I never thought to ask this before, but since I put stock springs back in my 56 this winter (the old ones were cut down) I was planning on having it aligned again. The shop manual says for stock 56 Ford spindles the specs are as follows;

Caster Camber Toe In

Max-1&1/2 Max-1&1/4 1/16" - 1/8"
Min- 1/2 Min- 1/4

So, my question is, with mid 70's 2&1/2" dropped Granada spindles, do the alignment specs change??

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

My understanding is the difference is if bias or radial tires on the car. Different setting for radial tires, how wide the tire is also matters.

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

I just finished doing the Granada swap on my 57 Bird. Now has the stock springs minus about 3/4 of a coil. I do my own alignments. I set the Caster and Camber to 57 Tbird factory specs, Toe-in is about 1/16 or so in for radial tires. I like the caster to the high end of the spec for better highway driving. Steers straight, no pull to either side, and stops straight. I use a Fastrax camber/caster gauge. Really easy to use once you have done a few. After figuring out what adjustments are needed for the caster and camber you can do them both at the same time. Toe-in is pretty straight forward, excuse the pun.   



57 Black Tbird 312/auto

A little bit negative camber and toe in for radials.


Hyvinkää, FI

Alignment specs are in the eye of the beholder - what the arcs of motion of the suspension are, and how you wish to use them are things that can be "tuned". Those who have had an early Mustang or Cougar and performed the "Shelby drop" will tell you the changes can be dramatic.

Caster is the effect that makes your car "return to center" when you release the wheel - and that force has to be overcome when you turn the wheel yourself (gross simplification) - but it is a force to be reckoned with when manual steering is used in an older nose-heavy sedan.

1956 Ford Alignment specifications: Caster +1/2° to +1-1/2° preferred +1.0° / Camber 1/4° to +1-1/4° preferred +3/4° / Toe In 1/16 to 1/8 inch

Early Mustang Alignment specs: Caster +2° to +2-3/4° / Camber 0 to -1/2° / Toe In 1/8 inch

The Mustang came out with bias ply tires I believe - maybe try those for a start.....

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona