Had an alignment done on the land cruiser so it would follow behind the Dodge with a tow bar. No luck! Any other suggestions? The wheels turn opposite of the turn that I try to make.



:mad:

Caster is your problem. Did they check the caster degree setting when you had it aligned?

Mine did that last summer. I ran some degree shims to roll the pinion down and get the caster where I wanted it, and she would follow the GMC around a light pole after that. :D:D

Caster is right, shim it and it will follow....in the mean time, you can use a bungee cord to hold the wheel straight looped through the brake pedal.

Works great, did it for years, it will drag a little in tight turns, but for a long haul to SD it will be fine!

bungee is a bad idea IMO, but it does work.

2.5 degree shims to tip your pinion down and you'll have it licked. Find cast or steel ones...alum suck (well, really, they spit, as in spit out after they get squished, but you get the idea....)

I had to lower my towbar to get mine to tow. The bar was coming down on an angle to my truck hitch and the geometry of the whole set would not allow the FJ to track. I lower my bar so the tounge is level ans she let me tow her flawlessly,

bennett

I had the same problem.
I forked out the cash to get my knuckles cut and turned so I'd have some caster.
Way too far out after my spring-over to shim.

YOU GUYS ARE SAYING THE POINT THE PINION DOWN? CREATING LESS CASTER? SO YOU WANT LESS CASTER TO TOW AND MORE TO HAVE THE WHEELS TRACK STRAIGHT WHEN YOU DRIVE? IS THIS RIGHT?

Pinion down = more caster.

how bout a bone stock 45 that turns freely when you turn the wheel, but won't when towing? any clues anyone?

Same story Ige.....my 74 was exactly like that. On road driving it was fine. Hook up the tow bar and it instantly drove the opposite of the tow rig, which in my case was a 1995 Toyota pickukp and too light to fight with it. Added 2.5 degree shims and I could u-turn from a standstill.

FIXXAAH....make sure you see http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm since it explains caster and more...you've got it exactly opposite. (BTW: like the mini caps...good idea!)

Fixxxah
The same pos. caster thats helps you go straight will help your rig follow while flat towing.
If the rig is stearing in the wrong direction then you need more caster. I'm not good at this computer stuff or I would draw you a picture but if you can imagine your tires centerline tilted backward when you start in a turn the turn will drag the tire the right direction if it got neg. caster the tire will try and turn the opposite direction.
I hope that makes some kind of sence

I run about 8 deg. in mine and it tows great.

GOD, GLAD I HAVENT TURNED MY KNUCKELS YET, THAT COULDA GOTTEN UGLY, I SUPPOSE MY BROTHER WOULD HAVE STOPPED ME. I THOUGHT I WAS GOOD UNTIL I READ THAT FAMILYCARS.COM THING WOODY, IT MESSED ME UP :flipoff2: SO YOU WANT THE TOP OF THE KNUCKLE TILTED BACKWARDS, RIGHT? LIKE 5-6 DEGREES FOR IT TO TRACK NICE AND STRAIGHT? :confused:

I turned my housing ~15 degrees total...tipped the pinion up 12-13 and rotated the caster to 3-4 degrees positive. We put the axle under the truck like 5 times over 3-4 days, putting weight on it, and measuring. PITA, but I'm pleased with the results.

Oh, and yes, the top of the knuckle turns back. You essentially set the pinion angle first, then rotate the knuckle back.

Originally posted by woody

Oh, and yes, the top of the knuckle turns back. You essentially set the pinion angle first, then rotate the knuckle back.


this is true, when i did my SO, i concentrated on getting the perches exactly above, where they were factory (so i didnt have to cut and rotate as i had visions of driving dowen the higway and it falling to pieces) anyways

here what i wish id have done after reading and listening and generally being more educated (jasonm, woody and so on) get an angle finder onto your knuckles flat surface as they are factory

write that number down, keep it somewhere
do your SO, tilt your pinion where you want it, then cut your knuckles, and rotate your steering arms, top plate etc, back to where it was on your anlgefinder in the factory position, or more if you want more....i cant see why you'd want more though?!?!

rotated pinion for improved shaft angles, and increased shaft clearance, the less strain on your unis and the additional clearance sure is a bonus (each inch the very top of the pinion goes up, is another 1" more clearance of your driveshaft) ;)

thanks for all the info guys! Looks like I will just be shipping the cruzer out to South Dakota because of the lack of free time on my part! But in the future I will be fixing this

Donald

;)

Stock cruiser's had I think 1 degree of postive caster.
With big tires and lifts more caster is good for better stability at high speeds.
Mine is around 6 degrees positive now.