Need help understanding camber/caster sleeves
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 742
Likes: 332
Did you know your original numbers? Regardless, I am having an alignment done. My thinking is now, just let the independent shop handle it. I'd hate to spend $80 on bushings that they don't want to use...... They told me $110 alignment and $20-100 for bushings. It's a smaller shop near me that I trust, they have just never done an alignment for me. He will put my truck on the rack get the numbers he needs then align it, if he has the correct sleeves, if not, he will order them and have them a day or 2 later, which I'm fine with. I still wanted to know how all this works as I like learning, so thanks for all the suggestions so far.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 779
Likes: 427
I just went through this. We had similar camber numbers, positive one side and negative on the other. I wanted about a degree more caster. I was at 2.9 L 3.1 R.
I put in the SPC sleeve 23226, 1.5 degrees more caster.
I have an appointment to get the alignment checked and adjust the toe. I won't stop until it is right, even if it means that I go through a few more sleeves of differing sizes, and pay for additional alignments. These trucks are too expensive to call things good enough when they aren't right on.
Installing the SPC sleeves on a new ('23) truck was super easy, since there wasn't corrosion making them stick in place. Way less than a half hour to do both sides, including wheel removal.
I put in the SPC sleeve 23226, 1.5 degrees more caster.
I have an appointment to get the alignment checked and adjust the toe. I won't stop until it is right, even if it means that I go through a few more sleeves of differing sizes, and pay for additional alignments. These trucks are too expensive to call things good enough when they aren't right on.
Installing the SPC sleeves on a new ('23) truck was super easy, since there wasn't corrosion making them stick in place. Way less than a half hour to do both sides, including wheel removal.
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 742
Likes: 332
I've pretty much washed my hands with the second, small town shop. They tried 6 times to align it, after the 3rd attempt, I asked why he was using the draglink to adjust toe, he said because that's how you do it. I said no, you adjust toe using the tie rod bar, drag link adjusts the steering wheel being centered. I called a dedicated alignment shop, they told me they have fully adjustable camber/casters sleeves and do a ton of Superdutys, going there next Friday.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,968
Likes: 4,043
I've pretty much washed my hands with the second, small town shop. They tried 6 times to align it, after the 3rd attempt, I asked why he was using the draglink to adjust toe, he said because that's how you do it. I said no, you adjust toe using the tie rod bar, drag link adjusts the steering wheel being centered. I called a dedicated alignment shop, they told me they have fully adjustable camber/casters sleeves and do a ton of Superdutys, going there next Friday.
Its Comin Right for us!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,158
Likes: 2,638
From: GA
Probably ok anyway as these trucks come with excessive toe-in alot of times
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,968
Likes: 4,043
It may decrease. Increasing castor puts the top of the tire axis towards the rear which tends to move the front of the tire out. Decreasing Castor will increase toe in. It may also make zero difference due to the small change the shims make.
Its Comin Right for us!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,158
Likes: 2,638
From: GA
I had had one too many beers when I threw my shims in, I checked it with ruffstuff plates and tape before and after shims. I remember the toe changed, I do know it wasnt much.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 1,171
From: East TN
The SPC sleeves I can get for $70 and install takes literally 10 minutes per side. You just remove the front tires, pull the cotter pin from the castle nut on the top ball joint, back the nut off, a few good whacks with a 3lb hammer, take out the factory sleeve insert the new sleeve and torque to 75lb ft, tighten a little more until the ball joint hole and castle nut groove line up, insert new cotter pin, put your tires back on and you are done. Easy peasy. Spend $70 to save $370...........seems like a no brainer.
The 2nd thing - I've installed these bushings on my own truck twice and on several friends trucks. 10 minutes per side is VERY optimistic for an install time. There are a number of posts in this forum with members who had serious issues trying to get their factory sleeves removed. Words of advice - spray everything with PB Blaster the night before and do not pry on the lip of the sleeve when trying to remove it. The metal is brittle and it will snap. AMHIK.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 607
Likes: 377
An air chisel to vibrate the old shim helps get the old ones out.
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 742
Likes: 332
I actually installed my 2° shims a few weeks ago, took a couple hours and had to slightly recenter the steering wheel. Drives nice and straight, tracks great. Steering wheel feel took a couple weeks to get used to (a heavier feel) but the truck feels amazing now. No, I didn't get an alignment and will keep and eye on the tires, but I more than happy with it as of now.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 607
Likes: 377
Two things - If you are not seeing unusual tire wear, go slow with throwing parts at the truck. Have you tried rotating the tires to see if it still pulls? Radial pull is real - and it happens way more than people think.
The 2nd thing - I've installed these bushings on my own truck twice and and several friends trucks. 10 minutes per side is VERY optimistic for an install time. There are a number of posts in this forum with members who had serious issues trying to get their factory sleeves removed. Words of advice - spray everything with PB Blaster the night before and do not pry on the lip of the sleeve when trying to remove it. The metal is brittle and it will snap. AMHIK.
The 2nd thing - I've installed these bushings on my own truck twice and and several friends trucks. 10 minutes per side is VERY optimistic for an install time. There are a number of posts in this forum with members who had serious issues trying to get their factory sleeves removed. Words of advice - spray everything with PB Blaster the night before and do not pry on the lip of the sleeve when trying to remove it. The metal is brittle and it will snap. AMHIK.
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 742
Likes: 332
Same here, I eliminated 90% of my issue with 2 tire rotation tries, so it was a tire. As far as towing, I have towed my 28' pontoon after the shims and it felt great. Haven't hooked our 31' TT up yet, but just got back from a 500 mile trip to SE Missouri on a float trip and was pleased with the trucks manners even at 78mph.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,968
Likes: 4,043
I actually installed my 2° shims a few weeks ago, took a couple hours and had to slightly recenter the steering wheel. Drives nice and straight, tracks great. Steering wheel feel took a couple weeks to get used to (a heavier feel) but the truck feels amazing now. No, I didn't get an alignment and will keep and eye on the tires, but I more than happy with it as of now.
