2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Camber bushings

[SRath]

So I spend all the money to replace and upgrade everything in my frontend and now take it to an alignment shop (finally). Everything is new with less than 500 miles on it. I also take them the very specific specs I want it set to. Ram steering specs

They call a couple hours later to say the truck is on the rack and the quoted $65 alignment will now be $330 due to the fact it needs offset camber bushings. I tell them to forget it and just park the truck back outside.

I was going to spend money for adjustable camber balljoint bushings when I did the balljoints, but was advised not to waste the money then (less than $50). Now it looks like I should have ignored that advice.

How many of you guys have had to use offset camber bushings on your truck?

 

[NIsaacs]

I am interested in this subject also. I just changed out the ball joints on my 91 D-250 with Napa Premiums and for the heck of it looked up my 01. Napa lists 4 joints for the top. Regular, 1/2*, 1*, and1. 5* offset. Quad 4x4 doesn't list the offset? Whats the deal?



Nick

 

[JMcCoy]

Of alignment adjustments, camber has the least effect. I would drive it a while and see how it goes.

 

[SRath]

Since I would not / could not pay the shop $265 extra to install two $25 bushings when all I wanted was a $65 (quoted) alignment, they did nothing to it at all; but they also did not charge for anything. Unfortunately, they did not say how many degrees each side was off and whether positive or negative.

If you go to RockAuto and look them up, there is a HUGE selection of adjustable bushings in varying degrees of adjustment as well as positive or negative. Too many choices and not enough info.

So I continue to rack up miles with a completely out-of-alignment truck. Very soon, the $250-apiece front tires will begin to wear badly and once they start, there is no stopping them.

Installing the adjustable camber bushings is a piece of cake on such a brand-new and well-greased front axle; and they are only $50 to $60 bucks with shipping (which still seems mighty high for a couple of lousy bushings). There is no way I'm paying some shop $265 to do that easy job, but there is no way I can possibly guess which ones I need.

Catch 22.

I have a friend who owns two shops in another nearby city with alignment equipment. I don't know how sophisticated and I wanted very precise specs as laid out in the link in my first post. But I would rather pay his shop to put it on the rack, confirm the camber needs changed, tell me how much for each side, then let me take it home, order and install the bushings, then take it back for an actual alignment. What a PITA!! Never had this stupid problem with a real kingpin Dana 60...

 

[Bob4x4]

If you have a camber problem serious enough to need it fixed your last set of tires should have shown it. Did they??

 

[SRath]

My last set of tires were in the most horrible condition I have ever seen. To call them square and bald spotted would be a complete understatement. But EVERYTHING in that junk, idiot-designed front end was completely shot, so blaming just the camber would not be right. That said, I would not be the least bit surprised to find it does in fact still need camber bushings.

I bought the truck in 1999, 3 years old, and it has been the most front-tire-killing vehicle I have ever owned or driven. If the thousands of dollars of new parts and upgrades don't cure it, I will yank the Cummins and install it in my Chevy and scrap the Dodge.

 

[JMcCoy]

When I raced circle track, there was a little tool that would stick the the hub with a magnet. It would tell you camber and caster. It was a great help in setting up the car. I can't see why it wouldn't work on out trucks. Only problem is that it costs $165. 99 on the Jegs website, but it will be another tool in your box. You may have to make up an adapter for your hub or maybe you'll get lucky.



Intercomp 102010 Intercomp Bubble Caster/Camber Gauge



They also sell a digital one for more $$$. Maybe ebay

 

[SRath]

OK. My friend/neighbor is driving my truck to his shop tomorrow and will put it to the exact specs I want on his new, state-of-the-art Hunter alignment machine. They will install whatever camber bushings it needs.



The reason for having them do the bushing install, and it isn't because he doesn't want to help me save money by doing it myself, is two-fold:



1> Even with the newest, best equipment out there, what the machine says is "the correct bushing offset" to correct a reading sometimes isn't and they need to go slightly more or less, so just telling me what offset is needed so I can order and install them might be a waste of time.



2> Since everything in my front end is brand-new, clean, painted, greased and not all rusted up, he says the labor will be very minimal. After all, they need only remove the cotter pin and nut from the upper ball joint on each side and replace the factory bushings then reinstall the nuts and cotter pins.



If there is any problem or unexpected development, I know he will tell me straight and treat me right. He treats me so good on things like this that I almost hate letting him do anything since I am seldom allowed to pay him what it's worth.



I know it will be right since he will be driving it 30 miles before and then after and will notice if it isn't perfect.

 

[crasher]

Results?

I'm just wondering how this turned out.