Front End Issues

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Oct 16, 2007 | 07:26 AM

syannuzzi

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Front End Issues

Here is my question. I have a 1984 F150 4x4. I noticed the other day that the drivers side front tire was leaning in. Jack up the truck and and check ball joints for movement no movement. I lowered the truck and drove it a pulled in drive way and the tire was straight. Backed the truck up and the tire was leaning, moved truck forward and the tire was straight. I jacked up truck had tire off and placed a pry bar between the upper ball joint and the axle housing and tried to get movement nothing soild as a rock did the same thing on the bottom nothing. So could worn radius arm bushings cause these tire lean? I would think that if the ball joints were bad the tire lean would be there all the time. Help!

Oct 16, 2007 | 12:41 PM

blue beast

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From: sunny fla sometimes windy

I think you had your head cocked to the side or something!! The great things about
all these cheap digital cameras around now a days, Is you can make a mount on a clamp and clamp it to your frame and point it at the suspected point, put it on video
and go for a drive, Somethings just don't happen when static testing in your driveway.
I saw a digital cam at dollar general for $20.00 thats pretty cheap for such a high
tech tool.

Oct 16, 2007 | 12:52 PM

syannuzzi

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Blue Beast if you don't have an idea to help don't reply. You just waste my time.

Oct 16, 2007 | 01:36 PM

Piffery1

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From: Niceville, FL.

Yes, the radius arm bushings can cause this symptom but more likely the axle pivot bushings. Jack the front end up and put on stands then use a small bottle jack under the axle near the pivot point to check for "play" in the pivot bushings. While jacked, do the same for the radius arm bushings.

Oct 16, 2007 | 05:28 PM

cfrives3

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From: shawnee KS

Quote:

Originally Posted by syannuzzi

Blue Beast if you don't have an idea to help don't reply. You just waste my time.

He was trying to help. I never thought of that and I'm pretty good at these TTB front ends- I have three. Thank you to Blue beast, what a cool idea.

If that is your attitude to those who have been here awhile and try to help everyone else, I for one will never offer advice to you. He could have said "Search Newb!" and left it at that. I respect anyone who cares enough to take their time to offer help, no matter how long they have been here, or how many posts they have. I cannot believe you just said that to an elder user.

Just so you know, Blue Beast has replied to several of my posts, and has been very helpful. He's not one of those guys that only log in when they are in trouble. If you do any wrenching at all, you should know that the more input you have, the more likely you will solve your problem.

All that being said, SEARCH NEWB!!!!!!

Last edited by cfrives3; Oct 16, 2007 at 05:32 PM.

Oct 16, 2007 | 09:20 PM

1980FORD

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From: Greensburg,PA

I agree that that would be a good idea, about the camera I mean, but I don't think you could actually "drive" with it and hope to get any good results. The camera would vibrate so bad that you wouldn't be able to see anything. Would work if you just rolled the truck a little bit. If nothing else you could probably make a cool video that way. Oh yeah, could a worn bearing do this? Probably would have noticed it when checking ball joint play though.

Last edited by 1980FORD; Oct 16, 2007 at 09:24 PM.

Oct 16, 2007 | 09:35 PM

cfrives3

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From: shawnee KS

I'm almost positive it's the axle pivot bushings, because my 85 Bronc is doing it right now. Same exact symptoms.
A bearing bad he would have found by checking the ball joints, and if it were that bad, I guarantee he would have heard it.

Sorrier for earlier rant- that just struck me as wrong.....

Last edited by cfrives3; Oct 16, 2007 at 09:39 PM.