Caster cam bolt

[ken729]

Can someone tell me if the caster cam bolt washer ( large lobe ) should be oriented towards the front or back of the vehicle to increase caster. Thanks

[dksob81]

turn it so the bolt (head) is more to the front of the vehicle to increase caster.

[ken729]

Thanks for the reply. My 96 zj is stock and has the offset washers on the lower control arm bolts to adjust caster. I had the large lobe of the offset washer facing the front which increased caster way too much . I reversed it and now it faces the rear. It drives much better and the steering wheel now returns to center. The question now is how to set the caster to +7 degrees aside from getting a shop alignment. I really dont want to spring for an entire alignment just to have 2 bolts tweaked -- unless there's no other way to do this.

[dksob81]

Id o not know of anyway to do this without an alignment.

[Bob D.]

Caster is important, but if it handles well - returns to center, doesn't drift, etc. you are probably close. On my Ford Bronco we just cold bent the arms until it handled right, never even measured it. But I would still recommend getting it checked.

[ken729]

Thanks for the reply. It handles and steers fine but what made me think the caster was out us the steering would not fully return to center. I brought it in to a local shop for an alignment and front end check - it turned out to be the lower ball joints are binding. I'm surprised because they are Moogs with only 25k on them and have been regularly greased and never off road . I'm supposed to pick up the Jeep later today. The good part is I saved my slip from when the binding ball joints were installed and the shop got full warranty coverage on the replacements.

[knelleken]

do what you want, but the presision of an alignment machine will save your tires in the long run. even though caster is not a tirewearing angle, when you screw with it it always changes your camber readings. also when you do it with out a machine, your aligning off of the difference between the front tires and not aligning the front to match the back (tracking) tires, causing dog tracking and draging the back

[ken729]

I agree 100% - in fact when I brought it to the shop an alignment was the first thing I asked for. The mechanic looked at my tires, checked the front end and test drove it. He came back and said that my lower ball joints were binding and that was the cause of my steering not fully coming back to center. The alignment, he said, wasn't the issue here because all of my tires are wearing evenly. I still think it is but they supposedly disconnected the pitman arm to check for binding linkage and found the lower ball joints binding. Its a tough one to dispute but I do have a hard time believing lower ball joints with 25k are binding -perhaps the were over torqued.

[knelleken]

problem solved, sweet

[xj31]

FWIW,those bolts really have very little affect on caster.They are actually more for adjusting the front pinion angle,although you will get a little caster change out of them.Someone also said that changing caster affects camber,and while that is usually true,it doesn't do anything to the camber when you have a straight axle.
Also 25k shouldn't cause the ball joints to bind but look at the age of the jeep.They are probably rusting inside.If you drove more they might have lasted longer