Re: [T3] Front Alignment and Ball Joint

["Jim Adney" <jadney@vwtype3.org>]

On 16 Mar 2001, at 12:33, Fuhriman, Mark wrote:

> Just got back from the tire shop.  Got a set of Michelin XZX.

Great tires, good prices. I don't think they are discontinued, but I 
have to call my dealer ahead of time so they can order them for me.

> The uppers were both pointing straight ahead.  I
> had him turn the lowers straight ahead, and that brought the
> camber on both sides right to spec.  No adjustment of the tops was
> needed.

Great! You read the manual and had them set the bottoms straight 
ahead then found that the tops didn't need adjusting. I assume this 
means that all 4 are straight ahead. If one of them is turned 180 
deg, this would explain the bad caster measurement. Did you look 
for the notch in addition to the flats? If all the flats are facing 
straight sideways but one of them is turned around 180 deg, I think 
you could just turn that one til the notch is facing forward, too, then 
everything should be good.

Actually, the caster angle difference is only 1/2 degree, so this is 
probably within spec.
 
> There is a squeek in the LHS suspension when I turn the steering
> wheel.  The alignment tech and I pretty much narrowed it down to
> (probably) a ball joint. 

If you buy a small grease zerk fitting you can screw it into the end 
of the ball joint stud after you CAREFULLY pull/unscrew the plastic 
plug. Pump in grease while you squeeze the boot from side to side 
between your finger and thumb. Stop putting in grease as soon as 
you feel the boot just begin to swell between your fingers. Remove 
the zerk and replace the plug. Use heavy chassis grease for this.

Of course I'm assuming that you have found and lubed all 4 zerks 
on the front axle beam!  ;-)

-
Jim Adney
jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, WI 53711-3054
USA

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