Camber Bushings...Installation and What Degree?

[MrMatt]

Hey Guys,

Well I just got done with putting in my Spacer/Shackle lift yesterday and I know Im going to need an alignment now.

Whats involvoed with installing new camber bushings? And where do they go? Im guessing its that bolt on top of the ball joints? Are they hard to replace?

I am thinking of just installing the camber bushings myself and then having a place align it to save money. I guess my question is where should I go to get them? Either localy or online and what degree should I look at buying? I have checker auto, pepboys, and Autozone all localy.

Thanks for the help guys.
-Matt

 

[jimbo74]

go to an alignment shop... many of them offer free alignment checks..... and only require you to pay if they need to adjust them..... get a printout and look how many degrees they are off.... then order the bushings from a local place... yes, the location you posted for them is correct.... all you need is general tools and a snap ring plier set.....

 

[MrMatt]

Hey,

Thanks for the info, the local tires plus offers free alignment checks Ill have them do that tomorrow probably.

As for installing them, whats a Snap Ring Pliers set? Where should I get them (Sears?) and how much should I expect to pay?

EDIT:
Would these do the trick?
Snap Ring Pliers

Thanks again
-Matt

 

[Maniak]

I have a set of pliers like that.. The work well when new.. but after I used them a few times the replaceable tips start to strip.. and then the ones that aren't straight start to turn when I use them...

Next time, I'm buyins a few different pliers (maybe 3.. 1 straight, 1 45 degree and 1 90 degree)...

but yes.. thats the piece you need.

~Mark

 

[Brian1]

You will also need a 12 point thin walled metric socket. I forgot what size but I think it is in the low teens. Also you will need a socket or wrench to turn the new bushing if it is tight. I used a 1 1/8" socket I think but not sure. If your not confident just let the alignment shop do it.

 

[MrMatt]

Hey,

Whats the thin walled socket for? Taking that top bolt off? And 1 1/8 seems big (I have it for the spring bolts) what would I be using that on?

I am not overly clear on exactly what it is Im replacing, I kinda know where it is but Im not clear on the procedure.

I want to do it myself to save me some $$$ I might call a couple other shops and see how much they want but the one place wanted to charge me $140 parts+labor for them installed...that seemed pretty high to me.

-Matt

 

[410Fortune]

The F-150 spring seat installs on the coil retainer stud. If you look at your coil, the bottom of it, there is a 1-1/8" nut in there, you need to undo this little sucker, unseat the coil, put the spacer in and bolt it all back together it;s easy. There are some pictures of the seat installed on this board a ways back, use hte search feature.

The 12mm 12 point socket is for the camber shim pinch bolt.You loosen this sucker then pry the old shim out, pop the new shim in. It installs over the upper ball joint stud. The o ring pliers are to take the O ring off the upper ball joint stud (its a safety feature in case the pinch bolt fails).

It;s very straightforward.......

 

[Maniak]

The pinch bolt on the 4x4 first Gen Explorers (ok.. at least on our 1992) is a 10mm allen wrench...

~Mark

 

[410Fortune]

AHA!!!! Another thing they changed.

IN January of 1992 (this always comes up) Ford had an update to the D35, if you ever go order parts for a 92 (like rotors, calipers, etc..) the guys computer will prompt him to ask you when your truck was built. I have no idea since I pulled my front axle from a 92 that caught fire, I never chacked. So it seems maybe the pre 92 Dana 35's have a allen wrench pinch bolt. Mine must be after the update then since I have the 12mm bolt........

I wonder what else changed? I havent found any info on it, they all look the same to me and I have seen tons of them in the yards...I will pay more attention to the ball joints......

 

[MrMatt]

Hey,

Well I ended up just having a shop do the work. I took a look at how rusted the camber bushings were and decided that their was no way I was going to do that myself.

Total with an alignment came to $180, could be worse I guess.

Anyway Im happy the lift is in and alignment is finished, now I just need to get a set of tires hehe

-Matt

 

[punkbek3886]

hey, i found your thread, it helped a lot. what size tires do you plan on putting on after that lift? i think 31x10.50 are a good size

 

[MrMatt]

Hey,

I am not sure what tires Ill be running yet, I might go with some 31x11.50s since Pepboys has a decent set in that size for pretty cheap, or I may go with ProComp M/Ts in 31x10.50s

If I can find a place to test fit some I might see how 32x11.50s fit.

-Matt

 

[X-1]

410 fortune

Here is some trivia for you, tried ordering a right side I-beam for the dana 35, and the guy at ford said they listed over 20 part numbers for that beam I said are you serious, and he said yes, its about 4 pages long. And bythe way that beam is over 650.00's if you can find the right one So the guy I was searching this part for almost fell out, and decided to keep the bent one.

 

[Brian1]

Originally posted by 410Fortune
So it seems maybe the pre 92 Dana 35's have a allen wrench pinch bolt. Mine must be after the update then since I have the 12mm bolt

My 91 which was made in 91 has the 12mm pinch bolt and not an allen head and nothing has been changed/ replaced that I am aware of so that throws even more confusion into it.

Originally posted by 91 4x4 4door
Hey,
And 1 1/8 seems big (I have it for the spring bolts) what would I be using that on?

One of my shims had a 6 point head on it so i turned it with a big socket wrench which was about 1 1/8". The other side shim had more degrees built into it so it was multipoint head. Just FYI since you already had it done.

$650+ just for the 1 beam without anything else? Just another reason to go to a solid axle.