Buick LeSabre 1965 Service Manual page 461

7 - 3 4 SERVICE PROCEDURES
CHASSIS SUSPENSION
If customer driving habits re-
quire driving on heavily crowded
roads and a resultant wandering
condition becomes a complaint,
camber can be set at the high
limit on the left wheel whenever
front end alignment is being
performed.
A Guide to Caster - Camber Cor-
rection 1965 - 45 - 46 - 48 -
49000 Series.
1. To Increase Camber Only -
(More Positive)
Remove an equal amount of shims
at front and rear bolt.
2. To Decrease Camber Only -
(Less Positive)
Add an equal amount of shims at
front and rear bolt.
3. To Increase Caster Only -
(More Negative)
Increase the amount of shims at
the front bolt and decrease by an
equal amount at the rear bolt.
4. To Decrease Caster Only -
(Less Negative)
Decrease the amount of shims at
the front bolt and increase by an
equal amount at the rear bolt.
5. To Increase Caster and Cam-
ber Simultaneously -
Remove shims at rear bolt only.
6. To Decrease Caster and Cam-
ber Simultaneously -
Add shims at rear bolt only.
e. Checking and Adjusting
Toe-in
CAUTION: All toe-in measure-
ments are to be taken at free
standing height at curb weight
which includes gas, oil, water
and spare tire. Trim dimensions
at curb weight are given in Figure
7-22. Bounce front end and allow
it to settle to free standing height.
Steering gear and front wheel
bearings must be properly ad-
justed with no looseness at tie
rod ends. The car should be
moved forward one complete rev-
olution of the wheels before the
toe-in check and adjustment is
started and the car should never
be moved backward while making
the check and adjustment.
1. Turn steering wheel to straight
ahead position, with front wheels
in straight ahead position.
2. Measure the horizontal dis-
tance from the near edge of front
boss of lower control arm shaft
to the front edge of brake backing
plate, on each side. Adjust tie
rods, if necessary, to make meas-
urements equal on both sides.
3. Using a suitable toe-in gauge,
measure the distance between
outside walls of tires at the front
at approximately 10" from the
floor. See Figures 7-37 and 7-38
dimension "A". Mark points
where gauge c o n t a c t s tires.
NOTE: An accurate check also
can be made by raising and rotat-
ing front wheels to scribe a fine
line near the center of each tire,
then, with tires on the floor and
front end at running height, meas-
ure between scribed lines with a
suitable trammel.
4. Roll the car forward until
measuring points on tires are ap-
proximately 10" from the floor at
the rear, and measure the dis-
tance between points used in Step
3 above. The measurement at the
front (dimension "A") should be
7/32" to 5/16" less than the
measurement at the rear dimen-
sion "B"). See Figures 7-37 and
7-38.
5. If toe-in is not within specified
limits, loosen clamp bolts and
turn adjusting sleeves at tie rod
ends as required. Decrease toe-
in by turning left sleeve in same
direction as wheel rotates moving
forward and turn right sleeve in
opposite direction. Increase toe-
in by turning both sleeves in
opposite direction.
CAUTION: Left and right adjust-
ing sleeves must be turned ex-
actly the same amount but in
opposite directions when changing
toe-in, in order to maintain front
wheels in straight ahead position
when steering wheel is in straight
ahead position. The rod sleeve
clamps must be p o s i t i o n e d
to provide
straight down to 45
frame clearance.
6. After correct toe-in is se-
cured t i g h t e n clamp b o l t s
securely.
CAUTION: The steering knuckle
and steering arm "rock" or tilt
as front wheel rises and falls.
Therefore, it is of vital impor-
tance to position the bottom face
of tie rod end parallel with ma-
chined surface at outer end of
steering arm when tie rod length
is adjusted. Severe damage and
possible failure can result unless
this precaution is observed.
f. Checking Steering Geometry
(Turning Angles)
CAUTION: Be sure that caster,
camber, and toe-in have all been
properly corrected before check-
ing steering geometry. Steering
geometry must be checked with
the weight of the car on the
wheels.
1. With the front wheels resting
on full floating turntables, turn
wheels to the right until the out-
side (left) wheel is set at 20 de-
grees. The inside (right) wheel
should then set at angle specified
in Figure 7-37 or 38.
2. Repeat this test by turning
front wheels to the left until the
outside (right) wheel sets at 20
degrees; the inside (left) wheel
should then set at angle specified
in Figure 7-37 or 38.
3. Errors in steering geometry
generally indicate bent steering
arms, but may also be caused by
other incorrect front end factors.
If the error is caused by a bent
steering arm it must be replaced.
Replacement of such parts must
be followed by a complete front
end check as described above.