'96 Question
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 68
Likes: 2
'96 Question
Hey Merry Christmas from Mississippi!
I am working thru the laundry list of repairs on son n law's '96 F250 4x4 Diesel pickup his dad left him. Question is about front suspension. The tires on the front lean in noticeably at the top. Bearings seem tight & I know it has some ball joint issues that are on the list. But it looks to me like the only way to straighten the tires up would be for the leaf springs to have a little more arch to them. I've never worked on a Ford TTB front end before, but it sure looks to me like the springs have sagged causing this problem. Am I on the right path here? Thanks!
I am working thru the laundry list of repairs on son n law's '96 F250 4x4 Diesel pickup his dad left him. Question is about front suspension. The tires on the front lean in noticeably at the top. Bearings seem tight & I know it has some ball joint issues that are on the list. But it looks to me like the only way to straighten the tires up would be for the leaf springs to have a little more arch to them. I've never worked on a Ford TTB front end before, but it sure looks to me like the springs have sagged causing this problem. Am I on the right path here? Thanks!
Last edited by andyh1956; Dec 8, 2025 at 09:11 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,627
Likes: 957
From: Near Yosemite CA
More than likely it's a combination of ball-joints and sagging springs, post in this forum for a better response, 87-96 F-Series, I have to do them on my 92 F250/4x
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum28/
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum28/
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 68
Likes: 2
'96 Question
Hey Merry Christmas from Mississippi! I'm in the correct forum now!
I am working thru the laundry list of repairs on son n law's '96 F250 4x4 Diesel pickup his dad left him. Question is about front suspension. The tires on the front lean in noticeably at the top. Bearings seem tight & I know it has some ball joint issues that are on the list. But it looks to me like the only way to straighten the tires up would be for the leaf springs to have a little more arch to them. I've never worked on a Ford TTB front end before, but it sure looks to me like the springs have sagged causing this problem. Am I on the right path here?
I am working thru the laundry list of repairs on son n law's '96 F250 4x4 Diesel pickup his dad left him. Question is about front suspension. The tires on the front lean in noticeably at the top. Bearings seem tight & I know it has some ball joint issues that are on the list. But it looks to me like the only way to straighten the tires up would be for the leaf springs to have a little more arch to them. I've never worked on a Ford TTB front end before, but it sure looks to me like the springs have sagged causing this problem. Am I on the right path here?
Last edited by andyh1956; Dec 8, 2025 at 09:47 AM.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 108
Likes: 15
Mine was doing the same thing and we had to replace the inner bushings on each each beam. Not too bad of a job. Thinking we used polyurethane bushings but it's been several years back now. Is it a 4x4? I might have missed that in original post. Later on we put a 2" or 3"tuff country lift on with adjustable camber bushings and add a leafs. Definitely worth the upgrade for the money.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,574
Likes: 836
From: knoxville, tn
Those springs on a f250 have negative arch. Lots of things to wear on the TTB that will contribute to wheel lean
Trending Topics
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 108
Likes: 15
If I remember right we used these pivot bushings to fix the tire lean.
https://shop.broncograveyard.com/198...uctinfo/33140/
Later we added this lift and it really helped the truck ride better and fixed the old truck side to side role/wobble.
https://buytuffcountry.com/tuff-coun...rd-f250-138971
We recently replaced all front end parts, bearings, steering components, and u joints. That ended up being quite the job.
https://shop.broncograveyard.com/198...uctinfo/33140/
Later we added this lift and it really helped the truck ride better and fixed the old truck side to side role/wobble.
https://buytuffcountry.com/tuff-coun...rd-f250-138971
We recently replaced all front end parts, bearings, steering components, and u joints. That ended up being quite the job.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,268
Likes: 2,563
From: Near Salt Lake City
Hey Merry Christmas from Mississippi!
I am working thru the laundry list of repairs on son n law's '96 F250 4x4 Diesel pickup his dad left him. Question is about front suspension. The tires on the front lean in noticeably at the top. Bearings seem tight & I know it has some ball joint issues that are on the list. But it looks to me like the only way to straighten the tires up would be for the leaf springs to have a little more arch to them. I've never worked on a Ford TTB front end before, but it sure looks to me like the springs have sagged causing this problem. Am I on the right path here? Thanks!
I am working thru the laundry list of repairs on son n law's '96 F250 4x4 Diesel pickup his dad left him. Question is about front suspension. The tires on the front lean in noticeably at the top. Bearings seem tight & I know it has some ball joint issues that are on the list. But it looks to me like the only way to straighten the tires up would be for the leaf springs to have a little more arch to them. I've never worked on a Ford TTB front end before, but it sure looks to me like the springs have sagged causing this problem. Am I on the right path here? Thanks!
