Specs: 1966 F100 with 352 Twin I beam

Issue: on front tires there is more wear on the inside than outside, not at all wearing evenly.

Can someone point me In the right direction to fix this issue? All I can think of is that the springs are wore, it did used to be a work truck, but what else should I check before jumping to conclusions

 

New springs are under a $100. I use the progressive type. Could be king pins but steering would be really bad. A little investigation would rule out the steering components.

 

What should I look for that’s gone bad?

 

The I-Beams and their bushings also directly affect wheel camber. I'd start there.

Tony

 

Jack up the truck so front wheels are off the ground. Grab tire at top and bottom and check for slop in bushings. king pins etc. Should also grab tire side to side and check steering components. Look for any play in tie rod, center link etc. Camber directly affected by king pins or i beams and/or bushings (if suspension related).

Tony

 

I couldn't believe the front end of my 1966 twin I beam - after I removed the drive train and most of the front sheet metal I had it jacked up in the front but lowered it back down onto the tires. It looked like a Volkswagen rear end with no engine in place. Wheels/tires were angled a lot without the weight on them. Bottom of tires were closer together while the tops were farther away from each other than normal. Definitely a lot different with no weight on it than with everything installed. If it were driven like that the outside edges of the tires would wear much more quickly than the inside edges. I can see if the springs were collapsed or compressed the effect would be opposite where the tires would be canted inward at the tops and the inner edges of the tires would be making more contact. I'd keep worn out springs in the back of my mind as a possible culprit, at least. If you can't find any slop in any other components they might be a factor. Some trucks were left with a camper or other load for years and that can take a toll.

I was worried about how to make sure I got the springs back in correct as far as left/right. I could tell the right hand spring looked beefier so I measured the diameter of a spring coil and found my answer.

Passengers side coil - 45/64" diameter
Drivers side coil - 43/64" diameter

They are the same approximate height so the stronger spring is there to resist the torque of the engine causing body roll I suspect. Anyway, for me that is an easy way to tell one from the other.

 

Too much tow out and or too much negative camber will cause the inside wear. If you like the ride height just find shop that can do proper alignment. Put on a good shock also.
At same time make sure the I Beam pivot bushings are in good shape along with radius arm bushings, king pins etc. If Radius arm bushings are worn it will cause front to move around a bunch mostly under braking.
It will go negative camber as front springs start to sag as others have mentioned.

 

All bushings seemed good and looked new, I think they were replaced within the last 5 years or so by the looks of them. I tried also moving the tire and did not find any wobble, well a little bit but nothing that I would think would cause much wear. I say a little bit I mean really a tiny bit
so what’s next alignment? Then what shocks or springs?

 

Well they have gone up a tad sense I did mine.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Coil-Spring-Set-Front-Moog-CC808/383695853212?fits=Year%3A1966%7CModel%3AF-100&epid=137001119&hash=item59560e169c:gVgAAOSwB ztfFfpa

 

1st make decision about the springs. If height is good, get an alignment. If plan on changing springs, do springs 1st then alignment. Changing springs after will affect alignment. Shocks won't.

Tony

 

By all means, make sure the wear points are within spec and the springs aren't sacked.

But no matter what you do to this type of suspension, it is an axle that swings in an arc from the single point of axle attachment to the frame. It also swings in an arc from the single point of radius arm connection to the frame.

After you have things in spec, be sure to rotate the tires regularly.

 

What should the ride height be in the front, and from what point is that measured from. I want to check so see if they are sagged

 

If I'm not mistaken, you should be able to put a 2X4 between the radius rod and frame, turned on its side. about 3.5". No idea on the rear.