do front springs sag?? help!!!!
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do front springs sag?? help!!!!
I have a '93 f-150 4x4. I had ball joints put in
recently and had it lined up. when I got the truck
back it didn't steer good. I took it back to a good mechanic and he said Ford trucks are known
for the front springs to start sagging. The right front tire is pushing out at the bottom and that is why it steers funny. He said he has to put a shim in. He said I should either put new springs in, or air bags.
I am wondering if anyone out there knows about this problem. Thanks.
snowgoose
recently and had it lined up. when I got the truck
back it didn't steer good. I took it back to a good mechanic and he said Ford trucks are known
for the front springs to start sagging. The right front tire is pushing out at the bottom and that is why it steers funny. He said he has to put a shim in. He said I should either put new springs in, or air bags.
I am wondering if anyone out there knows about this problem. Thanks.
snowgoose
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Durham
do front springs sag?? help!!!!
Well on my 2WD, I've got my original coil springs in since '82. Yes springs will sag, but I've never associated that with having tire alignment problems. Usually the springs will end up lower the vehicle a little and you may begin to even bottom out on the tops of the tires if the tires are large enough. It seems to me that a 7 year old vehicle should not be having spring problems, especially on the front.
'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik
'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik
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Joined: Dec 1999
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do front springs sag?? help!!!!
I've replaced the springs on my 93 f-150 and it no longer sags at all. What I asked for at the local spring shop was for the heaviest front coil springs that would fit my truck. Now the truck sits perfectly level and the front wheels stand straight up. My truck is an extended cab 4x4 351, so the trucks weight was a factor in getting the heavier springs whereas you may not need the heaviest. That was just a personal preferance of mine. ;-) Hope this helps and that it makes sense, I'm taking a break from studying for finals, and my brain is quite tired.:-)
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 1999
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do front springs sag?? help!!!!
Snowgoose,
Were both the upper and lower ball joints replaced ? Its possible the camber adjustments on the upper ball joints were not adjusted properly ? I know you mentioned you had the alignment checked , But Ive seen some people and alignemnt machines that couldnt line up two straight lines . I assume this problem started after you had the ball joints replaced ? Id have the alignment checked again .
Paul
Were both the upper and lower ball joints replaced ? Its possible the camber adjustments on the upper ball joints were not adjusted properly ? I know you mentioned you had the alignment checked , But Ive seen some people and alignemnt machines that couldnt line up two straight lines . I assume this problem started after you had the ball joints replaced ? Id have the alignment checked again .
Paul
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do front springs sag?? help!!!!
It is possible that your springs are sagging, and if they are it does effect alignment drasticly (Fords wonderful Twin-traction-beam). The alignment shop should be able to provide the bushings (they're not really shims) to correct the alignment for the sagging springs. New fords are assembled with 0 degree bushings, and no adjustment can be made without replacing them. The degree bushings should cost about $50, so if you didn't pay for them, they didn't adjust the alignment, except maybe the toe-in. If say a 4 degree bushing is installed, the camber can be adjusted anywhere between -4 and +4 deg beyond where it was, with any extra angle put into the caster.
I'd recommend taking it to a Ford dealer for alignment or finding a shop that has a good reputation for aligning TTB fords. It is highly likely that the guy that did your alignment screwed it up. If you think the front end is sagging, replace the springs first, and let the shop know so they can set the alignment to compemsate for the break-in of the new springs (they will settle).
I'd recommend taking it to a Ford dealer for alignment or finding a shop that has a good reputation for aligning TTB fords. It is highly likely that the guy that did your alignment screwed it up. If you think the front end is sagging, replace the springs first, and let the shop know so they can set the alignment to compemsate for the break-in of the new springs (they will settle).
