Inspecting I-Beam Straightness...
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte, NC
Inspecting I-Beam Straightness...
Hey all,
The I-beams on my 77 f100 are bent and and it's time to replace them. I found a yard nearby that has some for sale. What I really need to know is how to Visually Inspect them for straightness (I assume they will be already removed from the vehicle). I dont want to get duped, and end up with axles in worse shape than the ones I already have.
Any other hints or tips on the matter will be most appreciated!
(I'd like to be able to walk in there with a straight-edge or something...)
The I-beams on my 77 f100 are bent and and it's time to replace them. I found a yard nearby that has some for sale. What I really need to know is how to Visually Inspect them for straightness (I assume they will be already removed from the vehicle). I dont want to get duped, and end up with axles in worse shape than the ones I already have.
Any other hints or tips on the matter will be most appreciated!
(I'd like to be able to walk in there with a straight-edge or something...)
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte, NC
ah, one other thing, If there is a possibility that I just have weak coil springs, and my axles are not bent, I sure would like to know how to check that, and find out before I commit to replacing the axles!!
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte, NC
Ok.....just read the thread called "Determining Coil Spring Sag" and a bunch of others on I-beams. Now, I'm hoping that replacing springs will fix my saggy front wheels that eat up tires on the inside, (hoping that it's weak springs, rather than bent axles)
I'm going to go ahead and get a spring kit from Napa. But, I'm pretty sure that my axle pivot bushings are gone anyway (clunk/pop/vibrations). So obviously, replacing them at the same time as the springs is the thing to do. But that would also be the ideal time to put whole new axles in... (cant find anyone to bend em around here)
So, can I check the approximate straightness of my i-beams? I just need to get a ballpark idea here (whether or not to replace). Can i just park the truck on a level surface and measure along the underside of the axle surface to the ground?
Sure would be a pain to replace the springs and axle pivot bushings just to find out that I need take it all back apart to replace the axle itself!
(still need to know about visually inspecting a removed junkyard I-beam for straightness too)
I'm going to go ahead and get a spring kit from Napa. But, I'm pretty sure that my axle pivot bushings are gone anyway (clunk/pop/vibrations). So obviously, replacing them at the same time as the springs is the thing to do. But that would also be the ideal time to put whole new axles in... (cant find anyone to bend em around here)
So, can I check the approximate straightness of my i-beams? I just need to get a ballpark idea here (whether or not to replace). Can i just park the truck on a level surface and measure along the underside of the axle surface to the ground?
Sure would be a pain to replace the springs and axle pivot bushings just to find out that I need take it all back apart to replace the axle itself!
(still need to know about visually inspecting a removed junkyard I-beam for straightness too)
Last edited by HateTank; Jul 10, 2007 at 10:16 AM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 17
From: Hesperia, CA
You must have had some major front end damage to bend those I beams. I have seen trucks virtually totaled and the I beams were still intact. I personally would find a front end alignment shop that specializes in I beams and have them look at it. They have the equipment to re bend them if they are tweaked. It would be a lot cheaper in the long run and you would be assured that your front end is in alignment.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte, NC
well, that is encouraging. I've had the truck for 9 years and have never had anything happen that could bend those axles (aside from the occasional bad pothole or bump) I remember the alignment/ tirewear being pretty good those first several years. And now, the truck definitely seems lower in the front (looking at the space b/n the top of the tire and bottom of fender moulding).
The only reason I thought i had bent I beams was because of my even, extreme inner tire wear (on visibly sagging wheels), and an Alignment guy said i'd need to bend the axles to correct camber. I even gave them a good look over, they surely seemed fine to me, no obvious bending or anything. But that wheel sag....!
But after reading those threads on coil springs, I found out that weak springs cause saggy wheels too. Well, my springs are 30 years old for sure and boy, i sure hope that's all it is. It's making sense to me (hope hope hope)
btw: I have replaced Kingpins and Radius arm bushings recently, as well as 2 alignments and all shocks.
is my thinking right on this?
The only reason I thought i had bent I beams was because of my even, extreme inner tire wear (on visibly sagging wheels), and an Alignment guy said i'd need to bend the axles to correct camber. I even gave them a good look over, they surely seemed fine to me, no obvious bending or anything. But that wheel sag....!
But after reading those threads on coil springs, I found out that weak springs cause saggy wheels too. Well, my springs are 30 years old for sure and boy, i sure hope that's all it is. It's making sense to me (hope hope hope)
btw: I have replaced Kingpins and Radius arm bushings recently, as well as 2 alignments and all shocks.
is my thinking right on this?
Last edited by HateTank; Jul 10, 2007 at 11:13 AM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 17
From: Hesperia, CA
I would definitely replace the springs if you are sagging. When you get the new springs on check the toe in. You can do it with a tape measure. Have a friend help you. Measure the back and then the front of the tires. The front should be about 1/16 shorter than the rear. That is about the right toe in for these trucks. Make sure you are measuring the tires from the same center point. Caster and camber would have to be checked by an alignment shop.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 261
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From: Columbus, Indiana
The only reason I thought i had bent I beams was because of my even, extreme inner tire wear (on visibly sagging wheels
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Charlotte, NC
The spring coils don't appear to have been tampered with before I got it. And it went from being fine (good alignment/ tire wear) when I bought the truck(in '98), to sag-city gradually over time. The inner tire wear only became noticeable a couple years back, but I could just rotate tires and forget it. Now it's pretty bad and I wanna fix it. Ya know, I seem to remember thinking a while back that maybe it was time to replace those springs....
already ordered the spring kit and poly axle pivot bushings from Napa. should be in tomorrow, hope to have em installed by the end of the week.
already ordered the spring kit and poly axle pivot bushings from Napa. should be in tomorrow, hope to have em installed by the end of the week.
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