Question With Alignment and Positive Camber
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Question With Alignment and Positive Camber
I am currently restoring my F-150 that was previously my grandfather's. It is a 1986 2wd. Over the summer I have put on 1.5" leveling springs and new shocks on the front. Now truck has a positive camber. I just purchased new rims and tires, but do not want to put on the new tires only for them to be eaten by misalignment. I have read in the posts that some have had their I-beams bent, and a few others that have used a camber kits to fix this problem. I am trying to get some background info prior to taking it to an alignment shop since everyone wants to screw you now adays, and if it is something I could do if these camber kits work.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
I know they work on 4wd trucks, and I am guessing the 2wd drives are the same?
What they are doing is offsetting the upper ball joint. The upper balljoint does not sit directly in the upper part of the spindle. It actually sits in a sleeve. This sleeve is what you are buying in a camber kit, and they have different ones with different amounts of offset. So the upper balljoint ends up not sitting centered in the spindle hole, but is off to one side.
I would let the alignment shop do what they have to do. If they say they need the kit, then let them install it if they have it in stock. They will know which degree kit they need. It's not as simple as just straightening the tire out vertically with the camber adjustment, but they also may need to mess with the caster too. They will have to buy a bushing that will let them try to get both in spec at once.
What they are doing is offsetting the upper ball joint. The upper balljoint does not sit directly in the upper part of the spindle. It actually sits in a sleeve. This sleeve is what you are buying in a camber kit, and they have different ones with different amounts of offset. So the upper balljoint ends up not sitting centered in the spindle hole, but is off to one side.
I would let the alignment shop do what they have to do. If they say they need the kit, then let them install it if they have it in stock. They will know which degree kit they need. It's not as simple as just straightening the tire out vertically with the camber adjustment, but they also may need to mess with the caster too. They will have to buy a bushing that will let them try to get both in spec at once.
