Camber Bushings
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
Camber Bushings
I'm tearing apart my D50 this weekend and while I'm in there, I'm going to replace my camber bushings. The drive train shop I went to suggested the adjustable style if I'm not going to be wailing on the truck offroad. I believe he said they're Moog. Are these things any good? Do they have adjustment numbers on them designating degrees so I can match them to the existing setup? If not, how can I get them really close?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
All of the adjustable camber bushings I have ever seen are just eccentric's.
What degree you get depends on how far you rotate the bushing.
Something to think about.
Every time I have changed the camber bushings, they were a bear to get out.
So if the adjustable bushing is loose enough that it can be turned with a wrench, do you think it will stay in place when the weight of the truck is sitting on it and you hit a pothole?
That rotational force on the installed bushing might be even greater if you happened to be turning the wheel trying to miss the pot hole when you hit it.
I might have been lucky.
When I spent the dollars to have my camber set to preffered, not just within spec at Ford it was dead on the preffered camber.
That was with a 44 IFS.
I usually wound up replacing the ball joints every year in that axle.
And even though the ball joints were replaced, the camber was still dead on the preffered angle when I had an alignment done after changing the ball joints.
All I can really say about the adjustable bushing is what the Ford alignment tech told me.
And that was they are not really a good idea on something as heavy as our trucks.
What degree you get depends on how far you rotate the bushing.
Something to think about.
Every time I have changed the camber bushings, they were a bear to get out.
So if the adjustable bushing is loose enough that it can be turned with a wrench, do you think it will stay in place when the weight of the truck is sitting on it and you hit a pothole?
That rotational force on the installed bushing might be even greater if you happened to be turning the wheel trying to miss the pot hole when you hit it.
I might have been lucky.
When I spent the dollars to have my camber set to preffered, not just within spec at Ford it was dead on the preffered camber.
That was with a 44 IFS.
I usually wound up replacing the ball joints every year in that axle.
And even though the ball joints were replaced, the camber was still dead on the preffered angle when I had an alignment done after changing the ball joints.
All I can really say about the adjustable bushing is what the Ford alignment tech told me.
And that was they are not really a good idea on something as heavy as our trucks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
If your tires wear funny, spending the dollars to get the alignment done is money in the bank.
Tires cost to much money.
That was years ago, I think I laid out 700 for all four ball joints, a couple tie rod ends and the alignment set to preffered at Ford.
Went from needing new tires every other year to new tires every third year.
800 for new tires.
Replace every 2 years, 400 a year.
Replace every three years, 266 a year.
Savings 134 dollars a year.
Six years out, 804 or a complete set of tires in savings.
Tires cost to much money.
That was years ago, I think I laid out 700 for all four ball joints, a couple tie rod ends and the alignment set to preffered at Ford.
Went from needing new tires every other year to new tires every third year.
800 for new tires.
Replace every 2 years, 400 a year.
Replace every three years, 266 a year.
Savings 134 dollars a year.
Six years out, 804 or a complete set of tires in savings.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Eaton, CO
I refuse to pay to have my ball joints done. They're charging $800-$900 per side now. I'll swap everything out and get an alignment at the dealership. My tires are toast anyway. That's the next thing as soon as the swap and alignment is complete.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Since I was going with the non adjustable bushings, it had to come apart to change them anyway.
I could not justify taking everythng apart, changing ball joints, then paying someone else to take it back apart again.
The only possible savings, it might have come apart a little faster since everything would be broken loose recently.
But then again, there is also the possibility that one of the ball joint boots might get damaged, so once again you can't win for loosing.
I could not justify taking everythng apart, changing ball joints, then paying someone else to take it back apart again.
The only possible savings, it might have come apart a little faster since everything would be broken loose recently.
But then again, there is also the possibility that one of the ball joint boots might get damaged, so once again you can't win for loosing.
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