finally finished it today, drove around the block once to make sure everything's workin ok...when the steering wheel is centered, the passenger side tire looks pretty much normal, I'm sure it's somewhat off but it's decently close. The drivers side is actually toed out a few degrees...the front of the tire is sticking outta the wheelwell slightly. When I drove it I was all over the road...was quite scary . Does it sound possible that I have a bent knuckle? The install guide I saw said he originally had a bent knuckle and it was almost touching the spring...well from everything I could tell both knuckles seem about the same...should I quit worryin and just figger all will be well when they align it thursday? (gotta love having a second vehicle for times like this)

 

sounds like you wont know til thursday my friend.....

 

Lucky for you, I align cars for a living. I have a questions for you.

Did you replace the balljoints or tie rod ends?

After messing with balljoints, tie rods and struts you'll have to have your alignment checked atleast. Come to where I work it's free I doubt your spindle in bent, you can tell just by looking at both of them side by side.

I give a discount on F-Bodies!

But most likely you need and alignment. Don't forget to ask for a print-out of your specs!

 

I didn't replace anything but the stuff that comes with the LS1 upgrade. I did replace the lower ball joints last year but didn't bother to align it...it seemed fine and I wasn't getting abnormal tire wear or anything so I left it go cuz I knew I'd need it aligned after the LS1 upgrade. From what I've read, it's "normal" for it to be toed out like that...but I'd think it would be pretty much symmetrical, since it was symmetrical with the LT1 knuckles...the only way it's symmetrical is if the steering wheel is turned somewhat to the right. Hopefully an alignment will cure it, I just think it's weird that it's only noticeable on one side...

 

Josh, When I did my swap my alignment was way off too. The spindle mounts when I did the swap were the cause. The points where the tie rods mount are the cause because the geometry of the toe in/out has changed. Once you get it aligned it will be fine.
Enjoy the new set-up!!

 

welp, I just called NTB, they can get me in today...it's closer than the place I was gonna go thursday, only thing is it costs twice as much

But I don't wanna hafta drive any farther than necessary, plus for the thursday thing I'd hafta take off work early, so NTB it is...I'll keep y'all posted

 

that was fun...had to do like 15 the whole way there, and my front tires were squealin like a ****

Took em over an hour and a half to align it too...havin all kinda problems. Oh well, it's fine now...drives like a brand new car

 

how long did it take you to do the ls1 brake upgrade? aside from the brake assembly, did you replace any parts?

 

well, altogether about 3 days

I was doing rear brakes too, and I only got about an hour of work done the first day then it started raining. Besides the brake parts I didn't change anything at all (well, cotter pins on the castle nuts...).

Once it was up in the air, it didn't take that long, besides a couple technical difficulties that were mostly my stupidity. Passenger side took alot longer than it shoulda, part cuz I stupidly hit the top of the lower ball joint with a hammer to break the steering knuckle free, ended up mushrooming it slightly and had to repair the threads. Driver side took about an hour from the moment I removed the first nut til the time it was all reassembled. Passenger side woulda taken maybe twice that (second side always goes much faster, once ya kinda know what you're doing) if it wasn't for a couple stupid things I did. Gotta bleed the brakes afterwards, that's maybe 20 minutes...altogether if it doesn't rain on ya and you're not a tard about things like I am, it can easily be done in half a day.