Camber adjustment GQ Patrol

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 00:48

ThreadID: 22440 Views:7354 Replies:4 FollowUps:4

This Thread has been Archived

Steve & Jen

A friend has a GQ patrol, RHS Front wheel camber is way out. Sticks out like a sore thumb. We cant work out how to adjust it, and nearest mechanic is a day and a half away. Can any one help.
Cheers Steve

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Swine Hunter - Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 07:18

Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 07:18

Hi Steve,

Well bad news I'm afraid....
The only alignment spec that is readily adjustable is the toe in/out.
Camber, castor,offset castor etc are non - adjustable.

The GQ has a very common factory pull to the left problem resulting from excessive positive camber on the LEFT side, it is strange that your friend has excess camber on the right side, this would inidcate as it is a solid axle, that some damage may have occured at some point, or that the truck isn't sitting level, which gives the appearance of bad camber.

What does the left side look like?

There is a fix however, it is achieved by fitting an eccentric bearing cap to the king pin on the left side normally to correct the factory pull to left, I am not sure if that part can be interchanged with the right side.
Pro-axle truck alignment specialists will do this for you (located around NSW), I actually only had mine done yesterday and cost was $286 inc GST. This helped somewhat but did not remove the pull to the left completley, it is still very slight depending on road crown etc, and my truck also has a slight offset castor difference for which there is no cure (manufacturing issue) I would think again before spending that kind of money where the problem was not completley removed, it is better but for near $300 I maybe would just live with it.

Cheers,
Wayne

AnswerID: 108528

Follow Up By: Diamond (Vic) - Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 12:56

Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 12:56

the eccentric bearing caps you are talking about are also designed to adjust camber as well as caster.
cheers

FollowupID: 365321

Follow Up By: Swine Hunter - Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 15:04

Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 15:04

Hi Diamond,

They won't correct offset castor (castor difference between left & right) as the axle is rigid!!

FollowupID: 365353

Follow Up By: Diamond (Vic) - Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 17:52

Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 17:52

maybe they use a different ype of bearing to the ones i used to use.
the eccentric bushes i used to fit or the king pins did adjust a little bit of camber/caster together or a fair bit more of just camber or just caster.
just depended on the way they are fitted if you fit the bearings on the top with the smaller gap in the bearing towards the back of the car and the bottom one the opposite way you have just increased your caster.
if you fit the bearing with the smaller gap towards the out side of the car and the bottom one with the smaller gap on the inside you have just gave your wheel positive camber.the trick is to work out where to fit the bushes to get the best camber/caster adjustment you can do both.
the eccentric bushes range in the degrees the alter the wheel.
eg if you buy a 3 deg bearing kit its possible to get 1 degree camber adjustment and 2 degree caster.not that ive ever fitted a set that actually give you that much.
cheers

FollowupID: 365399

Reply By: herkman - Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 08:59

Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 08:59

Pro axle a very professional crew.

I had been told that if you have shimmy problems on Patrols, you should not fit the ecentric caps to BOTH SIDES.

Apparently this can cause the shimmy to return.

Was quite a few years ago, and I may be wrong, has anyone heard this story.

I would be having the axle itself checked for straightness, as is it is the cause, it could make for some very expensive repairs, caused by things running out of alignment.

Regards

Col Tigwell

AnswerID: 108538

Reply By: Steve & Jen - Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 09:07

Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 09:07

Thanks Guys
I will pass your info on. The vehicle was level when checking, and the left side seems to be OK, however the right is very visible. I hope not, but it sounds like the axle could be bent.
Cheers
Steve

AnswerID: 108539

Reply By: Swine Hunter - Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 11:18

Thursday, Apr 28, 2005 at 11:18

Steve,
Jack the front right side off the ground, with transfer case in 2H spin the rh front wheel by hand, and if the axle is bent (to extent that camber is clearly out with naked eye) you will see the wheel running very eccentric or eliptical, some margin should be factored for rim and tyre, but if axle bent that much to affect camber it will show, also it would have a nasty vibration/shimmy when being driven I would imagine.

Cheers,
Wayne

AnswerID: 108564