I am in the process of putting the front end of my 49 F1 back together and I was wandering if caster shims are required or are they used as a means of adjustment/repair? I understand there are diffrent degrees of shims so there is obviously a means of adjustment there. Also, is there a way, other then taking it to have an alignment done, I can see what degree, if any, I may need? I didn't take the front end apart so I don't know if there were any to begin with

 

Castor is 2.5 - 4.5 degrees - I believe that a 3 degree wedge was standard (Thats all I remember seeing in the several I've dismantled)
It should be stamped on the thick end

 

Not trying to hijack the thread but I am curious about shims too. I have had 3 1954 F250 and none of them had the caster shims when I took them apart. Am I missing something here?

 

Don't know much about those new fangled trucks like yours - I would look in the back of the maintence manual under the spec section - Maybe the built in the initial castor.

 

All of the 49-50 that I have taken apart had them. You need 4-5 degrees with today's tires and roads. I have 4 in my 49 and I wish I had installed 5. It does well until you get up around 70 MPH, then it starts to wander a bit.

 

I too dont know squat about castor .If I placed a magnetic degree gauge on the king pin housing would it show castor pos or neg depending front or rear angle? Sorry to jump on your thread. BUt I havent seen this come up b4. (JIMMY)

 

Yes, if placed on the rear edge of the king pin. If you check the angle on the end, toward the wheel, that's your camber.

 

Thanks for the help everybody. Next question: Are caster shims specific to make, model, or year, or are they pretty generic? Where is a good place to get them?

 

They are specific to spring width - Most of the old Truck suppliers have them - Your local alighnment shop should also have some tucked away somewhere.

 

Thank you for your help. (JIMMY)