Caster adjustment

[Taddyffore]

’78 3000 S (LHD): wondering if I need a caster adjustment (or some other alignment adjustment) because my car doesn’t “center” itself coming out of turns. And it seems to require constant adjustment in the steering to keep it straight on the line. Presume I can get it checked/adjusted by an alignment specialist? TIA.

[Adrian@]

There is no adjustment of caster, it is machined into the trunnion.(unless you have forced power steering trunnions in place of std trunnions).
On a flat surface measure (with the wheels on), the chassis to the floor under the ARB U bolts.
Secure the car ...Remove the wheels and set the chassis to the same exact height (mounted on the round tube in the center, so the chassis is not twisted). Remove both track rod ends. At this point you should be able to rotate R/L the two front discs/rotors between finger and for-thumb (this will tell you if the trunnions are seizing). Also at this point, you should be able to rotate the steering wheel with one finger (this will tell if the column is correctly mounted to edge of the pedal box stopping the column from aligning with the intermediate shaft and it's bush, OR if you have alloy rack mounts fitted (that you have over tightened them, causing the rack bar and rack tube to bind) OR the steering UJ's are seizing. Note, OE rubber rack mounts have an additional packer to stop the rack shunting (if that is missing the car floats R/L at speed anyway, that applies to to poly versions with a missing packer too). A@

Edited by Adrian@ on Sunday 31st May 06:57

[Taddyffore]

Thank you Adrian. Good stuff to know.