Mustang II positive caster - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**LEEVON** · 05-09-2010, 08:32 PM

Guys, I just finished my TCI Mustang II crossmember installation. The directions were poor at best. The "top hats" have about 3.5 degrees of positive caster built in, does this sound right? Nowhere did I find any information about adjusting those to match the 0 degrees of the crossmember itself.

cajundragger · 05-09-2010, 09:54 PM

3.5 sounds good. thats where I like mine at.

my scotts crossmember has zero castor in it, so I had to adjust for it in the arms. I wish I would of noticed it sooner and put about 3degrees in when I welded up the crossmember.

**LEEVON** · 05-09-2010, 10:03 PM

Thanks, it makes sense, just threw me off because the LCA's/crossmember are at zero degrees and the UCA mounts are 3.5. I think this is what they call "anti-dive" but the TCI instructions and the "truck builder" write-up that they sent contradict. One says the top hats should angle down, the other says they should match the crossmember.

Annoying.

cajundragger · 05-09-2010, 10:53 PM

well anti drive comes more from control arm length and where they pivot in the front to back by top to bottom plane, not the left to right, top to bottom plane if that makes sense.

**LEEVON** · 05-09-2010, 11:19 PM

I'm over my head on this suspension geometry stuff, just going to give them a call tomorrow and make sure it's right

Sounds like you know your stuff, judging by your truck I can see why!

**LEEVON** · 05-10-2010, 01:59 PM

Called TCI today, they confirmed the 3.5 degrees positive caster is correct on the top hats. Without any hesitation he said I was dead-on and called it "anti-dive" whatever that is, sounds made up but I'm good with that answer

Didn't seem to concerned about the conflicting directions though. I guess reading prints and specs all day has taught me to skeptical of everything technical!

robgrin · 05-10-2010, 09:40 PM

Anti Dive; is when you apply the brakes the front end wants to dive. The added caster helps to keep the vehicle level. But if i remember correctly you do want to set your vehicle at ride level and the cross member level with the ground.

**LEEVON** · 05-10-2010, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robgrin

Anti Dive; is when you apply the brakes the front end wants to dive. The added caster helps to keep the vehicle level. But if i remember correctly you do want to set your vehicle at ride level and the cross member level with the ground.

Yep, got 0 degrees at ride level, it was the 3.5 degrees added camber of the top hats that threw me off. It was designed this way according to TCI.

robgrin · 05-10-2010, 10:00 PM

cool. sounds like you got it.

05-09-2010, 08:32 PM	#1
LEEVON Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ozark, MO Posts: 4,888	Mustang II positive caster Guys, I just finished my TCI Mustang II crossmember installation. The directions were poor at best. The "top hats" have about 3.5 degrees of positive caster built in, does this sound right? Nowhere did I find any information about adjusting those to match the 0 degrees of the crossmember itself. __________________ '20 Silverado Trail Boss ~ '17 Tahoe ~ '79 K15 Sierra Grande ~ '76 Blazer 2wd ~ '71 Cheyenne swb ~ '55 Pontiac Safari ~'50 3100 bagged ~ '80 Wife ~ Late model kids

05-09-2010, 09:54 PM	#2
cajundragger Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: louisiana Posts: 1,008	Re: Mustang II positive caster 3.5 sounds good. thats where I like mine at. my scotts crossmember has zero castor in it, so I had to adjust for it in the arms. I wish I would of noticed it sooner and put about 3degrees in when I welded up the crossmember.

05-09-2010, 10:03 PM	#3
LEEVON Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ozark, MO Posts: 4,888	Re: Mustang II positive caster Thanks, it makes sense, just threw me off because the LCA's/crossmember are at zero degrees and the UCA mounts are 3.5. I think this is what they call "anti-dive" but the TCI instructions and the "truck builder" write-up that they sent contradict. One says the top hats should angle down, the other says they should match the crossmember. Annoying. __________________ '20 Silverado Trail Boss ~ '17 Tahoe ~ '79 K15 Sierra Grande ~ '76 Blazer 2wd ~ '71 Cheyenne swb ~ '55 Pontiac Safari ~'50 3100 bagged ~ '80 Wife ~ Late model kids

05-09-2010, 10:53 PM	#4
cajundragger Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: louisiana Posts: 1,008	Re: Mustang II positive caster well anti drive comes more from control arm length and where they pivot in the front to back by top to bottom plane, not the left to right, top to bottom plane if that makes sense.

05-09-2010, 11:19 PM	#5
LEEVON Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ozark, MO Posts: 4,888	Re: Mustang II positive caster I'm over my head on this suspension geometry stuff, just going to give them a call tomorrow and make sure it's right Sounds like you know your stuff, judging by your truck I can see why! __________________ '20 Silverado Trail Boss ~ '17 Tahoe ~ '79 K15 Sierra Grande ~ '76 Blazer 2wd ~ '71 Cheyenne swb ~ '55 Pontiac Safari ~'50 3100 bagged ~ '80 Wife ~ Late model kids

05-10-2010, 01:59 PM	#6
LEEVON Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ozark, MO Posts: 4,888	Re: Mustang II positive caster Called TCI today, they confirmed the 3.5 degrees positive caster is correct on the top hats. Without any hesitation he said I was dead-on and called it "anti-dive" whatever that is, sounds made up but I'm good with that answer Didn't seem to concerned about the conflicting directions though. I guess reading prints and specs all day has taught me to skeptical of everything technical! __________________ '20 Silverado Trail Boss ~ '17 Tahoe ~ '79 K15 Sierra Grande ~ '76 Blazer 2wd ~ '71 Cheyenne swb ~ '55 Pontiac Safari ~'50 3100 bagged ~ '80 Wife ~ Late model kids Last edited by LEEVON; 05-10-2010 at 02:00 PM.

05-10-2010, 09:40 PM	#7
robgrin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Gresham, Oregon Posts: 41	Re: Mustang II positive caster Anti Dive; is when you apply the brakes the front end wants to dive. The added caster helps to keep the vehicle level. But if i remember correctly you do want to set your vehicle at ride level and the cross member level with the ground. __________________ Need more money

05-10-2010, 10:00 PM	#9
robgrin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Gresham, Oregon Posts: 41	Re: Mustang II positive caster cool. sounds like you got it. __________________ Need more money

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