Torsion bar adjustment vs. camber angle on my 2001 Sport Trac.

[ALARMIST]

I logged on to look for hints regarding front tire wear.
After seeing much talk about being told, at Dealers and Tire stores, that there
are no fixes, and others frustrated with their vehicles and the condition
displayed at the front wheels / \ causing tire wear.

I continued looking, and found replacement cam bolt kits.
Which would make sense if the stock setup had been altered, damaged, or was designed without enough adjustment range for correct alignment.
(more common than you would think)
but enough to be in the factory "range".

I changed my search and found what I was looking for, the front ride height-
torsion bar setting- should be the starting point of the alignment proceedure.
If the Bars are settled, aged, misadjusted, etc. . Any further front end alignment work is on a shakey foundation. / \ running out of adjustment etc.

A quick inspection of my existing conditions, adjustment keys, bolt positions
etc. level side to side. - Has me reasonably sure I'm looking at normal age
relaxation of the bars or adjusted low. ( sounds like a popular condition)

5 minutes with a 13mm socket and a partial turn on each side, shows and
feels different. I'll continue on when I have a true flat floor for proper measurements. And then when I'm happy with the results, look for a different
alignment shop.

Mike

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome mike

 

[99ex22]

welcome and glad to hear your getting it figured out. Your going to need a alignment after you cranking on the torsion bars so you may as well throw on a 35.00 camber kit while your at it so you can make more adjustments. If you ever plan on running a bigger tire defiantly consider a camber kit.

 

[ALARMIST]

Thanks, I've seen different kits mentioned, are they all the same basically?

Mostly I dislike paying someone to do somthing (alignment) and then feeling like I should be explaining the specifics to them. I had the alignment done
in the same tire shop - figured they would want their tires to wear well.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread to the 2001-2005 Sport Trac section.

 

[larrywilliam]

Your spot on Mike. my torsion bar is the same and its out of its adjustment perimiters, and after fitting new ball joints up and down still effects camber settings (drivers side), alignment mechanic thinks it may be able to move back one slot in the lower control arm to regain lost tension, I will take the plate off tomorrow and check the adjustment assembly, and see if this is possible ??? Maby someone has heard of this procedure and can give a heads up

 

[BigGreenV10]

What is a Caster kit and what benefits are there with them any one should be used?

 

[larrywilliam]

check out camber kits on the net for our truck, yes they are great for good camber setting,,,,but propper torsion bar height is also important ( for factory ride height )

 

[BigGreenV10]

Ok I see many of them what is the factory adjustments and what is the best one aftermarket. I see them up to 2.25+- but as low as 1.75+-

 

[swshawaii]

If you have changed the stock UCA's, lifted or lowered via TT, camber kits are usually required for proper alignment.
1.5 degree kits or higher should be adequate for the max 2" recommended height change to be bring back into spec.

http://www.moogproblemsolver.com/_pdf_en2/DYK10_106_En.pdf

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201860

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191742
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2268137

 

[2TimingTom]

From my experience, excessive camber doesn't wear tires nearly as fast as too much toe (in or out).

 

[larrywilliam]

tow in and tow out flares wear on the tyre, giving tread patterns a high edge on one side, eventually wearing them out,,,,incorrect camber runs the tyre on the inside or outside, and even if correctly aligned, will wear that side of the tyre out, so BOTH must be computer aligned for correct tyre wear. In most cases poor alignment can be detected by the driver (steering right, or left with hands off) but poor camber is only detected by visual inspection, or a computer, as your car will drive straight, so closley check tyre edges, and run the recomended tyre pressure for longer tyre life

 

[BigGreenV10]

So these would work then?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251219579329?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

[swshawaii]

Here's an approximate formula for camber angle vs. lift/lowered height change. (1 inch equals 3/4 or .75 degree)
The 2 degree kit you linked from Specialty Products or Ingalls should be adequate for roughly a 2.66" lift or drop.

If you lower your vehicle one inch front camber can change by approximately -.75 degree. By lowering a vehicle two inches your front camber change will be approximately -1.50 degrees. When you lower a vehicle three inches you will change front camber approximately -2.50 degrees.

http://www.spcalignment.com/faq/article/camber_changes_when_altering_vehicle_height

Camber, caster, and toe explained
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2347495&postcount=1

 

[BigGreenV10]

Ok thanks I am only doing a TT and not going anywhere near that much.