how to install camber bushing?

[punkbek3886]

i want to put my own camber bushings in after i lift the front of my 91 but my manual says that "due to the requirement for special alignment tools, this job is beyond the scope of the home mechanic" several people on the site have recommended that i do them myself, can somebody tell me how? i appreciate it

 

[audiodude332001]

I just did this 2 days ago on my truck. Its pretty simple really. You take off the tire, and then on top of the ball joint there is a little C-Clip that you need to remove. Then take out the pinch bolt that goes through to hold the bushing in place, and then pull out the old bushing. I used a vise grips to get the old bushings out. They dont come out very easily, so you just have to wiggle it for a while and smack it with a hammer. I also found it helped to hit the top of the balljoint with a hammer, and it forced the old bushing out. I couldnt figure out how to adjust them though, so I am going to get it proffesionally adjusted.

 

[Isles4evr]

They get adjusted my turning the bushing. Depending on how much caster and camber you need is how you set the bushing. You really need to put it on an alignment rack to determine it accuratly... unless you are real good with string and a tape measure.

You'll save yourself between 50 and 100 bucks installing them yourself, but you will still have to pay for the alignment.

Chris

 

[punkbek3886]

yah saving $$$ is what im going for thanks for the info

 

[nice92explorer]

its there any special things you need to go through when installing them on a 4x4. i have about an inch of positive camber on my 92. would you guys know on what setting to set my adjustable shims at , just by chance. on the shim it had a whole bunch of letters> a-z, and i dont know what setting to put them on just for a while until i get money to take to the alignment shop??

 

[audiodude332001]

I worked on adjusting the bushings for about 2 hours and never could get mine right. I finally just said screw it and called the allignment shop and took it in to them a week later. Make sure you take it to a shop that knows what they are doing. I had to wait for 3 damn hours for them to allign my truck, and they still couldnt get it perfect.

 

[jimbo74]

perfect, there is no such thing... in spec however there is..... sometimes you cannot get everything in spec... although most times it is possible.....

 

[Isles4evr]

Originally posted by jimabena74
perfect, there is no such thing... in spec however there is..... sometimes you cannot get everything in spec... although most times it is possible.....

He said it perfictly. A lot of shops don't know that if you set the caster even on both sides it will pull/drift. You need to set the right side caster .5 degrees higher than the left for most ford truck to track straight.

Setting the bushings in yur driveway is next to impossible really. Due to the amount of camber AND caster change avaliable in any bushing you really don't know where you sit without an alignment machine.

Chris

 

[jimbo74]

Originally posted by Isles4evr
You need to set the right side caster .5 degrees higher than the left for most ford truck to track straight.

exactly... the caster should be set half a degree higher on the right becuase americas roads are crowned meaning htey slant to the right to aid in dispersing water from rain conditions etc..... and on ford trucks you cant always have eprfect becuase wit hte ttb, the camber/cater is adjustable with the same part... therefore, your caster could be perfect but the camber could be off..... however, my personal chois is perfect camber and tolerable caster as the caster doesnt make my tires wear funny....

 

[punkbek3886]

I went to carquest and asked about their camber bushings because someone on here said that they carry the highest degree available- 2.75 degrees. all the guy at the counter could find was a 2.5 degree adjustable bushing. he had non adjustable bushings up to like 1 degree or something. where else can i find the 2.75 degree bushings or will the 2.5 do just as well?

 

[Stic-o]

They are pretty easy to put in, as long as you have the right size. I bought some from fab tech back when I had my ranger, and I could not get them in worth anything! I pounded the $hit out of one! Then I went back to them and said "I can't get them ..can you?" They went to work on it and then told me they we're the wrong size! They put the right size in at no charge then!