Alignment Problem or Parts?

[Cyberbeer]

I have an 87 Ranger STX. If I am driving down any type of road at any speed and let go of the steering wheel the wheel turns to the right and the truck starts tracking that way. Before I spend 80 bux on a front end alignment, does this sound like its simply out of align. or that part of the suspension is shot? In addition, its done this on two diff sets of tires so I can rule tires out.

EDIT: Its a 4x4

 

[4x4junkie]

Definitely the alignment is out (sounds like improper caster angle).

As for whether bad parts are causing the misalignment or not, I can't say. You'll need to jack up each side and check for any play in things like the ball joints, wheel bearings, tierods, suspension bushings, etc.

 

[Cyberbeer]

Ok, gonna put rear shocks on it tomorrow. While I am under it I will check things, and snap a few pics of anything I dont recognize. I'm more familiar with SFA front ends (heh or lack of) then the torsion set up.

 

[Cyberbeer]

Checked things out today. Everything looks pretty good expect the pass. side stabilizer (?) bar. Its a U shaped bar that spans both sides of the truck. I also noticed the "cuffs" on the lower tire rods were not complete closed. However there was no play in anything I could reach.

Would a bad coil spring bushing cause this kind of problem? While I was doing the front shocks I noticed the pass. side spring bushing looked like mush.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Coil spring bushing? The plastic piece on the bottom of the coil? Or the bushings at the radius arms where they meet the frame?

 

[Cyberbeer]

At the bottom of the coil. The pass side stabalizer bar bushing looked bad too.

 

[Toms01PSD]

It could be the crown in the road. If anything your toe may be out. I aligned my truck after I put the new tires on and it was out. Were the tires two different sizes?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

You use caster to compensate for road crown tho

If the radius arm bushings, balljoints, tie rods and wheel bearings are tight take it in for an alignment.

Edit: one other thing to check is if you have a front brake caliper that is starting to stick on, jack the front end up and give each wheel a spin and see if one has a noticable amount of drag to it.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

You use caster to compensate for road crown tho

If the radius arm bushings, balljoints, tie rods and wheel bearings are tight take it in for an alignment.

Edit: one other thing to check is if you have a front brake caliper that is starting to stick on, jack the front end up and give each wheel a spin and see if one has a noticable amount of drag to it.

^+1

I've had a front brake caliper on 3 different RBV's lock up on me (always driver's side too), and I believe the d-side caliper on my Explorer is starting to go... You can definitely feel it pulling after driving it for a while, the brakes get real tight and I can smelling burning brake pad... The little rubber seal around the piston doesn't retract all the way, the caliper overheats from rubbing, the rubber seal melts, and next time you step on the brakes it locks up and you have to get a new caliper... Try hitting the brakes and if it starts to pull harder to one side, that's more than likely your problem...

 

[Cyberbeer]

Sounds good will give that a try tomorrow. I just replaced front brakes too

 

[AllanD]

Definitely the alignment is out (sounds like improper caster angle).

As for whether bad parts are causing the misalignment or not, I can't say. You'll need to jack up each side and check for any play in things like the ball joints, wheel bearings, tierods, suspension bushings, etc.

More specifically "Caster Stagger"

The Caster isn't equal on both sides.

Look at the radius arm bushings too.

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