i need help adjusting rear upper and lower control arms!

[axeman]

ok, i just got done installing adjustable lowers and double adjustable uppers. looking from the side of the car, before i put these on, the drivers side tire was really close to the ground effects towards the front of the car, but the passenger side was center. i take it you adjust the lowers first to the same length. i tried that and they were still aligned the same as before, so i decided to adjust them to center the wheels in the wheel well. now the drivers side lower is longer than the passenger. is this ok? next i adjusted the uppers to get close to the desired pinion angle. i drove it for the first time today to go get it inspected and my passenger side tire rubs the inside of the fender. looks like my whole rear is alot further to the drivers side. i take it i need to shorten the passenger side upper and lengthen the drivers side to move the rear to the passenger side. before i go mess with this again, anyone have any advice? is there a correct method to doing this? any help or a link would be appreciated.

 

[Mike86Stang]

Well let me start off by saying I've never installed adjustables...with that out of the way.....

I'd say measure the stock control arms center to center (bolt holes) & adjust your lowers & uppers to match. Same as stock I know but stock didn't rub right ?
After that I'd measure from center of the rear axle to the center of the front hub on each side. This will tell you if the axle is straight in the car or "off", if it's straight leave it alone. May not look centered but it'll drive & track straight. If the rear is cocked in the car your rear tires would probably scub (not track/trail straight) as your driving basically wearing them out faster beside other handling/steering issues aside.
If it is "off" I would adjust it until each axle is equi-distant from the front, then adjust your pinion angle .

I hope that helps
Good Luck!~

 

[jerry beach]

www.baselinesuspensions.com I think they have some very complete info on what you are doing.

 

[axeman]

mike,
thanks! that helps alot. i didn't even really think about all that. all i wanted was to have the tires centered for once.

so i understand now about getting the rear wheels straight with the front, but what if the axle is not centered if you look from the back of the car? if the axle is more to the drivers side, you lengthen that side?

jerry,
thanks for the link. actually i've been reading on that site lately, but have yet to find about basic installation and alignment. i guess i'm asking you guys so i could learn these things.

 

[Mike86Stang]

To be honest I don't know about centering the rear under the car

My assumption would be (if the drivers side sticks out to far), that you would lengthen both control arms on that side & slightly shorten them on the passenger side.
Then you may have issues with the rear being cocked again

Did Bill ever help you out? I would think he may know, if I can find out anything else for you I'll deffinatly let you know. See what you did... your making me think...how could you

 

[blown5.0]

heres the deal.

1. like stated above adj the lowers to the same length as the oem lowers and install them.
2. adj the uppers to the same length as the oems and install them.
3. string the car, run a string along the side of the tires front tire to rear tire, both left side and right side and make sure the front wheels are pointing staight.
4. next measure from the front tire to the rear tire, both sides should be the same, this will put the rear square in the car. if needed adj one of the lower control arms, it doesnt matter if one tires is closer to the rear fender than the other, it matters that both rear tires are the same distance from the front tires.
5. next adj the uppers to get the desired pinion angle in relation to the driveshaft, usually around neg 2-3 degrees.
6. next you have to measure chris-cross, front left tire to right rear, right front to left rear, this will get the rear centered in the car from left to right. to adj the rear left or right, you adj one upper longer and the other shorter.

that should do it.....

 

[axeman]

mike,
sorry to make you think a little gees, i didn't think it would be this difficult, but i did talk to bill on the phone last night and he gave me some great advice.

blown5.0,
thanks, that also helps out. i have a pretty good understanding of it now and i will probably mess with it more this weekend.

 

[Mike86Stang]

Well good luck with it & let me know how it goes, i'm still looking for some info just incase you don't get it sorted out