Alignment Proceedures - '56

[JCantor791@xxxxxxx]

Ah, but that doesn't answer my question.  The factory service manual doesn't 
provide very useful information on caster adjustment which IS different from 
later model Chrysler products.  Even though I've never done an alignment myself 
- no space for one of those $50K Hunter rigs :-) - I've had enough older cars 
and watched enough alignments performed to know that the adjustments 
available on my '67 Monaco and '73 Satellite were different and, appeared, more 
extensive.

When it comes to repairs on my cars, I'm the type who wants to have some idea 
of how the work is done even if I don't do it myself.  That's one of the 
reasons I like this particular shop - they allow customers to observe they're 
work 
and are willing to take the time to explain it.  A mechanic who asks no 
questions and simply hands the keys back saying everything's done, scares me.  
I've 
had that happen only to find out that they had no idea what they were doing 
but were afraid to ask or admit as much.

So back to the original question: does anyone know the procedure for caster 
adjustment on the '55/'56 Imps?  The service manual indicates that MINOR caster 
adjustments can be made with an eccentric bushing on the upper control arm.  
This bushing is NOT labeled on the exploded views but appears to be on the 
outboard end of the upper control arm which I believe, as does the tech, would 
do 
more to affect chamber than caster.  The inboard end of the upper control arm 
appears to be rigidly attached to the frame unlike newer Chrysler products 
with which I am familiar where there are slotted holes that allow for the 
adjustment.

Obviously we are missing something here, I just need some help finding it.  
Paul, perhaps if you are in at the shop that has served you so well, you could 
ask them for a brief description or comment on where the adjustment is.  I'm 
confident that with just a little help, we can figure this out.  The tech who 
is helping me isn't ancient but he is in his late fifties and has been working 
on cars professionally since his twenties.

Thanks,
Jeff
'56 Sedan
Trenton, NJ



Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 19:51:07 -0500
From: RandalPark@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: Alignment Proceedures - '56
Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My shop has aligned the front end on both my '55 and my '56 Imperials without 
asking a single question. In fact I was so pleased with them, that I ALLOWED 
them the privilege of rebuilding the front end on my '62. After some confusion 
over whether or not I had supplied the correct lower control arm bushings, 
they did a fabulous job.

I would say that if your front end shop doesn't know how to align the front 
end, you need to find another shop.

Paul

From: "Matt Hopkins" <mhoppy@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: IML: Alignment Procedures - in general
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 07:43:42 -0600
Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Good old alignment shops are still out there.  I live in a community of
about 40,000 and we have 2 such shops.  The one I use is owned by a car
collector. When I took my 66 Crown in for alignment and front check, he and
his son who works for him had to take it out for a test drive which entailed
closing the shop for 20 minutes. He needed no direction on how to align, he
knew how to do it and had the old books.  His shop also replaced the
accumulator for the ABS on my 92. Now that I have seen it done, I could have
done it but was not familiar with these systems at all. He charged $25 in
labor, so everybody needs to make a living.  This shop is known for "If you
can't get it fixed anywhere else, take it to Ray Snider."  In the long run
if you take your cars to this type of place, you will have less money spent
and a much more pleasurable Imperial experience
Matt Hopkins
66 Crown
75 Lebaron
92 Imperial