[seph10]

I had my 1970 Mach1 in for a front end alignment, My mechanic says that he ran out of adjustment on the strut rods, is this a common problem , or do I need to move the strut rod mounting brackets???

 

[Veronica]

Hello. I would have to say that, since I have never even heard of this happening before, it can't be all that common. I'm having a little trouble visualizing what would have to happen to a car to make this be the case. Assuming that the car isn't all bent up in the front, or the shock towers have been replaced and that left the upper control arm holes in the wrong place, it would just about have to be a bent strut rod, or possibly a bent lower control arm. But, as always, I could be just as wrong as wrong can be.

 

[Ironhorse302]

Joe, you should've been given a print-out of the starting specs and final specs for your alignment attempt. I think it also might list the "recommended" specs. If you didn't get that, you might think about going back to get it. Veronica is absolutely right. Unless something is damaged or way out of line, you CAN"T run out of adjustment (at least, I've never done so on any alignment I ever performed on that type of car.) If you could share the specs, we might be able to better advise (or confuse, lol) the issue.




Disclaimer, this is MY OPINION only; there may be other, better informed members to reply to your post.

 

[rex1965]

The camber is the eccentric on the inside part of the lca, this I believe is set first and the bolt should be tightened down so it can't move, then the caster is adjusted by the the nuts on the strut by the front radiator brace, both nuts need to be turned the same direction to lengthen or shorten the strut adjustment, this moves the outer part of the LCA forward or rearward, caster is the angle of the ball joint pivot center line, normally the top of the center line is forward of the bottom one. The the toe-in is set. It may be that you have worn bushings on the uca or lca. Here is a link: http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/chassis-suspension/mump-1212-mustang-front-end-alignment/ Also if someone has installed shims on the UCA you may not have enough room for adjustment of the struts, normally on a 69-70 there are no shims on the UCA. I am not an alignment expert, just an old mechanic. My 2 cts. Good Luck.

 

[seph10]

Thanks everybody, that gives me some insite on what to look for,