Gold coloured upper control amrms.

[Ian G]

I built a MK3 roadster several years ago without PS. I added EPAS last year, but did not readjust the caster at that time. It drove OK, but now I want to realign the front end. My question is: do the gold coloured upper control arms need to have the rear arm shortened to achieve more additional + caster, or does that only apply to the later black and silver arms?

Thanks in advance.

[Bob Cowan]

For street driving, no. It's pretty easy to get 5-6* of caster.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Since you have a Mk3 I'm going to say that unless you have upgraded to the FFR proprietary spindles and their retrofit mounts or have fitted the car with the Borden/Whitby SAI modification you have Mustang donor spindles with the Factory Five adapters. In this configuration the OPPOSITE is true regarding the upper control arm adjusting sleeves! When going to the more positive caster ranges the rear adjuster is fine and the front adjuster sleeve will usually need to be replaced with one that is LONGER to maintain sufficient thread engagement. I wrote about it 15 years ago:

https://www.ffcars.com/threads/lots-of-caster-a-warning.244160/#post-2204863

Before you take my word or anyone else's I suggest that you mock it up, set caster and camber and then change or modify the adjusters as required.

Jeff

[steno]

Just like Jeff said! I got longer sleeves for the front. I'm about 7degrees of caster. Got them from Speedway.

[Dash]

I did the same thing. Lengthened the front adjuster. I ordered this part: https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Aluminum-Tie-Rod-Sleeve-5-8-Inch,2087.html?sku=91034158-5. They are apparently on sale right now for only $3.99!

Mr. Kleiner was kind enough to point me in the right direction.


Good Luck

[Ian G]

Thank you all. I just ordered 2 x 5" adjusting sleeves from Speedway.

And yes, they are on sale (3.99 ea. plus ~23.00 U.S.D. USPS to Calgary.

[JJ in Cbus]

Great timing on this post and thank you Jeff for posting the link to your original post! I finally got around to adding power steering to my MK3.1 and I recall that original post(at least that brain cell still works) about having to replace the upper links to get the correct caster angle. I have been looking for it, but I found this post first.

Thanks Again.

jj

[Derald Rice]

Just a comment for what it's worth.....

The gold colored control arms were sold under the name of " Pole Position"

Then the Pole Position company was sold to "Specialty Performance Company", better known as SPC.

The design has changed in some respects concerning the pivot points, but a lot of the SPC parts stil fit the Pole Position arms..