When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have some tire wear that is really bothering me (as it should). Driving straight, I have noticeable positive camber. While backing up, I have noticeable negative camber. I replaced my ball joints about two years ago with premium Spicer ball joints. All wheel bearings are also Spicer and tightened according to the manual, this was done four months ago. What would be causing my camber issue to be changing from positive to negative like this? I don't want to pay for an alignment and still have the negative camber while backing up? Unless this is a normal problem with the Dana 44 axle, which I don't think it is. I already know about the spindle shims and the ball joint sleeves to correct the camber but I don't think that's my problem. I tried to take pics but you couldn't tell from the shot.
I've built several Dana 44s and never come across this issue. I know you said ball joints were replaced with spicer replacements, but are you sure there isn't excessive wear in them? I'm not familiar with camber sleeves in the D44 either, unless it's the TTB D44, as my Bronco uses the sleeves to adjust chamber. The only sleeve I've ever dealt with in a solid-axle D44 is the pre-load sleeve that screws into the upper C.
I've built several Dana 44s and never come across this issue. I know you said ball joints were replaced with spicer replacements, but are you sure there isn't excessive wear in them? I'm not familiar with camber sleeves in the D44 either, unless it's the TTB D44, as my Bronco uses the sleeves to adjust chamber. The only sleeve I've ever dealt with in a solid-axle D44 is the pre-load sleeve that screws into the upper C.
I don't think the track bar is the culprit here. It is somewhere from the knuckles out. I have lifted the front axle and tried shaking the wheels in all directions and they are nice and tight. Which makes me believe the ball joints are good. There is only two things I can think of that could cause this, the bearings not tight enough and bad balljoints, both of which I can rule out. So, what else can cause this?
These trucks always scrub off the outside edge of the tires no matter how good the alignment is. I would check the tightness again. Jack it up again and use a crow bar or 2x4 and make sure theres no play up or down, side to side. Worst case scenario is the axel is bent but I dought that, cause the dana 44 is a very strong axel.
I rotated my tires yesterday. With the front tires off, I retorqued the balljoints and retightened the hub bearing (again) to make sure everything it up-to-snuff. It was getting dark out when I finished and it's raining today. I will check it out tomorrow to see if there is a difference.
How often do you rotate your tires? On a 4x4 should rotate them every 5000 miles, every 3000 with a limited slip diff. If you do this they will not wear as bad.
I rotate every oil change, which is 3000 miles. Sadly that takes about a year. These Mickey Thompson mudders are very soft, so they wear bad rather quickly. And I still have open diffs, as this is my dd.
If everything is tight like you said, maybe time for an alignment. Be sure to check all tie rod ends, and drag link. sounds like you have it under control.
Definitely not a toe issue as much as a camber issue. I'm thinking an alignment will be the only solution. Like I said, the balljoint sleeves will fix it going forward but I know it will make it worse for going reverse. Which I guess really isn't that big of a deal.
