where to put washers as spacers when doing 2nd gen lude arm swap

[mykwikcoupe]

As per guyuanabo post advising to place the washers towards the rear of the car to create caster. When I went in for my alignment I had 4.42 on right front and 6.25 on left front. The car pulls right and the Schwab Guy said everything is perfect except those washers creating too much caster. I'm curious if everyone did this with their washers, what they run for caster and if I should centerthe washers to reduce caster. I don't know much of anything for suspension geometry so help would be great.

Secondly, the 555 brand stuff starting rusting after they where opened, why are they so nice if this happens.

[Strugglebucket]

First of all, is the Schwab Guy aware that caster is adjustable via the radius rods? I always have to tell shops, sometimes SHOW them because they don't listen.

Adding the washers towards the rear of the car will actually decrease caster, because you're moving the upper arm forwards relative to the lower arm (the further back the upper arm is, the more caster like the tilt of a bikes forks). I think the suggestion was made to keep the position of the arm more similar to the stock arms. If you space the washers evenly on both sides you gain some caster compared to stock, not a bad thing if you want more caster.

As for 555 stuff, I wouldn't worry about surface rust. That just shows it's really hard steel. The parts that are doing the work are covered in grease.

[lostforawhile]

not to hijack but aren't the third generation lude arms the ones that bolt straight in? I also have a set of second generation ones

[mykwikcoupe]

lost, ive read that the 3rd gen lude arms work but have a lessened amount of movement to fix camber, what I cant find is even though its lessened, is it enough to fix a lowered car the way most people lower, 2-3 inches.

[MessyHonda]

my 2nd gen arms work for a 2.5 inch drop in the front. i have -.09 in the front after the ball joint is fully out..but watch out because then it will hit your body and you will get ball joint bump in your engine bay

[import racer]

Yes the 3rd gen ones bolt right on but have less adjustment,just try them and see if they have enough.

[Rendon LX-i]

caster should be easy to adjust. lol less swab are a bunch of fools.

[mykwikcoupe]

so if Im showing positive caster would i move the radius rods so the tire moves to the front of the car or the rear. Im not sure how to measure it but i have 30 days to bring it back until they start charging me for another alignment. I dont mind changing it since its a really easy process but i would like to be able to get it close before i do bring it back.

specified range is -.5 to 1.5 degrees and my left is 6.25 and the right is 4.42. Can i just use a 2 ft level and move the rod until the center of the lower portion of the rim is centered with the upper ball joint? Is it like that? i noticed today at speeds greater then 60 mph the front end shakes and the regular speed on the way home is 80. Its going to be a rough ride home Im thinking. they didnt even check the tires for balance? Moses lake sucks!!!!

[mykwikcoupe]

talked with a second les schwabs, they said again, hopndas do not have adjustable caster angles. Im going to trust the forum and say the fact that the radius rods are threadede for several inches makes them adjustable. I just need to know a good way to measure how much i have after i adjust them.

[Strugglebucket]

"hondas do not have adjustable caster angles" is an ignorant sweeping generalization which is in this case, 100% wrong. Show them the adjusting nuts, or direct them to page 19-4 of Honda's shop manual.

If you paid the shop for an alignment, they should be the ones adjusting the caster, not you. To do it accurately yourself you would need, at a minimum, a pair of turn plates and a caster gauge. Also, the camber and toe will need to be reset after adjusting the caster.

p.s. don't let them try to charge you some "exotic" extra fee either.

[lostforawhile]

talked with a second les schwabs, they said again, hopndas do not have adjustable caster angles. Im going to trust the forum and say the fact that the radius rods are threadede for several inches makes them adjustable. I just need to know a good way to measure how much i have after i adjust them.

they are idiots, what do they think all that thread on the radius rod is for?

[Rendon LX-i]

LOL. wow. yea. you have to show em. AN yes you can move the wheel towards the front thats why they have those bars there for. If it was a EF or a EG EK an so then THEN NO you would need a traction bar.

[mykwikcoupe]

Ok thanks guys your the best, ill print those pages from the online Honda book and bring them in with me. Its too bad,the shop I've always thrusted proved to be a bunch of idiots and the are supposed to be specialist.

[MessyHonda]

yeah last time i went to big o tires they didnt adjust the caster they gave me the print out with red on caster and i told them i was going to be back because i didnt have time so they could redo it...next time i showed up another older guy was working the rack and he said that most of the new workers are not trained good. so he even proved that new ppl suck...he got me within spec and now it drove nice and straight

[mykwikcoupe]

last question I had about this swap is why does it squeak so bad. i pulled it apart and greased everything like crazy with a suspension lube silicon. Its driving me nuts. I lubed all the washers, the black bushings and the chrome cover, bolt, everything I could think of.

[Strugglebucket]

Not sure why it's squeeking if you greased everything. Is the pivot bolt/nut torqued to spec?

[mykwikcoupe]

yes, I torqued it to the accord spec. Im not sure if its diferent from the prelude spec. I have the black washer on the stud side not the arm side of the washers. If you pull the chrome cap off and the black rubber seal is there anther bushing inside of this that may be squeaking.

[MessyHonda]

yeah i took off the rubber seal..and just lubed it up

[Bones7201]

Just throwing this out there the camber will affect a pull a little more on a front wheel drive car then the caster. But if you caster is way off then its going to have the pull.

Say you have -1.5left and -2.5right up front it will pull left. Well most the time. every car is different and will have other things to factor in like tires and so on.