Re: [T3] positive camber

["Dave Hall" <dave@hallvw.clara.co.uk>]

If you fancy doing the camber yourself, it's not too tricky.  You
can do it with an 18" spirit level, and with the car on level
ground, the top of the rim of the wheel should be 7 to 12 mm further
out than the bottom of the rim.  So put the spirit level vertically
across the hub (you could probably stick it there with chewing gum
or something!) and measure the distance to the rim at the top and
the bottom.  If it's not right, slacken the clamp bolt and turn the
upper ball-joint pin until the measurements differ by around 10mm.
The manual advises moving it half a wheel turn forward and checking.

A neat tip for toe-in (picked up from RAMVA) is to use a telescopic
tent-pole to get an idea how much less the track is in front of the
axle compared with behind.  It should be between 4mm and 7mm
narrower in front than behind, measured at the rim, or
proportionately more measured from tyre wall to tyre wall as it is
an angular measurement.  Measure as close to the mid-height of the
wheel as possible (easier on a Bus than a T3).

Dave.
-----Original Message-----
From: jadney@vwtype3.org <jadney@vwtype3.org>
To: type3@vwtype3.org <type3@vwtype3.org>
Date: 20 August 1998 22:32
Subject: Re: [T3] positive camber


>  Front camber can be changed by adjusting the ball joints.  When
was
> the last alignment done?

The lowers have to be left with the notches pointing forward.
Adjust
the uppers only.

>  Speaking of alignments (and changing the subject), I always think
> twice before having a shop do any work on a VW -- around here
nobody
> knows about them, and they do ridiculous things like jack them up
in
> the wrong places.  (I don't even let tire places touch my car; I
> carry in the tires and rims!)   Do folks find that alignment shops
> treat your car well?  I would think that the Type III ball joint
> adjustment would be similar to other modern cars, and that most
> shops would do just fine.  True?  Any horror stories?

You have to study the Bentley manual and go in well informed.  They
will know nothing about your car.  They can operate their equipment,
you need to watch carefully and provide the advise as to what needs
to be adjusted and how.

Note that toe-in must be adjusted on BOTH sides until the steeering
wheel is centered.  They will tell you that you just need to adjust
one side and then remove and install the steering wheel
horizontally.
The steering gearbox HAS a center position; starting sometime in 69
VW started marking it.  Don't assume your wheel is installed
correctly.  Read the Bentley.  It is complete and clear on this
subject.

Yes, this is just another area frought with difficulty when others
work on your car.  I have had VW dealerships in the EARLY 70s that
did not understand any of this!  {and it applies equally to bugs,
too.}

Jim
-
Jim Adney
temporarily away from home


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