Kingpin Caster adjustment

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jul 29, 2016 | 07:56 AM

jayro88

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 1,943

Likes: 21

Kingpin Caster adjustment

SO I am not very familiar with alignment adjustments in my Ford Van setup. Most of my experience is with other vehicles.

I am wanting to dial in more positive caster to aid in higher speed straight tracking. I have an '88 E250, so I believe I have a kingpin setup that does not allow for adjustment. I have found aftermarket adjustable bushings for '92+ Econolines that have ball joints, but nothing for my setup. What are my options? Any particular bushings etc that I should look at. I already replaced the steering gear box. I also plan on adding a front steering stabilizer, but the alignment should help a bit too. Cruising a highway speed require more steering input than I would like.

Thanks

Jul 29, 2016 | 11:25 PM

Ford_Six

Hotshot

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 18,488

Likes: 22

From: The Big, Oregon

The only way to change that is by bending the beams, and not very many shops will even touch that. If your springs are sagged then caster and camber will be off.

Jul 30, 2016 | 06:55 AM

jayro88

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 1,943

Likes: 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_Six

The only way to change that is by bending the beams, and not very many shops will even touch that. If your springs are sagged then caster and camber will be off.

Thanks. I was afraid that might be the only way. I was hoping that there was some kind of aftermarket solution. I guess I will go with the steering stabilizer first and see how it responds. My springs aren't sagging, but my shocks are getting kinda worn. I am hoping to replace them sometime fairly soon.

Aug 1, 2016 | 02:00 PM

genscripter

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 3,072

Likes: 48

From: California

I have a similar problem on my van. My plan is to put in the E350 springs after I do the kingpin job. A shop said that my van would sit right if I used E350 springs and bent the beams, but his quote was thru the roof. I probably won't bend my beams. Also, I'm still not convinced that the E250 and E350 large block rated springs are that different.

Aug 1, 2016 | 02:26 PM

jayro88

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 1,943

Likes: 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by genscripter

I'm not sure they are different. When i looked up the different springs i found the same 2 part numbers for the e350 that I did for the e250. One was listed as Normal Duty and one was listed as Super Duty. The Super Duty ones were about 1" longer uncompressed and had a .5" longer maximum compressed length. I didn't find any info about spring rates. They both have a bar size of .8 although the SuperDuty's have a 1.5 pound heavier shipping weight.