Buyer beware AIM/Chassis Tech/Airbagit.com/ CTS beams

[dsrtjeeper]

I know my truck is a '66 but I thought you folks would enjoy my pain. !
Check out my post here about my AIM beam lowering dilemma. Any ideas?
Thanks!

http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/me ... st+my+luck....

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/12811 ... -luck.html

...and in this thread.

[HIO Silver]

Sure. We know what the problem is...The problem is we can't see, read, or understand what the issue is.

[dsrtjeeper]

Corrected it. Sorry.

[sargentrs]

I don't know about the drop beams but the stock I-beams are left/right and if you get them swapped it'll do something like that. Also, looks like you put new radius arm bushings in. Sure you have those adjusted properly?

[elgemcdlf]

I am with Randy. I think you have the R beam on the L side & the L beam on the R side.

[dsrtjeeper]

Can you see it?

[elgemcdlf]

Ok but what beam do you have on the left side? Pictures can show a distorted view. Think about it. If you move the left beam to the R side you will be reversing the direction. I still think you have the beams on the wrong side.

[dsrtjeeper]

Beams were on correct side where the kingpin is leaned backwards at the top for caster. It's not easy to see in the pics if you don't know what to look for. We finally caught it when we set the beams side by side and stood right over the kingpin holes. The driver's side beam is welded crooked and leaning forward at the kingpin.

[elgemcdlf]

You do not make much sense. The angle of the king pin does affect caster (naturally) but swapping the beams from side to side would not change caster in relation to the other wheel. Caster is a non wearing angle. It is related to over/under steer (which is really not an issue on this type of front suspension). If not reasonably matched it can cause the vehicle to pull to one side or the other. Swapping your beams will alter the caster BUT they will still be in relation to each other. Granted you may be correct & there may be an issue with the beams. Did you buy them new? You asked for help. You have 2 people saying basically the same thing. What you describe creates a positive caster angle. Swapping beams may still be a positive caster angle just lower. Again I would swap beams from side to side before I did anything else.

[dsrtjeeper]

Let me try to explain this better. The red line in this pic represents positive caster. No?



Positive caster is good although not adjustable on twin I-beam.

Here is a pdf. of directions from DJM. See the illustration down the page how the kingpins lean ? Notice the driver's side versus passenger and how the kingpin hole leans. Top of kingpin leans back. This is how I had them installed.
http://djmsuspension.com/wp-content/upl ... 3004-3.pdf

Here is a pic of the kingpin ends of my beams. Driver's side is on right:

[guhfluh]

Still can't tell anything from the pics or your description. Where is it welded wrong, at the radius arm connection?

The caster looks about the same between the beams to me.

[dsrtjeeper]

Still can't tell anything from the pics or your description. Where is it welded wrong, at the radius arm connection?

The caster looks about the same between the beams to me.

The upright is welded at a different angle on the driver's side. Driver's side is 5* toward front of truck. Passenger side upright is 0*.

So I have this:

\ |

It's exaggerated but you get the idea. Driver's side would be the line leaning at top.

[sargentrs]

Maybe it's just the camera angle but to me there's a visible difference in the angles. Not only that but the one on the left appears to be higher in relation to the floor. Have you taken a straghtedge along the bottom and taken measurements? Drop a king pin in both as they are sitting a set a framing square against the beam and measure vertical height and distance from the square then compare both sets of measurements to see if they're really different.

[sargentrs]

Looks like we both hit submit at the same time. Sounds like you've already done what I suggested. I'd call them tomorrow and request an exchange.

[guhfluh]

It also looks like the beams were welded backwards??? Isn't the passenger beam supposed to go in front of the driver side beam??? Therefore the bend on the passenger beam should point to the rear and the bend on the driver beam should point to the front and each respective kingpin should point to the rear at the top.

Without having pretty precise equipment, it's not easy to measure the kingpin angles. Just laying the beams on the floor isn't precise enough. The angle is determined by the relation of the kingpin hole to the radius arm hole. The beams can be as crooked as they want on the bottom and laying them on the floor won't determine if the radius arm hole is plumb/level. In your last pic, you can tell that the whole right beam is angled to the right by looking at the bushing end.