Hello Gary, saw your question :
>I noticed that I have 3 shims on the inside and 4 shims on the outside;
>behind the brackets that hold the swing arms on. This makes a differance of
>only 1 shim between the two. Why could I not just remove all shims except
>one on the outside? That would leave the same relative setup as I had
^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^
>before. (Then the replacement bolts might fit that I bought that are a tad
>too short!!)
You would have the same relative setup in relation to the frame section
that the swing-arm mounts to, BUT I think the main relationship to con-
sider is the one of the rear wheel to the diff; the wheel being at a
toe-in setting of 0 to 1/16" in. The wheel can move on a radius in
relation to its attachment at the inner U-joint, and it looks like the
only way to set that rear alignment and toe-in at the same time is
with the shims at the swing-arm mounts. Maybe some other lister who
has experience with 4-wheel alignment can better explain this, or tell
me why I'm barking up the wrong tree, if that's the case, but that's
my 2-cent guess...more fun with the IRS, eh ? Maybe that's why Triumph
went back to the `live axle' with the TR-7 / 8, the IRS is almost more
trouble than it's worth, so many adjustments & moving parts to get right.
>
>The only complication I can think of is that the whole swing arm would be
>moved maybe 1/4 inch toward the front of the car. This would pull the shock
>link as well as the stub axle 1/4 inch forward also.
..But the diff wouldn't move, maybe your half-shaft would be pulled
out of line slightly, too.
OTOH the 1/4" doesn't sound like it would be enough to matter any, does it ?
>
>I have decided to buy longer bolts and keep it the same, but I was wondering
>why so many shims are used. It seems the main purpose should be to set the
>angle of the wheel rather than the positioning forward or backward.
>
>Just a thought for you late night thinkers to toy with :)
> Gary, Frances Nafziger
> Wellman, Iowa
>
>
Also, the rear track has to be set in relation to the front track,
so the car goes straight down the road; maybe that's the main pur-
pose of the shim packs you found.
BTW is there any evidence that your car was ever hit or ditched hard
enough to maybe bend something important, frame-wise ?
Well, enough late-night guessing; on to wondering if TRF's car club
is an alternative to selling stock...not that I know anything about
stock, being a mere wage slave, but isn't that what it's for, to
raise capital?...or are there too many hoops to jump thru, held out
higher and higher by Uncle Sugar, for a small business to go that
route ?
I must be off...
Tom Tweed
SW Ohio
'72 TRident 750cc basket case
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