The camber goes with the ride height, low ride height = negative camber
If, for instance a lift kit is installed with big arched springs, you get excessive positive camber
If you look at your front leaf springs there is a cut off one at the bottom acting as a spacer,
I would add another one on each side and save the big money for replacement leaf springs
I did alignments for 40+ years, and your problem is all too common
Try driving forward and check the camber, then back up (reverse) for 20 feet and recheck the camber
If the axle pivot brackets get loose on the frame, the camber will go way negative after backing up (that is just as common as the spring sag)
Last edited by manicmechanic007; Dec 9, 2025 at 05:20 AM.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 17,445
Likes: 2,767
From: Northern Ontario
New springs, shackles, and u bolts.
New pivot bushings
While you’re there, look at the ball joints, wheel bearings, spindle bearings, seals, Ujoints, etc.
Two issues I’ve seen with new springs and shackles. The new springs can have the opposite effect, and make take considerable time to settle in - meaning you will have positive camber. The extra weight of the diesel will help.
Shackles. Twice I’ve come across issues with the upper rubber bushing sliding out, and the shackle riding on the frame. I experienced once myself, and on another forum not long ago. A set of poly bushings the have a ‘collar’ on them helped.
The new springs are all after market, oem is no longer available. ATS or General springs, etc can set you up. ATS is the go to for most, they ship anywhere, and will set you up with everything you need.
It’s not a small job, you will have the entire front end / axle beams apart.
New pivot bushings
While you’re there, look at the ball joints, wheel bearings, spindle bearings, seals, Ujoints, etc.
Two issues I’ve seen with new springs and shackles. The new springs can have the opposite effect, and make take considerable time to settle in - meaning you will have positive camber. The extra weight of the diesel will help.
Shackles. Twice I’ve come across issues with the upper rubber bushing sliding out, and the shackle riding on the frame. I experienced once myself, and on another forum not long ago. A set of poly bushings the have a ‘collar’ on them helped.
The new springs are all after market, oem is no longer available. ATS or General springs, etc can set you up. ATS is the go to for most, they ship anywhere, and will set you up with everything you need.
It’s not a small job, you will have the entire front end / axle beams apart.
Last edited by JJF20; Dec 9, 2025 at 06:54 AM.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,268
Likes: 2,563
From: Near Salt Lake City
Correct about the new springs taking some time to settle
I used to tell people to wait a year to get their brand new truck aligned, just because the springs will settle and the alignment and toe set will change
Ford will give you one free alignment within 12 months of in service date or 12000 miles under warranty (used to anyway)
I used to tell people to wait a year to get their brand new truck aligned, just because the springs will settle and the alignment and toe set will change
Ford will give you one free alignment within 12 months of in service date or 12000 miles under warranty (used to anyway)
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 209
Likes: 71
I love hearing these old stories from folks that were in the thick of things with dealers back when these trucks were new! Fun to read!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 845
Happened to me when I purchased a new truck with the extended maintenance plan(pre purchased), missed the spark plug change and trans flush, by literally one day, and they declined the service unless I pay for it, a second time.
Sorry ford dealerships, never again.
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 68
Likes: 2
OK then I'm on the right trail! Gonna start with pulling everthing off the ends & doing bearings / ball joints. This truck has Auto Hubs & if I can get son n law to spring for them I may put manual lockers on it. That's good info about the hanger brackets loose on the frame! May as well pull everthing down & change the pivot bushings, once I'm gone nothing will get done to this truck. Example- Truck wouldn't start when it was cold. Son n law said it was like that for yrs, his dad would put an old timey drop light under the hood at night to keep the engine warm so it would start in the morning!
I put a Katz coolant heater in the lower radiator hose when I changed the coolant pump a couple yrs ago & since repaired the glow plugs, re- did the fuel system- Note to everone else!!! NEVER purchase an aftermarket fuel pump!!! Source you an OE Navistar pump ...Unless you just like changing pumps a lot 
But the next on the list are the Duckfoot mods in the fuel tanks. Thanks Guys!
I put a Katz coolant heater in the lower radiator hose when I changed the coolant pump a couple yrs ago & since repaired the glow plugs, re- did the fuel system- Note to everone else!!! NEVER purchase an aftermarket fuel pump!!! Source you an OE Navistar pump ...Unless you just like changing pumps a lot But the next on the list are the Duckfoot mods in the fuel tanks. Thanks Guys!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 108
Likes: 15
If you've got the auto hubs there's a funky clip that holds the inner wheel bearing nut in place. It's hard to see if you don't know what you're looking for. Also if you go to manual hubs you needs the spindle kit to go with them.