94 steering and alignment
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2013
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94 steering and alignment
Happy Sunday everybody, and hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.
1994 f150 4.9 2wd RCSB
I’ve been having a hell of a time getting this steering, suspension and alignment correct. Initially I knew a lot of the components were wore out so I replaced the radius arm bushings, axle pivot bushings in the I beams and all of the tie rods, and ball joints all around along with adjustable camber bushings. Got it aligned and they printed off everything showing in specs. BUT I’m still visibly seeing passenger side tire with slight positive camber. I knew that was a problem originally because it pulled hard right, swapped one of the tires and it corrected until it wore down too. It’s not as bad as it was but still showing signs on a different set of tires.
at this point, with a bushing with 2.5* of adjustment, what are the odds that the knuckle is bent on the I beams and it just needs to be replaced?
1994 f150 4.9 2wd RCSB
I’ve been having a hell of a time getting this steering, suspension and alignment correct. Initially I knew a lot of the components were wore out so I replaced the radius arm bushings, axle pivot bushings in the I beams and all of the tie rods, and ball joints all around along with adjustable camber bushings. Got it aligned and they printed off everything showing in specs. BUT I’m still visibly seeing passenger side tire with slight positive camber. I knew that was a problem originally because it pulled hard right, swapped one of the tires and it corrected until it wore down too. It’s not as bad as it was but still showing signs on a different set of tires.
at this point, with a bushing with 2.5* of adjustment, what are the odds that the knuckle is bent on the I beams and it just needs to be replaced?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 408
Happy Sunday everybody, and hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.
1994 f150 4.9 2wd RCSB
I’ve been having a hell of a time getting this steering, suspension and alignment correct. Initially I knew a lot of the components were wore out so I replaced the radius arm bushings, axle pivot bushings in the I beams and all of the tie rods, and ball joints all around along with adjustable camber bushings. Got it aligned and they printed off everything showing in specs. BUT I’m still visibly seeing passenger side tire with slight positive camber. I knew that was a problem originally because it pulled hard right, swapped one of the tires and it corrected until it wore down too. It’s not as bad as it was but still showing signs on a different set of tires.
at this point, with a bushing with 2.5* of adjustment, what are the odds that the knuckle is bent on the I beams and it just needs to be replaced?
1994 f150 4.9 2wd RCSB
I’ve been having a hell of a time getting this steering, suspension and alignment correct. Initially I knew a lot of the components were wore out so I replaced the radius arm bushings, axle pivot bushings in the I beams and all of the tie rods, and ball joints all around along with adjustable camber bushings. Got it aligned and they printed off everything showing in specs. BUT I’m still visibly seeing passenger side tire with slight positive camber. I knew that was a problem originally because it pulled hard right, swapped one of the tires and it corrected until it wore down too. It’s not as bad as it was but still showing signs on a different set of tires.
at this point, with a bushing with 2.5* of adjustment, what are the odds that the knuckle is bent on the I beams and it just needs to be replaced?
Last edited by 90project5.0; Yesterday at 04:59 PM.
Fleet Mechanic
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Mountain Pass
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@manicmechanic007 this is his specialty.
greatly appreciate the tag of the expert!
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Mountain Pass
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just realize there was a second question in there. I have not checked the brackets for wear, but I will do that shortly. I wasn’t aware that part was a problem.
Fleet Mechanic
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They can get excessive wear for the bolt holes causing it to be out of round. Some people have posted pics of the brackets broken. They are replaceable if so.
Same thing for radius arm bracket.
Same thing for radius arm bracket.
Last edited by 90project5.0; Yesterday at 07:54 PM.
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Mountain Pass
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I went out and looked at them, I wasn’t sure if it was what I was thinking of at first, but it was. I remember specifically looking at that when I replaced the bushings and they were pretty concentric. I do recall feeling like the I beam was torquing on the bushing and bolt pretty hard but it was brand new, and specifically made sure to drive them from the front to the rear, as I remember reading a post regarding that.
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Yeah, that’s how they go. I just taught my son a few weeks ago how to change them! He made the mistake of asking if there was “something we could tinker with on the truck”. Not sure he will ask that again haha! You very well may have a bent I beam.
One last thing to check, some ball joints can come with a caster degree built into them. You got a normal one? Does that side sit lower? Meaning worn out/collapsed coil?
One last thing to check, some ball joints can come with a caster degree built into them. You got a normal one? Does that side sit lower? Meaning worn out/collapsed coil?
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2013
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Yeah, that’s how they go. I just taught my son a few weeks ago how to change them! He made the mistake of asking if there was “something we could tinker with on the truck”. Not sure he will ask that again haha! You very well may have a bent I beam.
One last thing to check, some ball joints can come with a caster degree built into them. You got a normal one? Does that side sit lower? Meaning worn out/collapsed coil?
One last thing to check, some ball joints can come with a caster degree built into them. You got a normal one? Does that side sit lower? Meaning worn out/collapsed coil?
another thing to note, even after radius arms bushings and axle pivot bushings, the wheels seem to camber noticeably while reversing.
Fleet Mechanic
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That’s out of my wheel house, so hopefully someone else chimes in soon! I believe that is worth noting and kinda odd.
Alignment people didn’t give any insight at all?
Alignment people didn’t give any insight at all?
Last edited by 90project5.0; Yesterday at 09:09 PM.
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Mountain Pass
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I’ll try and take a few photos tomorrow and see if anything jumps out
Tuned
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I'm curious about this also, so posting for inclusion.
I also had a printout from the (reputable) shop that had everything within like .02%, or something like that, it's been a while. IOW, it all seemed good on the sheet. New tires and everything. But it still drove funny for a bit, until the negative camber on both side wore the tires down. Then it levelled off. Obviously this is not how it should be though. They had it three separate times to get it to that point, and I can't afford to keep paying "specialists" to learn on my dime. Another "professional" job that I'll be doing myself in the near future. (sigh)
I also had a printout from the (reputable) shop that had everything within like .02%, or something like that, it's been a while. IOW, it all seemed good on the sheet. New tires and everything. But it still drove funny for a bit, until the negative camber on both side wore the tires down. Then it levelled off. Obviously this is not how it should be though. They had it three separate times to get it to that point, and I can't afford to keep paying "specialists" to learn on my dime. Another "professional" job that I'll be doing myself in the near future. (sigh)
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