The 'E' Type Forum

I'm refreshing the front suspension on my S1 coupe. Essentially because it has scrubbed the left front tyre badly and steers like a bag of s#$t.

So I treated it to new tyres and I took it in for a wheel alignment. They didn't do it though because both the top and bottom ball joints were loose. So I've replaced them, the shockers, the tie rod ends and the upper wishbone bushes. I did the front wheel bearings as well for good measure.

When I took the right upper wishbone off there were 5 shims at the front and only 3 at the rear. On the left side there were 6 at the front and 3 at the rear.

This surprised me; I've only ever seen the same number of shims front and rear. Is this correct, or an indication of previous miss-assembly?

Having finished I don't want to put the bonnet back on; it looks so cool!

Hi Andrew.....when i done my front end there were different number of shims front to back and on both sides.... I was advised that as a starting point use equal thickness shims on both sides and then adjust as required.....however thinking about it now there are no measurements to determine if more shims should be on the front or rear of the wishbone...when i finished the camber, castor settings myself i had it checked and it wes spot on......Steve

Andrew

I think that Jaguar intended that there be the same number of shims back to front, but if you now have the castor and camber you want it probably doesn't matter. The difference in shims back to front causes the upper ball joint to effectively rotate, or move back ward or forward. This causes the upright to lean backwards or forward and changes the castor. Jaguar would prefer that you did that by rotating the upper fulcrum shaft and moving the whole upper arm back and forth, but the effect is the same. Shifting front and back shims around is the way castor is set in most cars that have upper control arms, as most don't have a pretty machined fulcrum shaft.