front end help
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front end help
I need alittle front end help. I have a 1983 F-150 2wd with about 190,000 miles on it and I'm starting to have front end problems which started about 1 month ago.
I'm running 32X11.50/15 for the last year now when i had the alinement done a few day ago they told me the camber was out i have replaced the radius arm bushings and both outer tie rod ends. They talked about camber bushings i called a friend at napa and i can get them for 26.00 each. How hard is it to install them???
I'm also getting a clunking on the driver side when i hit the brakes hard(don't say don't hit the brakes hard LOL
) the clunking started about a month ago and i can turn the top of the shocks by hand with the trucking on the ground. The GVW is about 5800 lbs. I don't have a lot of money to put into the front end all at once or into parts I may not need.
I'm planning to replace the axel pivot bushings and front shocks in about a week first. What else should I replace or look for???
Thank you,
Scott in tampa,fla
I'm running 32X11.50/15 for the last year now when i had the alinement done a few day ago they told me the camber was out i have replaced the radius arm bushings and both outer tie rod ends. They talked about camber bushings i called a friend at napa and i can get them for 26.00 each. How hard is it to install them???
I'm also getting a clunking on the driver side when i hit the brakes hard(don't say don't hit the brakes hard LOL
) the clunking started about a month ago and i can turn the top of the shocks by hand with the trucking on the ground. The GVW is about 5800 lbs. I don't have a lot of money to put into the front end all at once or into parts I may not need.I'm planning to replace the axel pivot bushings and front shocks in about a week first. What else should I replace or look for???
Thank you,
Scott in tampa,fla
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Right Next to U
You could have a bad bearing (weak/dried bearing grease will destroy the front wheel bearing) It'll clunk or grind...you can tell by lifting the wheel off the ground and move the tire/wheel assy in a upware position, and in a side to side position (4 way, up/down...side to side) there should be no movement, but yet free spinning) Also don't pull/push on the wheel while its up on a jack. You can do this part if the truck is on a rack (all wheels off ground) Look at the front wheel bearing cap to check for dried grease, if its dried, and you have metal particals among the grease then you can expect your bearing are shot. Hopefully you have caught the problem BEFORE the wheel axle had scored or cut a grooved in it, in which case it would throw any alignment off that you have done previously, axle and bearing would have to be replaced.,IF it is in this condition.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: San Diego CA
The clunking is probably coming from the radius arm bushing. It's a common problem on all twin I beams. The work the front end needs sounds typical for the age of your truck and unless you have some experience in front end work I'd say don't try this at home. It basically requires taking apart the whole fornt end replacing the worn out parts and putting it back together then aligning it. If you want to try it and need some coaching just post back and I'll try to walk you through the process. Good luck, Rich
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Thanks for the replies here is a litle update the wheel bearings are about 2 weeks old I just replaced both sides when I put the new rotors on. The radius arm bushings are about 6 months old but I have to put other ones on to do my caster.
The top bushing on my shocks are a little dried out would this cause the problem also??
scott in tampa fla
The top bushing on my shocks are a little dried out would this cause the problem also??
scott in tampa fla
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 1
From: Right Next to U
May need new shocks, Did you put the anti-brake shim back on it? That also would cause it to rattle....but the top part of the shock could be loose if you can turn it by hand.....
Quote"I'm also getting a clunking on the driver side when i hit the brakes hard"
Could also have a sticking brake rotor.
Quote"I'm also getting a clunking on the driver side when i hit the brakes hard"
Could also have a sticking brake rotor.
