Found the problem with Volare clip

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May 7, 2016 | 06:18 AM

raerjim

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 1,696

Likes: 1

From: S.W. Florida

Found the problem with Volare clip

Well, after owning my truck for 10 years, complaining about it's steering the whole time (likes to wander, twitchy steering),changing PS pump, steering box, changing most all relevant front susp. components, I finally got around to pulling a measuring tape around the front end.

Wish I'd done that first as it revealed that the wheelbase on driver side is 1.5" longer than the right. Other than replacement with MII, What are my options? Some PO did this, by the way.

May 7, 2016 | 07:46 AM

CharlieLed

Lead Driver

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 8,093

Likes: 652

From: Brentwood, TN

Wow...glad to hear that you finally isolated your frontend problem, sorry that the solution will be a PITA. Cutting the crossmember out and rewelding it would be the least expensive, assuming you can do the work yourself, but a new IFS would be an upgrade to the Volare.

May 7, 2016 | 09:21 AM

larryb346

Laughing Gas

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 914

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From: SW Missouri

A good front end shop should have found that. A great front end shop can do some adjusting and make the truck drive a lot better even with the wheel base off. Find one that has a front end guy, not a place with a computer controlled tech that knows nothing but what the machine tells him. I have rebuilt wrecks for years and it is not uncommon to find a new car off 1/2 inch. The front end guy needs to find why it's off. Could be the frame has a kink someplace behind the suspension from a wreck after the suspension was installed.
Just my 2 cents
Larry

May 7, 2016 | 12:46 PM

truckeemtnfords

Logistics Pro

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 3,672

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From: Fallon,NV & Bainbridge OH

The torsion bars on those front ends establish where the axle centerline is, compare to another to make sure the sure the bars are not switched in their location or some other crazy thing. I know it is far fetched but if it is mounted 1.5 inches out of square any thing is possible.

May 8, 2016 | 07:46 PM

raerjim

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 1,696

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From: S.W. Florida

Thanks guys.

May 10, 2016 | 12:25 AM

geoffthepilot

Junior User

Joined: Apr 2014

Posts: 74

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From: the island of Kauai

I know fat man fabrications makes a front frame stub for those. kind of pricey but it has the mustang II on it already. I think it just starts a measured distance from the rear mount hole on the front leaf springs. Sort of a scary thing to completely cut off the front of your frame though. I almost decided to do that to mine but I decided to rebuild the volare clip that was on it instead. I'm not too sure how difficult it is but I figured in may be over my skill set.

May 16, 2016 | 09:21 AM

tempforce

Senior User

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 307

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From: central texas

had a volare

yes, i owned a volare, i didn't like the way the suspension acted when the front end needed to be pushed.
the front end reacted different side to side. due to the placement of the axle centerlines.
my 56 f100 had the volare front end on it when i bought it. i bought a crown vic front end to replace the volare. soon as i repair/replace the metalwork that the installation of the volare front end caused.