FRONT END ALIGNMENT

[George Karageorge]

I have been finding it difficult to find a shop that can do an alignment on my 64 SDV.  The alignment heads that attach to the rear wheels come too close or touch the body.  I have been to 4 shops so far.  Will be going to Duty Tire as Jason suggested but I wanted to see if anyone has had this experience or can shed any light.

Short history of the work that I have done is replace upper lower ball joints, stab links, and control arm bushings.  The brakes have been totally redone-everything, and have been adjusted a number of times.

The car seems to ride straight maybe a slight wander to the right when steering wheel is let go.  When the brakes are applied car pulls to the left, I guess for lack of a better description at a medium intensity.  I have adjusted the brakes per manual a few times.

Thanks

George

[Tony and Ginny 429]

If you used the Raybestos brand of brake shoes already then you brake shoes have been cut to the drums already by them
So that would not be the pulling to the left issue

Pls do read the posts carfully as there is a lot of info often missed by many
My very first post on this subject was about checking your brake shoe adjustments on both front wheels first

The brake shoes on each drum are two different sizes
One goes on the front and the other on the back of the drum
I do not recall which goes on the front --i think --the smaller of the two brake shoes so be sure that is correct as well

Enjoy

[Tony and Ginny 429]

Correction
Per Daves prior post the primary shoe ( larger one ) goes to the front of the car
On all four brakes
All four brake shoes are the same and interchangable on our year cars which is not always the case with other cars
So do buy the same shoes for all four corners when you do

Enjoy

[George Karageorge]

According to the shop manual the primary lining goes to the front and the secondary on the back.  the primary is 11.52" long and the secondary is 12.98" long so the shorter one goes in front.  I think you had it right the first time.

[Tony and Ginny 429]

Do work very clean and remove any sign of oil or grease from the drum and shoes with alcohol If necessary

[Jason Edge]

Beyond basic brake adjustments, there are 13 reasons listed in the Shop Manual for causes of car pulling to one side (see my post from yesterday). I would tick off all of them, especially any that you know have been changed since the noticeable pull to one side.

[Tony and Ginny 429]

George
I know many of you parts are brand new as you indicated Prior
Have you installed all new brake springs in the front brakes ?
Old spring may not be retracting the shoes as they SB if they are old and tired

Enjoy

[George Karageorge]

I did have to reuse the large front spring which was from a recent brake job in the last 5 years (not he original original) and it feels like its pretty stout.  The kit I got the springs were too big so I reused what was there on just the front ones. pic of rt side. drum is12" ID

[Clovis]

George did your kit come with the automatic adjusters? My car does not have them although all looks to be new.

[George Karageorge]

No I had to clean them up and repaint. The kits out there are not very complete.

[Tony and Ginny 429]

Clovis
All the stock cars came with brake adjusters
They sell kits with springs to eliminate the adjusters if you desire to
The brake adjust are great when they work as they should but could be a problem if they do not work as intended
Many people have chosen to eliminate the adjuster in these years in many cars

Our brakes that require a bit more to do than just the usuall back of the drum adjustment hole ,it is a convienience to have the adjuster working correctly

Enjoy

[Tony and Ginny 429]

George
The plungger on the left side of the brake cylinder does not look right as it is going into the cylinder at a bad angle in the picture above

Is this the brake pulling left?

[Tony and Ginny 429]

That brake cylinder needs to be checked ( examined ) as the plunger SB moving in and out smoothly not at any angle
It may be binding at that angle and that brake cylinder may not be working correctly because of that