Front Axle truss for camber adjustment on a 4X

[csnider]

Hi,

anyone used a Axle truss to straighten out the Camber on the front axle?. . I'm trying to get my front end all lined up. . My camber is off a bit. . I've heard of wedge shaped shims that go were the spline bolts up, but my alignment guy recommends an Axle truss. . Good idea?... ... ... ... . Chuck

 

[Paul Herioux]

Chuck,

I've never heard of or used a truss for adjusting camber on a solid axle. Our First Gen front axles use a king pin set up that is very stout. There are two ways to adjust camber on this axle. Specialty Products makes an offset nylon bushing kit for the upper kingpin. This is my preferred method as it also allows caster adjustment. I'll try to remember to get the numbers for this part from work tomorrow. The other option is an adjustable lower kingpin mount made by Moog. The P/N is K992 and allows for camber adjustment only. Last I checked both options were right around 100$. The truss you mentioned sounds like a bending type method, not a healthy way to treat your axle. When working with steel bending it fatigues it and eventually it will bend back.

HTH's

Paul

 

[csnider]

Paul,

thanks, is this Moog part similar to this part I found while searching

http://www.ingallseng.com/parts/600.htm



Any machine shop tool needed? or is this a bolt on affair? . . I'm right at 1. 5 degrees out on one side... ... . Thanks... Chuck

 

[Paul Herioux]

Yeah, That looks like the Moog part. No special tools required, both options are bolt in. Check your local parts store, they should be able to do better than the price on the above site. Before buying anything make sure the upper bushing isn't worn out. 1 1/2* is a lot of camber, to be this far out of wack the upper bushing is worn or the truck has been airborne once or twice.

Good luck,

Paul

 

[csnider]

Thanks,

I found the Moog part for $73... ... I cant find any play in the front end (Wheels off). I figured it was a worn bushing but everything is tight. . I did slide off the road in some icy snow this year and hit something hard enough before I stopped that cracked my steering box bracket almost off. I guess that could put the housing out of wack a little hope this cures it... Thanks again for helping out... ... ... Chuck

 

[Paul Herioux]

Sounds like your hit was probably enough to tweak the stearing knuckle end of the axle. Moog kit should fix it. When checking your front end by the time you can feel movement it is way too late. The bushing on the upper king pin is spring loaded. Its not hard to inspect. With wheel off remove the steel cover over the upper king pin, remove bolts slowly and evenly as this cover hold the spring in place. If the bushing has a locking bar across the top of it it is an adjustable bushing and the tapered hole in it should be off center in the bushing. If no bar the hole should be centered. The bushings tend to wear to the outside edge on most vehicles. Aftermarket wheels, bigger/smaller tires, etc. can change this though.

Welcome to the club.

Paul

 

[csnider]

Paul,

my front left in fact did have a teflon correctional bushing that clocked around to get my camber that far off... one of the slotted edges on the pin that holds the small bar in place has sheered off allowing the offset bushing to rotate and put a bind on things that cracked the teflon bushing. . strange place for teflon... . Looks like I'll have to change the pin. . Do I need those slots for a standard bushing? If not I could put the standard bushing on top and use the K992 on the bottom for any corrections... ... . Any thoughts?... ... And thanks again for all the info... ... ..... Chuck