Control arm shims? WTH??!

[530-521]

What is this all about??  Gah!!!

 

[thisismatt]

Adjusting camber & caster.  Looks like a lot, though.  I would assume something else isn't stock, since stock would have few to none...

[datzenmike]

Adding shims evenly will add negative camber, removing an even amount will add positive camber.

More or less shims on the front or back will adjust the caster.

[530-521]

Is this the correct way to shim it though?? It looks backwoods AF.

Edited May 23, 2019 by 530-521

[mklotz70]

shimming is the correct way to adjust it......but that many....no.  As Matt said above....few to none.

[530-521]

So I’m guessing something is effed. Like a bent kingpin?

[mklotz70]

There's a lot of other things that will bend before the kingpin.  If the kingpin bends, you won't be able to turn.  Are the wheels straight up and down?  Does it have that many shims on both sides, or just the passenger side?  

[thisismatt]

It's the only way the fronts of these trucks can be adjusted in stock form.  The shims can be purchased in various thicknesses, and other vehicles use the same method, although it seems most newer vehicles have gone to other, more infinitely variable methods, like cam washers.

[530-521]

The wheels have a bit of camber.. not crazy by any means...

 

Only the passenger side is shimmed like that. The drivers side has matching thick washers

Edited May 23, 2019 by 530-521

[mklotz70]

If it's both sides and the wheels are cambered.....they may have done it to get tires to fit in the fenders.  Doesn't sound like anything is bent.  Kingpins may be really worn.  You'll have to investigate the front end or take it to an alignment shop and let them find any issues and fix them.

[Draker]

Alignment shop may have tossed them in there to begin with. Not saying a quality shop.. never know. Probaby just worn parts and this was a way to compensate.

[530-521]

Thanks guys. Another thing I’ll be looking into further...

[mainer311]

When the kingpins wear out, you actually get negative camber, which these shims are also doing, so I'm confused. It's possible that your kingpins are perfectly fine, and they installed these shims to get the front tires to tuck in the fenders like Mike mentioned. 

[Draker]

how low is it?

[BrothersGarage]

1 hour ago, Draker said:

how low is it?

Looks pretty stock height

[530-521]

34 minutes ago, BrothersGarage said:

Looks pretty stock height

 

 

Its lowered an 1-1/2” front, 1-1/4 rear

[datzenmike]

Facing straight ahead on the level... if you can see any camber or toe..... it's too much. These settings are very subtle. On a 14" rim a 1 degree positive camber is sticking out at the top just 0.122"

[mklotz70]

At stock height, the UCA is angled downward.......so if it was lowered, that would push the top of the rim out and might be why they put the shims in....to pull it inboard to compensate.  Understand, if you can't look at it and figure out why they're there.....it's going to be extremely hard for us to guess at why. :)

 

[banzai510(hainz)]

I got new bushing for the upper A arm or what ever you call it. Use lots of PB plaster and jack the wheel up to get the bolt out then put the new rubber bushings on.

 

My  521 is slightly cambered also. new bushings helped

 

but yours has a lot of shims!!!!!!

[Charlie69]

Check to see if both lower control arms are the same length.