I had more shims than that, and I could barely get 4* of Caster took a lot more shims on one side than yours???.

Well....I'm puzzled. My alignment is dead on and I have even tread wear...and it drives straight...no wondering whatsoever.

 

[smoothandlow84]

Guys, this is what I have. 2 1/2 spindle and 2" spring. The other side is identical. the next pic shows the tread-wear.

Do you know the history of your truck? If it was ever involved in a front end collision, that may explain the amount of shims needed and still out of alignment. Just a guess.

 

[chevn-up]

hey smooth, history of the truck will take some digging, Just a visual of the frame, and it looks "normal". Maybe a tape measure will provide answer.

 

[chevn-up]

...

I have done a visual on the front. All of the factory rivets are still in, The cross members are undamaged. The A-arms do not appear to be bent. This tells me no previous damaged to the truck? The engine is still in the frame, but I was able to pull five of the measurements on this drawing, all dead-on.

 

[74 Shortbed]

Well....I'm puzzled. My alignment is dead on and I have even tread wear...and it drives straight...no wondering whatsoever.

Which proves every vehicle is different, looked at a lot of different ones and see different amount of shims but yet the alignment is right. Guess it don't matter though because I'll be using aftermarket control arms so it'll all be different again anyways, lol..

 

[74 Shortbed]

not sure about the mileage, guessing over 30K.

Your Camber settings are way off, if that's the inside you have too much negative Camber, if it's the outside it has too much positive Camber.

 

[smoothandlow84]

Your Camber settings are way off, if that's the inside you have too much negative Camber, if it's the outside it has too much positive Camber.

X2. To much negative camber