Wheel Alignment
#1
Wheel Alignment
Well i finally had the wheel align job done at a heavy machinery place in Gladstone Qld, the truck has had a complete front end including steering box the only parts i reused were the camber bushes (1.5 degrees) .
Problem: wandering when towing the caravan (4 ton) always correcting the steering which is very tiring.
Here's the specs,
It's still not steering the best, but it could be my opinion.
I still have the stock parabolic fr springs which have sagged over time , with the help of a bull bar 15k lb winch etc, air bag suspension fr and Rr, now do i need to renew the front springs?
Have found these guys in Brisbane, Guaranteed Suspension Solution Ford F250 F350 Models SSA, anyone used these springs?
Problem: wandering when towing the caravan (4 ton) always correcting the steering which is very tiring.
Here's the specs,
It's still not steering the best, but it could be my opinion.
I still have the stock parabolic fr springs which have sagged over time , with the help of a bull bar 15k lb winch etc, air bag suspension fr and Rr, now do i need to renew the front springs?
Have found these guys in Brisbane, Guaranteed Suspension Solution Ford F250 F350 Models SSA, anyone used these springs?
#2
Blue,
Sorry for not getting back to you, been busy getting things done
before the hip surgery puts me out of action for two months.
If you have 1-1/2 degree bushes in both sides it could be part of
your problem.
According the Adrian "BigF350" the front axles are built with more
caster on the right as it was built originally for LHD - to deal with
the road camber.
To set it up for RHD you will need ~1 degree more caster on the
left side of the truck, than the right.
When I discussed my steering with the guy in Newcastle and he
said that I probably need a 1 degree for the right side and a 1-1/2
degree on the other.
When looking at you specs it seems your excessive toe in has
been corrected.
The steering problems you describe are like my Landcruiser was
after the suspension lift. Once I had the caster corrected with
new bushes the problem was solved.
I did not see any numbers on you figures for caster angle,
but I suspect it might need increasing.
The springs you linked to, SSA, are what I have on my truck.
They were on it when I bought it. I have no complaints and
they seem to be a good quality product.
As for the bushes I bought I am afraid I no longer have them,
the wheel alignment guy in Newcastle bought them off me at
my cost price.
I am afraid I am at my limit with knowledge of wheel
alignment so I have nothing else to add mate.
Hope you get it sorted out soon.
Brian
Sorry for not getting back to you, been busy getting things done
before the hip surgery puts me out of action for two months.
If you have 1-1/2 degree bushes in both sides it could be part of
your problem.
According the Adrian "BigF350" the front axles are built with more
caster on the right as it was built originally for LHD - to deal with
the road camber.
To set it up for RHD you will need ~1 degree more caster on the
left side of the truck, than the right.
When I discussed my steering with the guy in Newcastle and he
said that I probably need a 1 degree for the right side and a 1-1/2
degree on the other.
When looking at you specs it seems your excessive toe in has
been corrected.
The steering problems you describe are like my Landcruiser was
after the suspension lift. Once I had the caster corrected with
new bushes the problem was solved.
I did not see any numbers on you figures for caster angle,
but I suspect it might need increasing.
The springs you linked to, SSA, are what I have on my truck.
They were on it when I bought it. I have no complaints and
they seem to be a good quality product.
As for the bushes I bought I am afraid I no longer have them,
the wheel alignment guy in Newcastle bought them off me at
my cost price.
I am afraid I am at my limit with knowledge of wheel
alignment so I have nothing else to add mate.
Hope you get it sorted out soon.
Brian
#3
Thank's Brian, yes i can understand your busy at the moment.
So what degree camber bushes do you have in your truck now?
I think if i can get some new camber bushes here in Aus i can have them fitted in cairns , (where Patchy gets his alignment done) and as far as the caster i think i can adjust that with the air bags on the front at least until i get back to Brisbane to SSA.
Does anyone one else know what degree camber bushes they have in their truck?
So what degree camber bushes do you have in your truck now?
I think if i can get some new camber bushes here in Aus i can have them fitted in cairns , (where Patchy gets his alignment done) and as far as the caster i think i can adjust that with the air bags on the front at least until i get back to Brisbane to SSA.
Does anyone one else know what degree camber bushes they have in their truck?
#5
UP-DATE,
NQ Truck wheel alignment looked at the truck and said everything is tight, the wheel alignment is not the problem, the problem is the Moog ball joints are still tight and with the added addition of a steering stabilizer (Tuff Country SX 5000) it's putting more pressure on the steering making it tighter than it should be.
Checked the new steering box (good) tie rod ends (good) he said the fr springs are good and cause no problem , so he removed the stabilizer.
Now the steering stabilizer is removed and the fr end is re-greased, it has improved 80% so as a little time goes the ball joints will wear in, hope so .
NQ Truck wheel alignment looked at the truck and said everything is tight, the wheel alignment is not the problem, the problem is the Moog ball joints are still tight and with the added addition of a steering stabilizer (Tuff Country SX 5000) it's putting more pressure on the steering making it tighter than it should be.
Checked the new steering box (good) tie rod ends (good) he said the fr springs are good and cause no problem , so he removed the stabilizer.
Now the steering stabilizer is removed and the fr end is re-greased, it has improved 80% so as a little time goes the ball joints will wear in, hope so .
#6
3 different front end alignment places later,truck still steers ****,so i purchased a set of adjustable buckets from Rocket sports trucks and did my own front end alignment,caster dead vertical,camber was'nt touched,tow in by 1/4 of a inch,fekkin thing stears the best it ever has and no scrub..
#7
Have things improved with time? I have just had my 2003 F250 aligned, after many parts in the front end being replaced, and it still wanders. From what I can tell the caster is the problem. Mine is set at 4 degrees 04 minutes right and 3 degrees 06 minutes left. But from what I have read, they should be higher than this, like at about the maximum (5 degrees 30 minutes).
Last edited by larry1954; 09-05-2019 at 09:49 PM. Reason: mistake
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