Winter stored, alignment out?

Question

I stored my vw over the winter, and when I got it out this spring, the caster is way off, and it shimmies in the front real bad above 40mph. When I put the wheel in the center, there's definitely some toe out. For example, if I put one side looking like its dead straight ahead, the other side looks like it would if you were making a slight turn. Does the alignment go bad after it has sat for a while? What else might have caused this? Thanks.

Speedy Jim · Accepted Answer

That would be toe-in that is way off, not caster.Is this on a Super?  I can't imagine it happening on a Std. Speedy Jim

Steve Gift · Answer

Yeah, its toe in that is not right (thought that was caster).   I knowcamber is how far the top or bottom is angled in.  I have a standard '63chassis.  I looked tonight again, and I see the adjustment nuts on the tierod.  It looks like you should only adjust the passenger side.  Set thedriver's side to where it should be, and adjust the passenger side?  Or am Inot looking at this right?

Speedy Jim · Answer

You may have to adjust both rods. The steering wheel must *remain* straight ahead when done adjusting.

BUT.......before you get into all that, jack up each front wheel and wiggle the wheel top and bottom. If play, the king pins may be worn. Wiggle (gently) left to right. If play, the tie rod ends may be worn.

Speedy Jim

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Steve Gift · Answer

Before reading your last post Jim, I did do that procedure after reading itin Muir.  On the right side (the one that seems the furthest out) there issome play.  Its hard to judge how much, or should there be none at all?When I put a certain amount of force on it, you can feel it move, both whenpushing at 12 & 6 o'clock and 9 & 3 o'clock.  You can see the main part,that the king pin goes through, slide up a little.  Just a little, but theother side does not do this.  How could the pins have gotten worn just bysitting, or could it just not have noticed it last year?  Do I need toreplace these now?  I must note that the play is barely noticeable, and doesnot throw the toe in or out an amount significant enough to notice adifference.news:

Speedy Jim · Answer

If the pin moves vertically, it means the thrust washer is gone/worn. That won't affect toe-in but I wouldn't like driving it. Storage wouldn't have affected it (I don't think...)

I guess go ahead and adjust the toe, but I'm suspicious about why it (apparently) went bad during storage.

Speedy Jim

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Jack Woltz · Answer

Perhaps the tires have developed flat spots, or the belts have shifted.

Maybe a tie rod, etc. was worn to the point of being "on the way out" and when you drove the car this year it finally "went."

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Winter stored, alignment out?

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