Suspension/Lift problem '95, F150,4x4
#1
Suspension/Lift problem '95, F150,4x4
Hey folks,
I have a unique suspension/alignment problem with my '95, F150, Eddie Bauer, 4wd, Ext Cab.
I had terrible memory steer and finally diagnosed it to bad ball joints. I replaced them over the course of the last several days and now with the truck sitting, it's showing even more positive camber than before. Now, I know when I had it last aligned, it's was at the far end of 3* positive. And it shows more now. The alignment guy said that where it's at, there is no further adjustment possible.
Here's the question...
Do I need to purchase 2" drop brackets, 4" drop brackets OR 2"-4" Extended Radius Arms?
I only installed new springs and shocks and do not Recall anything mentioning lifted springs or shock's .
I'm at a loss here. I know that with the new TTX Mevotech Ball joints installed, I'm NO WHERE to being centered in the upper alignment bushing.
I'd like to get something ordered so I can hopefully get this thing right. It's been down for almost 2 weeks.
I have a unique suspension/alignment problem with my '95, F150, Eddie Bauer, 4wd, Ext Cab.
I had terrible memory steer and finally diagnosed it to bad ball joints. I replaced them over the course of the last several days and now with the truck sitting, it's showing even more positive camber than before. Now, I know when I had it last aligned, it's was at the far end of 3* positive. And it shows more now. The alignment guy said that where it's at, there is no further adjustment possible.
Here's the question...
Do I need to purchase 2" drop brackets, 4" drop brackets OR 2"-4" Extended Radius Arms?
I only installed new springs and shocks and do not Recall anything mentioning lifted springs or shock's .
I'm at a loss here. I know that with the new TTX Mevotech Ball joints installed, I'm NO WHERE to being centered in the upper alignment bushing.
I'd like to get something ordered so I can hopefully get this thing right. It's been down for almost 2 weeks.
#3
And I trust my alignment guy. Hes been doing this for 22+ years and knows a great deal about the IFS TTB Ford front end.
I may be able to find the last spec sheet for the alignment, but it's was really far out.
#4
#5
Here's the spec after springs and shocks and alignment
I installed Moog CC824 springs. Free height was 16.94". I'm guessing it lifted it quite a bit.
#6
I had the same problem on a 84 F150 that I installed a heavier set of springs on the front as I wanted to level out the truck. My alignment guy told me the camber was so for off, that other than going back to lighter springs, I would have to install 2" drop pivot brackets. At the time, I didn't have the money for the brackets, so I went back with lighter springs.
#7
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#11
Maybe I am speaking out of turn, but on my '87 with just a few inches of lift, the camber ended up looking really way off. Ok, so the alignment shop pulled, repacked, and re seated the front bearings. This helped, why I am not sure, but it did. Then he explained that Ford didn't include adjustability on those ball joints as the camber was set by the axle. Well, aftermarket parts houses have camber ball joint fittings which locate the ball joint in its socket. The new ball joint cam fits into the control arm and allows the ball joint to have a few degrees of adjustability as it rotates eccentrically in the ball joint socket. Go to a different alignment shop until someone knows about this and you can get the camber adjusted back to vertical true.
#13
EDIT: yep just checked, up to 3.25° of adjustment (if you set to 3.25° camber, caster is zero, so you sacrifice caster for camber-- nature of the beast) and bushings currently set at 2.5° camber, 2° caster. Don't know my actual alignment printout but the tires wear even and truck tracks well enough.
Last edited by GoinBoarding; 05-24-2016 at 09:08 AM. Reason: Used the incorrect "they're"!
#14
#15
Here's a couple of pics of the new upper ball joint installed.
You can see how diagonal "/" the upper ball joint sits.
It was the same with the previous ball joints too.
The only thing different with the new TTX ball joint is it has an upper portion that has a rubber boot in it. These were a pain to install because the length makes them near impossible to get into the upper socket.
Thanks again for the help!
As 89F2turd stated, axle pivot drop brackets look to be the answer so I can get my ball joints more vertical and closer to OE spec for alignment without adjustable camber bushing's.
You can see how diagonal "/" the upper ball joint sits.
It was the same with the previous ball joints too.
The only thing different with the new TTX ball joint is it has an upper portion that has a rubber boot in it. These were a pain to install because the length makes them near impossible to get into the upper socket.
Thanks again for the help!
As 89F2turd stated, axle pivot drop brackets look to be the answer so I can get my ball joints more vertical and closer to OE spec for alignment without adjustable camber bushing's.