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  #1  
Old 06-05-2009, 10:36 AM
Yrac Yrac is offline
diMwit
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 341
Unhappy Wheel Alignment Woes

I've had some issues with positive camber (looks like \-/) on my 88 4x4. I got it 2 years ago and it had never had any maintenance done on the front end. I replaced the axle u-joints, hub support bearings and tie rod ends. Then I put new tires on it. Drives and wheels great, but I got alot of wear on the outside edge of the front tires. Took it to the alignment shop, they wanted to install radius arm bushings (for large bread). I took it home and did it myself for less than 40 bucks. When I backed it up to pick up a couple of tools I noticed the camber had changed to negative (/-\). My first thought wasI @%!&ed it up! Upon closer inpection everything was fine. I back up and stop, the wheels splay out, I go forward, they tippy toe. Anybody else seen this behavior?
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'88 STX Super Cab 4x4
2.9 5spd 180,000 miles
Crappy Paint, Worn Parts,
Fix'em as they Break
when Nowhere is Now Here
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  #2  
Old 06-05-2009, 11:09 PM
beaujt beaujt is offline
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wait, are your tires falling in now or out? cause if they are falling in(look like this /-\) put some spacers underneath your coil springs. just go get some BIG washers, and put underneath the bottom coil spring support. Also, how much tire movement in and out do you have cause ya might need to re-pack your wheel bearings(they do factor into your camber!).
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93 ranger ext. cab 4.0L auto 6" SJ/custom lift--37" super swamper truxs M/T tires--lock rite locker w/ 4.56 gears up front--warn hubs--exploder 8.8 w/ disc brakes 4.56 gears and detriot locker--one-piece driveline--bushwacker cut-out flares--Bilstein 5150 shocks--2 10" xcite subs w/ 1600W Crunch amp-- tinted windows

waiting for: dual steering stabilizer, put on 3" body lift(in my room), dual shock setup, electric fan, possible SAS with a waggy D44
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  #3  
Old 06-05-2009, 11:09 PM
beaujt beaujt is offline
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those springs will get soft after a while and that CAN cause your camber to get outta wack... also what kind of motor do you have(seems to be more prevalent in the 4.0L)
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93 ranger ext. cab 4.0L auto 6" SJ/custom lift--37" super swamper truxs M/T tires--lock rite locker w/ 4.56 gears up front--warn hubs--exploder 8.8 w/ disc brakes 4.56 gears and detriot locker--one-piece driveline--bushwacker cut-out flares--Bilstein 5150 shocks--2 10" xcite subs w/ 1600W Crunch amp-- tinted windows

waiting for: dual steering stabilizer, put on 3" body lift(in my room), dual shock setup, electric fan, possible SAS with a waggy D44
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  #4  
Old 06-07-2009, 01:15 PM
dieselmech86 dieselmech86 is offline
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By "hub support bearings" do you mean ball-joints?

Easy way to find out what's moving, jack up the truck on the axle on one wheel end. Then grab the wheel at top and bottom, and shake. Look to see what's moving (or have someone else look). Could be wheel bearings. If you don't see anything moving, it could be the axle pivot bushings. Make sure you got the right ones.
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87 Ranger
2.9L
4x4
33" TSL swampers
Mitsu 5 speed
owned since 2004

2003 Ranger
Tremor
Pioneer speakers, head unit
3.0L
Auto
owned since 2008
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  #5  
Old 06-07-2009, 07:38 PM
Yrac Yrac is offline
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Default Thanks for the input!

The "hub support" bearings support the end of the axle shaft in the locking hub. Now, back to that pesky camber...to boil it down. Wheel bearings are fine, full of grease, minimal play. Shocks are kinda shitty but still functioning. The thing is I drive forwards my camber looks like \-/, I back up and stop it changes to /-\. My ball joints have no play to them and the rig drives fine, no pulling, straight line, it even wheels great. Damn thing has made the outside of my front tires bald (kinda like my head). If they turn grey, I'm buyin' a chevy.
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'88 STX Super Cab 4x4
2.9 5spd 180,000 miles
Crappy Paint, Worn Parts,
Fix'em as they Break
when Nowhere is Now Here
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  #6  
Old 06-09-2009, 09:41 AM
dieselmech86 dieselmech86 is offline
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Have you checked your radius arm bushings and/or brackets?
__________________
87 Ranger
2.9L
4x4
33" TSL swampers
Mitsu 5 speed
owned since 2004

2003 Ranger
Tremor
Pioneer speakers, head unit
3.0L
Auto
owned since 2008
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  #7  
Old 06-09-2009, 05:43 PM
Yrac Yrac is offline
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Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 341
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Bushings are new, arms undamaged (bushings are non adjustable).
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'88 STX Super Cab 4x4
2.9 5spd 180,000 miles
Crappy Paint, Worn Parts,
Fix'em as they Break
when Nowhere is Now Here
Reply With Quote
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