Tire lean when backing up
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Tire lean when backing up
I have an 87 f250 4x4 and when i back up i notice that the front wheels lean in at the top real bad what could be causeing this?? it has a 4 inch lift on the truck with 35x13.5x16.5 tires on i also have a 92 explorer that does the same thing is it just the ifs that causese this??
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
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From: USA
I'm not sure about backing up versus going forward, could have something to do with the toe-in causing the tires to pull together at the bottom going forward and spread apart at the bottom going in reverse. That would indicate though that something is worn out and loose, like ball joints or axle pivot bushings. Bad ball joints do cause negative camber (tires leaning in at the top like this: /---\ ). A lift kit without axle pivot drop brackets installed would also cause negative camber, but it would be negative going in both forward and reverse. I imagine that worn axle pivot bushings could also cause negative camber but I don't know if it would be different in forward as opposed to reverse.
I haven't owned a TTB front axle to experiment with those issues. I bought an F350 with a straight front axle, partly because I wanted to avoid those issues...
I haven't owned a TTB front axle to experiment with those issues. I bought an F350 with a straight front axle, partly because I wanted to avoid those issues...
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,005
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
SoCal is on the money. If the wheels/tires are tipped in at the top only after backing up your front end toe-in is set wrong, the tires are toed in just like he "drew".
Sounds like time for an alignment.
Dave / Believer45
Sounds like time for an alignment.
Dave / Believer45
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
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From: Topsfield, MA
I've re-titled your thread to more accurately describe your topic...."i need help" subjects don't help the people in the future using our search option 
I've heard of this before...and it seems to be a common thing. I believe it's just in the design of the TTB...mine does it too. I've got all new ball joints, wheel bearings are tight, pretty much a new front end under my truck..mine does it. I've seen 4-5 threads on this in my time on FTE and I'd just go over your suspension..make sure the alignment is ok and the ball joints/wheel bearings are good and that everything is tight. If everything is in working order...don't worry about it...
I've heard of this before...and it seems to be a common thing. I believe it's just in the design of the TTB...mine does it too. I've got all new ball joints, wheel bearings are tight, pretty much a new front end under my truck..mine does it. I've seen 4-5 threads on this in my time on FTE and I'd just go over your suspension..make sure the alignment is ok and the ball joints/wheel bearings are good and that everything is tight. If everything is in working order...don't worry about it...
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 99
From: Ashland City, TN
its natural for ford trucks tires to lean while backing up.
Its just the way the suspension was designed, vehicles are ment to go foward all the time. so its setup to hold them strait in foward, but they wear out from backing up. so the tires lean when you reverse, soon as you pull foward they will straiten back up.
if they dont, then you have bigger issues.
Its just the way the suspension was designed, vehicles are ment to go foward all the time. so its setup to hold them strait in foward, but they wear out from backing up. so the tires lean when you reverse, soon as you pull foward they will straiten back up.
if they dont, then you have bigger issues.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
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From: Vincennes, IN
When I purchased my 89 F250 the tires would lean really bad when backing up. I crawled under the beast and looked around and I found that one of the bolts holding the bracket that the axle pivot bushings are located on was sheared off allowing it to move freely when backing up. I replaced the bolt and now the wheels are straight as an arrow both going forward and backward.... Oh, btw, I'm running BFG Mud Terrain 33x12.50's.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 99
From: Ashland City, TN
Bah! i'm supposto be club FTE member now. pfft.
Yea. that whole arm there just gets a lil loose.
If it sheered off thats bad! hahha. anyways.
It should be no worries about it doing that unless of course it sheered off like it did for him.
Yea. that whole arm there just gets a lil loose.
If it sheered off thats bad! hahha. anyways.
It should be no worries about it doing that unless of course it sheered off like it did for him.
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To everyone that replied to my post about my tire leaning problem when i back up.. i am very sorry it has taken so long to get back.. been very busy driving my other ford trying to keep the bills paid..( my other ford is a 95 ltl9000 aeromax tractor pulling a covered wagon..) but back to my leanin prob .. I figured it out the guy that had the truck before which installed the lift kit forgot to retighten all the bolts so just about th whole front end was falling out.. that and a couple of bad leaf spring bushings.. again i apoligize for taking so long to rply..
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