Front End Squat
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4wd Low
Joined: Nov 2010
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Front End Squat
My '96 F-250 7.3L Turbo Diesel has the typical Ford Front End Squats. Ball Joints and Tie Rods are fine. What can I do to get rid of this and make it look normal again? It looks like hell, but it isn't affecting the tire wear which seems strange to me.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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Like he said, I've done it with the add-a-leaf and the truck sits level.
I needed moog camber adjusters though to get my camber in spec, the stock camber adjusters were not enough.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: West Texas
Before you go buying anything pull the front spring shackles down out of the frame and look at the bushings. I bet there aren't any left. You can get complete shackles for less than 30 bucks each but I wouldn't put poly ones on it. Poly is nice for the pivot bushings though.
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4wd Low
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 11
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Front End Squat
Thanks all, I guess I should have been more specific when talking about the front end. It's not that it hangs low, it's that the tire camber is off and they lean in on the top. This was also the case on my '96 Bronco. And I think when the bushings were replaced, this took care of the problem. So that's where I'll start, the spring and pivot bushings.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,526
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From: College Station, TX
When I back into a spot my tires lean in a lot at the top but are always just as they should be when I go forward. I don't know if that's a problem or not. Maybe it's related to my really bad tie rod ends. My ball joints are just as tight as they can be.
Why not poly? I hear a lot of people really liking them. Not arguing. Just asking obviously there's a reason you say that so I wanted to know since you're the suspension/alignment guy!
Originally Posted by Rranch
Before you go buying anything pull the front spring shackles down out of the frame and look at the bushings. I bet there aren't any left. You can get complete shackles for less than 30 bucks each but I wouldn't put poly ones on it. Poly is nice for the pivot bushings though.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: West Texas
Because my truck rides like an old M60 tank and yours all should too if the suspension was right. Put poly on there and it will be even worse. It's a question of wanting to keep my wife for another 20 years or not. I choose to keep the one I got because I'm getting too old and grouchy to find a new one.
For the pivot bushings poly is great. It's not going to effect the ride there. Unless you are a kid that likes watching your girlfriend bounce around in teh passenger seat I highly recommend against poly on the springs. Plus you can get new shackles with rubber bushings installed for cheap. Less than 30 bucks each. Its a lot more for poly.
For the pivot bushings poly is great. It's not going to effect the ride there. Unless you are a kid that likes watching your girlfriend bounce around in teh passenger seat I highly recommend against poly on the springs. Plus you can get new shackles with rubber bushings installed for cheap. Less than 30 bucks each. Its a lot more for poly.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 6
From: College Station, TX
Because my truck rides like an old M60 tank and yours all should too if the suspension was right. Put poly on there and it will be even worse. It's a question of wanting to keep my wife for another 20 years or not. I choose to keep the one I got because I'm getting too old and grouchy to find a new one.
For the pivot bushings poly is great. It's not going to effect the ride there. Unless you are a kid that likes watching your girlfriend bounce around in teh passenger seat I highly recommend against poly on the springs. Plus you can get new shackles with rubber bushings installed for cheap. Less than 30 bucks each. Its a lot more for poly.
For the pivot bushings poly is great. It's not going to effect the ride there. Unless you are a kid that likes watching your girlfriend bounce around in teh passenger seat I highly recommend against poly on the springs. Plus you can get new shackles with rubber bushings installed for cheap. Less than 30 bucks each. Its a lot more for poly.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2005
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Because my truck rides like an old M60 tank and yours all should too if the suspension was right. Put poly on there and it will be even worse. It's a question of wanting to keep my wife for another 20 years or not. I choose to keep the one I got because I'm getting too old and grouchy to find a new one.
For the pivot bushings poly is great. It's not going to effect the ride there. Unless you are a kid that likes watching your girlfriend bounce around in teh passenger seat I highly recommend against poly on the springs. Plus you can get new shackles with rubber bushings installed for cheap. Less than 30 bucks each. Its a lot more for poly.
For the pivot bushings poly is great. It's not going to effect the ride there. Unless you are a kid that likes watching your girlfriend bounce around in teh passenger seat I highly recommend against poly on the springs. Plus you can get new shackles with rubber bushings installed for cheap. Less than 30 bucks each. Its a lot more for poly.
For the difference that poly makes the benifit way surpasses, I drove my friends f250 hd, same everything as to mine except his is standard and he added the add-a-leaf but stuck with the rubber bushings and there is nearly no difference in ride qualty, the add-a-leaf makes it a lil more rougher but that is marginal. With poly I have a little more road feel as to what surface im driving on(gravel vs. pavement) but is it stiffer and harsher.........I dont think so.
Just my two pennies
And for $80 I changed all my front spring bushings and front shackle bushings
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: West Texas
Why bother changing shackle bushings when whole shackles are so cheap.
I need to take some of you guys for a ride in mine. Better wear a helmet when we go off road. It likes to fly even running over little prairie dog mounds. My wife hates it. Last time we drove through Memphis on those torn up roads she about got black eyes from how rough it was. It was so much better with worn out springs!
I need to take some of you guys for a ride in mine. Better wear a helmet when we go off road. It likes to fly even running over little prairie dog mounds. My wife hates it. Last time we drove through Memphis on those torn up roads she about got black eyes from how rough it was. It was so much better with worn out springs!
Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 90
Likes: 1
From: W Cen. FL
squat
My '96 had what sounds like the same problem. I went to NAPA, paid $114 for two new springs, another $100 for shocks. Two hours later she stood up like a big girl. Easy fix. Springs that old just ...get old and weak.
Good luck, my friend.
Good luck, my friend.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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I changed the shackle bushings because the rubber bushings in the springs were worn out and yes, my right shackle the bushing was destroyed and I was riding on the metal eye of the bushing in the shackle itself. The shackle bushings came with the spring bushing kit so I changed them out but if all you need is the shackle then go for it.
As for ride, I never thaught mine was that rough........sometimes it gets choppy on heaved pavement highways but I only found 5 miles of that highway close to home.
From the sounds of it, It appears I was better off sticking with my weak springs as well.