Front End Camber Problem After Rebuild

[Buck Naked]

After rebuilding the front end (balljoints, bushings, tie-rod ends, idler arm, and springs) I have a serious positive camber problem (top of wheels lean out). I believe the stock spring rate for the car is 380 lbs, but I was unable to locate a stock set and used heavier springs at 550 lbs. The car is a 70 vette with a small block and as far as i know uses much of the same front end components as the bb optioned cars (except for spring rate). I have made the maximum adjustment to camber by shimming the upper control arms to the point where there are but a few threads left on the cross-shaft bolt. That helped a little, but there is still way too much positive camber. Im guessing the problem is the springs, but have been assured (by the vendor) that they can be used on the small block car. Any help is appreciated.

[GMMerlin]

Originally Posted by Buck Naked

After rebuilding the front end (balljoints, bushings, tie-rod ends, idler arm, and springs) I have a serious positive camber problem (top of wheels lean out). I believe the stock spring rate for the car is 380 lbs, but I was unable to locate a stock set and used heavier springs at 550 lbs. The car is a 70 vette with a small block and as far as i know uses much of the same front end components as the bb optioned cars (except for spring rate). I have made the maximum adjustment to camber by shimming the upper control arms to the point where there are but a few threads left on the cross-shaft bolt. That helped a little, but there is still way too much positive camber. Im guessing the problem is the springs, but have been assured (by the vendor) that they can be used on the small block car. Any help is appreciated.

If you installed heavier rate springs, that would raise the front end and cause a negative camber issue.
If this problem occurred after your rebuild, I would take a closer look and see if something is installed incorrectly.

[Buck Naked]

tx for the reply. although the replacement springs actually have a shorter uncompressed length, once installed they raise the car about 3 inches (the old springs were spent). i double checked the upper control arms as they are really the only things I could have installed on the wrong side (the lowers have a sway bar mount to the front, so I know they are on right).
I have had two people suggest that springs can't possibly throw out the camber by that much and perhaps my frame needs pulling. I suppose the old weak springs could have been hiding an old frame problem, which now is noticible with the new springs. Who knows, maybe I bent the frame by not properly supporting the front end with jackstands during the job.