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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Front end sagging

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Old Mar 2, 2021 | 11:10 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by SFaulken
You can speculate and guess all you want, and ask guys to try and diagnose through pictures. *or* you can do the right thing, and get under the truck and figure out what's wrong, or get it into a shop and have them figure it out. It could be any number of things.
I have had that truck to two different shops and had two alignments done at two different shops within the last two months. That whole front end has been checked at least five times in those two months. They say it's all in good working order. I have looked underneath and I don't see anything. It doesn't look like the camber bolt has been moved in a long time. I don't want to have to pay at least $70 for an alignment again since I just had one done two weeks ago. I have replaced the drag link, gearbox, the steering shaft bushings, had it aligned at least twice, had the front end checked numerous times. If you're telling me to take it back to the shop again, then I will. But I was seeing what you guys thought of first.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2021 | 11:14 AM
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It's almost impossible to diagnose this based on pictures. If you want to check things yourself, Get a jack underneath it, put some jackstands under the frame, so the front suspension unloads, and grab a prybar, and start grabbing and moving things. Something is loose, worn out, or out of adjustment. It could be the pivot bushings on the axles, it could be ball joints, hell, it *could* be wheel bearings, if they're loose, it could be a bent spindle (not likely, but a mangled spindle would cause the tires to sit funny). All of those are impossible to tell from a picture. If the shops you've been to keep telling you that everything is kosher, then they're not looking hard enough.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2021 | 11:22 AM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by SFaulken
It's almost impossible to diagnose this based on pictures. If you want to check things yourself, Get a jack underneath it, put some jackstands under the frame, so the front suspension unloads, and grab a prybar, and start grabbing and moving things. Something is loose, worn out, or out of adjustment. It could be the pivot bushings on the axles, it could be ball joints, hell, it *could* be wheel bearings, if they're loose, it could be a bent spindle (not likely, but a mangled spindle would cause the tires to sit funny). All of those are impossible to tell from a picture. If the shops you've been to keep telling you that everything is kosher, then they're not looking hard enough.
I guess what I'm trying to figure out is why would both front tires be the same way. When you mean axle bushings are those the ones in the middle where the two I Beams move on? It's not a 4x4. I've been told that Fords don't have much camber caster adjustment. I've also been told that it could be the coil springs. But if it were the coil springs, why would it be on both side?
 
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Old Mar 2, 2021 | 11:28 AM
  #19  
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Correct, the Pivot bushings are where the axles connect to the inner brackets. It could be bent axles, I have no idea why it's on both sides, but you've obviously got an issue. I don't *think* the radius arm bushings could cause this, but given the mileage you're stating, it wouldn't surprise me if they're shot. No, your tires are not supposed to sit at that camber angle in most cases. Ford Twin I-Beams will occasionally crab up like that when you back into a parking space, but it shouldn't be a normal condition. It's possible that the coil springs are worn out, or some previous owner heated, or cut them, causing the suspension to sag, which would cause this condition, but I wouldn't look there first.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2021 | 11:35 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by SFaulken
Correct, the Pivot bushings are where the axles connect to the inner brackets. It could be bent axles, I have no idea why it's on both sides, but you've obviously got an issue. I don't *think* the radius arm bushings could cause this, but given the mileage you're stating, it wouldn't surprise me if they're shot. No, your tires are not supposed to sit at that camber angle in most cases. Ford Twin I-Beams will occasionally crab up like that when you back into a parking space, but it shouldn't be a normal condition. It's possible that the coil springs are worn out, or some previous owner heated, or cut them, causing the suspension to sag, which would cause this condition, but I wouldn't look there first.
Thank you for telling me there not supposed to look like that. I have talk to some that think that is normal. The radius arm bushing look fine. No cracks or signs of wear. I will ahve to look at the pivot bushings. I have never looked at them closely.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2021 | 11:57 AM
  #21  
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I looked at the pivot bushings. They look fine. I decided to pull the truck into the driveway. The front isn't sagging anymore. The tires aren't bend toward the inside on the top but bent toward the outside now. Now I'm really confused.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2021 | 12:03 PM
  #22  
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There's something loose. I don't know what it is, but if I had to bet on it, I'd say ball joints. You shouldn't be seeing that much fluctuation in the camber angle.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2021 | 12:08 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by SFaulken
There's something loose. I don't know what it is, but if I had to bet on it, I'd say ball joints. You shouldn't be seeing that much fluctuation in the camber angle.
I was wondering the same thing. When they checked the suspension, they had to loosen and take apart things. I think someone forgot to tighten a couple of things... I will provide an update on what they find.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2021 | 08:27 PM
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Having leveling coils or F250 coils will not alter gas mileage, but running larger tires will.

I still don't really think that it is the camber eccentrics, unless they have been changed. If they are original they don't really offer an adjustment.

This could also be worn out ball joints.

The only way to know what is wrong is to inspect things and that may require jacking up the truck and looking for loose components.

Just looking at bushings won't necessarily tell you if they are bad or not you need to watch them and gently use a pry bar to see if they move.

If the radius arm bushing is shot and sloppy it can allow the front end to shift forward when backing up. This will cause the front to droop and the tires to look our of whack.

When inspecting the front end there would be no reason to take anything apart.
 
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Old Mar 7, 2021 | 06:20 AM
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Alignment shop said that the driver's side is a little bit worse than the passenger side. The alignment is off slightly, but he said that it's not that big of deal. If I change the tires every 3,000 miles than I should be fine. If I want it fixed permanently, replace coil springs. Thanks for all your guys input. Not I'm trying to figure out if I should replace the coil springs or not.
 
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