Hi Everyone,
I just added a new truck to my garage, 1990 F-250 xtra cab 4x4, with a TTB front end, 460 & 5 sp manual trans, & a 4" lift.

It does have a problem with the front end:
When driving forward the alignment is (looks correct), but when I back up, the front tires toe in & get a massive negative caster (top of the tire leaning in). The truck doesn't wander, & no death wobble.

Any thoughts on what might be causing this?

Thanks,
NT

 

Broken axle tube? Mine dose that. Broken on drivers side at spring bolts.

 

OR..... thats the way your ttb suspension works, the wheels move in an arc motion and the wheel toe in and toe out accordingly, there is nothing wrong with your truck that is how it works

 

It's very normal for the front suspension to shift one way when backing up and another when going forward (I'm 95% sure it squats backing up and sits higher going forward). Because of the geometry that inherently changes the camber (leans the tire in at the top as it squats, caster is tipping the steering knuckle axis front or back).

However, if your tie rods are lined up with the traction beams as they are supposed to be there isn't much change in toe-in as the front suspension cycles. If the truck has been lifted without using a drop pitman arm it could cause toe-in to change a lot as the suspension cycles.

 

Thanks for the fast response guys..........

I think I found the problem:

The lift kit has the drop down brackets for the axle pivots, the one for the passenger side has only 1 bolt holding the bracket ( there are supposed to be 5). It looks like its swiveling, causing the steering geometry to move in a weird way. I will take a pic & post it up.

Thanks,
NT

 

That's definitely a problem that should be fixed ASAP, but even so, the behavior you describe is still completely normal. If that makes sense.

 

The truck is down, until this weekend. this repair is my Sat. project. after owning 6 TTB trucks, leaf & coil sprung, I have never seen one do this. I'll make the repairs & get an alignment, & re-evaluate the problem.

Thanks,
NT

 

you will have to post what you find, every one i have seen has done it after backing up

 

Here's a few photo's of what the passenger side axle pivot drop bracket had holding it on, 1 bolt.
Repair went easy, installed new grade 8 hardware.







NT