What causes this?

[BlueTankRanger97]

'97 4.0 4x4 super cab. CRAP ton of miles. Odometer says 313,000+ only 31,00 on the engine and tranny. Just got her for a song. Just did a rear brake job and shocks all the way around. Shocks were the factory original.So 313,000 miles on them, Jeez!

The right side front wheel is much more out of camber or caster, I can't remember which is which, But both are tilted inward at the top. What is the usual cause of this?

She drives like a dream, and drives straight. This is a project truck so tell me what is needed to put her close to factory, THEN we will discuss mods and upgrades.

TIA

 

[Curious Hound]

But both are tilted inward at the top. What is the usual cause of this?

That's camber. Top angled in = out of adjustment, too much weight on front, tired worn out springs, wrong springs.

 

[bobbywalter]

toe is out as well. Heavy toe out draws the beams down ..... toe in will push them up....this is exacerbated by weak springs.

 

[Curious Hound]

First thing to do is try to get it adjusted properly. Then figure out whether or not you have parts problems.

 

[racsan]

check the ball joints too, you can have badly wore out ball joints but it still drives ok, my ‘93 was that way , you might possibly need camber bushings too.

 

[BlueTankRanger97]

My vote is the whole front end is tired. Gonna get some new springs, all the way around. Leafs are original and since the shocks were, well.....

I will look at the other front end components also.

 

[BlueTankRanger97]

Also had a guy tell me "You have a bad king pin" Do Rangers have King Pins?

 

[Curious Hound]

Also had a guy tell me "You have a bad king pin" Do Rangers have King Pins?

Not that one.

 

[BlueTankRanger97]

Not that one.

I was thinking it was not this year model. Am I correct in thinking the earliest ones had them?

 

[Curious Hound]

No. Only Rangers with king-pin style solid axles swapped in will have them.

 

[bobbywalter]

Yeah. ..there were factory kingpin 2wd and 4wd rangers . In the 70s.

It is how I was able to equip my 88 with kingpins.

 

[Curious Hound]

Yeah. ..there were factory kingpin 2wd and 4wd rangers . In the 70s.

It is how I was able to equip my 88 with kingpins.

Yeah. Some fabrication required.

 

[BlueTankRanger97]

Ok, So as I look at this pics of my front end, and front what I read on the Tech pages, I have a Dana 28 Hybrid? A 28 inside of a 35? With the shock mounts being to the rear...?
Looking at replacing the coils. What else should I do while I am in there? Ball joint all look good and there is NO noise. NOTE: there is a small Power Steering leak and that is why there is crap on the linkage. Gonna hit the rear end soon but want to get the front end lined out first.

So as far as the springs are concerned, I would look for springs for a Dana 35? With the Pinch bolt design on the ball joints...? I am looking at the MOOG CC870 from Rockauto. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=201345&cc=1138160&pt=7512&jsn=13279&jsn=13279

Also, Does it look like the passenger side spring has been replaced? The right side looks a lot blacker and newer to me. MIGHT be part of the issue. Only one was replaced recently

 

[Curious Hound]

I'll have to read the tech articles again. I would really expect a 97 to have a Dane 35.

 

[BlueTankRanger97]

But either way, the springs are the same for the Dana 35 or the Dana 35/28 hybrid, right?