Front Camber

[midtnranger]

I changed all my tie rods, and the drag link today. Before I did the change I have noticed that the camber on my wheels was like this \ /, but after I did the change and took here for a drive I noticed they were like this / \ is this ok? It is so nice to have the slop out of the steering wheel!

 

[4x4junkie]

Does it change from /--o-\ to \--o-/ and back each time you reverse directions in a straight line? If so, your toe alignment most likely is off.

 

[midtnranger]

It does. Can I fix it by adjusting for some more toe in? I would go take it in for a alignment, but I am getting ready to change the ball joints and put some spacers up front and don't feel like paying for 2 alignments. I have a old set of tires on it, and I only drive about 10 miles everyday so hopefully they will last. Thanks for the help!

 

[99RangerKrazy]

I would wait to do the alignment until you do the ball joints and coil spacer, unless, like you said, you like to pay for two alignments. You can adjust the toe yourself in your driveway, to at least make it a little more driveable until then.

I'm sure you know what toe is, but just in case:

Looking from the top of the vehicle, like a top view. You want the tires to be | | However, incorrect toe may cause them to be / \ (toe in) or \ / (toe out)

A quick, but not a precise way, to do it, is to use a tape measure the distance between the fronts of the tires and the rear of the tires. For example, find a place of the trade on the front passenger tire and measure it to the same place of the tread on the front of the driver side tire. Then measure the same place of tread on the back of the passenger tire and measure it to the same place of trade on the back of the driver tire. I hope this makes sense. You're going to want them to be within ~1/8" - 1/4" of each other.

This will at least make it a little more driveable until you get your ball joints and spacers and alignment done.

 

[bhawk]

do the rough alignment yourself after you read the articles in the tech library on this site. The articles are very informative. I would get the toe correct first, quite easy to do, then move to camber and caster. Camber is what you see so I usually try to get the camber at 0 degrees first, then eyeball the caster. Take it for a drive. If it pulls to one side, follow the instructions in one of the articles to add or remove caster on the appropriate wheel to correct the pull. Good luck.

 

[doorgunner]

be carefull adjusting the toe-in......or you could end up with this /......engine...../


or




this \.....engine.....\


the steering wheel needs to be in the straight-ahead position....then determine which front tire is actually pointing straight forward....then use the tape measure trick to adjust the other tire's toe-in...


example /.....engine.....| (the drivers side tire is straight, but the passengers tire is out)

or \.....engine.....| (the drivers side tire is straight, but the passengers side tire is in)

or |.....engine.....\



or |.....engine...../


hope it makes sense...