Positive camber after adding new front coils

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Positive camber after adding new front coils

Paulco


I just updated my hub lockers, shocks and front coils. The new coils were about an inch longer than the originals and I assumed it was just the age of the old ones that made them smaller. I do have a positive camber but I am not sure what is acceptable.
1982 Ford F-150 XL 4x4 Short Bed with 302 V8
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Re: Positive camber after adding new front coils

Gsmblue
Looks like my Bronco that is running about +3 degrees each side.

I bought the MOOG adjustable bushings but no got to dialing them in.

Some say leave it, but i will be adjusting mine.

At this point it is on the spring cleaning list.
1985.5 F-150 XL Explorer standard cab 5.0 EFI AOD 4x4
Daily Driver. We call her Eunice the Ute.

1982 Bronco XLT Lariat 351W AOD 4x4
Code name Esperanza, or Espy to her friends. Please see my Project thread for the blow by blow.

1984 F-350 XL Centurion crew cab 460 T19 4x4
"Eylza Dual-little"
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Re: Positive camber after adding new front coils

Powerman5K
In reply to this post by Paulco
I don't have any pictures of mine but I had nasty positive camber as well. I tried replacing springs thinking the same thing about the old ones being worn. Camber was crazy worse. I had an 80 with kingpins. That meant no camber adjustment built in. Everyone on the internet will tell you that you just have to find a shop that will bend the I beams... good luck finding someone that still does this service. I ended up just putting the old springs back in and living with it.
1980 F100 Custom. Inline 6. Power steering. 3 on the Column.
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Re: Positive camber after adding new front coils

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
In reply to this post by Paulco
I don't know which/what springs you installed, but consider that they will settle down. (all springs take a set)
The new ones may also be stiffer or have a higher spring rate.


Kingpin (2wd) beams need bent.  You can't do that with a live axle.

Depending on how much suspension lift you ended up with you may need drop pivots to correct your steering geometry.
These ones from Tuff Country are intended for 2" 'leveling kits' and have eccentric pivots to properly correct camber
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: Positive camber after adding new front coils

Rembrant
In reply to this post by Paulco
Paulco wrote
I just updated my hub lockers, shocks and front coils. The new coils were about an inch longer than the originals and I assumed it was just the age of the old ones that made them smaller. I do have a positive camber but I am not sure what is acceptable.
Adjustable camber bushings should fix it, assuming your positive camber is within their adjustment range. For 1-2" lift, they should work.

https://shop.broncograveyard.com/Adjustable-Alignment-Bushings-Pair-1980-96-4wd/productinfo/33520/

I have the Moog adjustable camber bushings in my 1994 F150 2wd, and they're really slick.
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Positive camber after adding new front coils

Rembrant
By the way...if you're playing around with adjustable camber bushings, buy a magnetic digital angle finder.
I have the one below and find it very useful in the garage:

https://www.amazon.com/Protractor-Inclinometer-Magnetic-Woodworking-Machinery/dp/B08SC2481M/ref=sr_1_15?crid=8DU9F0N58YKX&keywords=Digital%2BAngle%2BGauge%2BLevel%2BBox%2BProtractor%7C%2BDigital%2BInclinometer%2BAngle%2BFinder%2BMagnetic%2BBase%2Bfor%2BWoodworking%2B%7C%2BBuilding%2BDrilling%2BMachinery%2BPicture%2BHanging%2B%7C%2BMicro%2BJig%2B%7CTable%2BSaw%2B(PT180)&qid=1696678297&sprefix=digital%2Bangle%2Bgauge%2Blevel%2Bbox%2Bprotractor%2Bdigital%2Binclinometer%2Bangle%2Bfinder%2Bmagnetic%2Bbase%2Bfor%2Bwoodworking%2Bbuilding%2Bdrilling%2Bmachinery%2Bpicture%2Bhanging%2Bmicro%2Bjig%2Btable%2Bsaw%2Bpt180%2B%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-15&th=1

I actually bought it when I built my 1952 pickup for checking driveline angle, and a bunch of other stuff.

Anyway...sit the front end on axle stands, but at normal level/driving height (wheels removed).

Stick the little magnetic angle finder on your brake rotor, and then you can see exactly what your camber is as you adjust the bushing(s).
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Positive camber after adding new front coils

Paulco
Thanks everyone, this is my daily driver until my expensive Jeep gets fixed. So I think I will run it for a week and see if it settles in.

1982 Ford F-150 XL 4x4 Short Bed with 302 V8
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Re: Positive camber after adding new front coils

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
In reply to this post by Rembrant
I agree 100% with Cory (I use the Wixey magnetic angle finder)  but you have to be parked on an absolute level surface for any measurement to be meaningful.
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: Positive camber after adding new front coils

Rembrant
ArdWrknTrk wrote
I agree 100% with Cory (I use the Wixey magnetic angle finder)  but you have to be parked on an absolute level surface for any measurement to be meaningful.
I got my camber pretty close using the little Amazon angle finder. I believe the 2wd spec is around 0.25 degrees positive camber, so to see how close the factory was I set the adjustable bushings at zero/zero, and my driver's side camber was exactly 90 degrees, and the passenger side was 89.xx degrees...I forget the exact number. Once it was on the alignment rack, the numbers showed slightly different, but still within a half a degree or so, which was pretty impressive I must say.
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Positive camber after adding new front coils

Paulco
Update to the thread, I removed the coils I bought from NAPA and ordered new front coils from LMC trucks. These were the correct size and cheaper (including shipping). My alignment is now correct.

My lesson is to be patient and order from a place that specializes in older (more experienced) trucks.

Thanks
Paul
1982 Ford F-150 XL 4x4 Short Bed with 302 V8