2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 3500 4x4 front axle camber bushing

[PWeber]

I was messing with mine tonight and noticed it has a removeable camber bushing that is labeled 0 degrees. I assume this means you can get positive and negative values of these to adjust camber offset? I also noticed I can rotate the ball joint stud inside this bushing and it adjusts both caster and camber as it goes around. ( Dont worry I marked where it was and my buddy runs a large body shop with an alignment machine so alignments come for a 12 pack. ) Anyhow, my question is where do I get these bushings because his alignment guy says they are fixed and cant be changed Cause that is what the computer on the $50k alignment machine tells him when he enters the vehicle and is too lazy to look). I did not tell him I though it was a bushing and confirmed tonight they are stamped with a value thus indicatting there must be other values to place in there.

 

[dan_gilson]

You can get them at various settings. I have also seem some adjustables listed on the web. The adjustables looked interesting because on the 4x's it is a closed knuckle setup which means that you just about have to take it all apart to put in a new bushing.

 

[jrobinson2]

http://www.ingallseng.com/ Has adjustable ball joints and probably offset bushings also.

http://www.federal-mogul.com/cda/content/front/0,2194,2442_7707,00.htmlalso makes offset bushings. In the early 90s I got some offset bushings from a Ford dealer for an F250 that were the same.

Jared

 

[dhauser]

Hi PWeber, I had to change the ball joints on my 96 1-ton. After my mech changed them out I had to take it somewhere else to have it aligned as my mech's rig would not accomodate 1-tons. The stealer said "yah bring it on down and we will align it for 59. 95. Sounded better than the 80. 00 plus parts the truck/rv shop quoted,so I bit. After I got it in I got a call and the stealer said I would need at least one bushing to fix properly, soooo I went and took a look see and found out that the bushing is what changes the settings. Lots of labor and 175. 00 and I got my truck back. At least it is aligned correctly and does not eat tires. Oh by the way, the bushings are 40 bucks each. Happy truckin and good luck, Dave

PS installed GREASABLE ball joints!



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I would respectfully request you avoid the generic reference, "stealer. " Please feel free to post experiences - good or bad - in detail.



Thank you.



Robin

TDR Admin

 

[Clinton]

The heavy truck alignment shop I went to had them on hand. They put a new one on each side and I finally had a good alignment. Two new bushings and the services were around $110, so I'm guessing the bushings were in the $40 range (don't have receipt here). Neither the tire shop nor dealer could get it right, those bushings were the ticket.

 

[jrobinson2]

My truck was in for warranty work yesterday and the dealer quoted me 340. 00 for an alignment, I said I'll find somebody else.

 

[PWeber]

Here is another insight on the camber bushings we all get cracked $40-$75 ea. for. If you look at the bushings they put in they are sometimes rusty already. That is because the guy before you may have needed to have his changed to another offset, thus they put his and your old bushings in the cabinet with the other bushings and resell them at 100% profit.

 

[dhauser]

The dealer didn't try that on me, I went down and saw the new OEM part before it went in, nice and shiny.

 

[PWeber]

I am refering more to the XYZ Tire Co. store down the street with an alignment rack. I come from having 3 diff. 92 -97 Ford diesel 4x4's with IFS over the past 10 years. These things need alignment as the front springs sag. with age. I was always taking them in to get alignment and 1 hr. later getting the "you need $800 worth of stuff" call from the shops. Always a camber/ casrter "kit" for both sides... .