Adjusting camber?.

[Puvong]

Do your folks recommend do it yourself to adjust the front wheels camber on the SFJ?. Both of the front tires have an exessive wear out on the inside " Negative camber?". Please advice me what kind of the measuring tools do I need?.

[Stuka]

Well.....with a solid axle front..you dont adjust camber...its suposed to be zero camber (flat on the road) if its wearing on thhe inside...maby you have bad ball joints...or you need your tires alinged (if they point slightly out the insides will wear, and it will be squirly on the road)

[ibnfe]

If it still drives alright, wheel bearings could be the culprit. Try to adjust/retorque them and see if that corrects the problem. If bearings and what stuka mentioned don't fix the problem, you can buy camber bushings to correct it. Problem with that is if all your moving parts are good, then the only thing to goof up the camber is the axle being bent somewhere.

[andy d]

check the alignment for "toe in". the service station that practically raised me used a 2 piece guage that was made of wood. it measured the track at the front of the footprint of the wheel,and then at the back of the footprint. then adjustments were made at the tie rods.

[River Beast]

um...you can adjust camber and caster on our rigs... I just did.... how?

Here's how...
http://www.specprod.com/PROD_DIR/PROD_TRUCK.html

http://www.specprod.com/PROD_DIR/prod_dynamic/prod_photos/56800.jpg

and...
http://www.specprod.com/PROD_DIR/C_PROD_TRUCK_SEARCH_DYN.cfm?cmd=Cas&cmd2=23000 %2A&cmd3=48%2C77 (http://www.specprod.com/PROD_DIR/C_PROD_TRUCK_SEARCH_DYN.cfm?cmd=Cas&cmd2=23000%2A&cmd3=48%2C77)

http://www.specprod.com/PROD_DIR/prod_dynamic/prod_photos/23000.jpg

You need to have an allignment shop let you know how far off your front end is.... then order the appropriate parts. :D

[ August 16, 2001: Message edited by: River Beast ]

[jeepguzzi]

I tried to find a stock spacer locally, but noone had it :mad: I had boogered it up getting the spindle off the last time i replaced the axle u-joints.

Now I should order one to have on hand the next time I need it.

Puvong, if you or a previous owner had the spindles off your rig, and did not replace the spacer shim properly, you could very well be way out on your allignment!! :eek:

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jeepguzzi:
I tried to find a stock spacer locally, but noone had it :mad: I had boogered it up getting the spindle off the last time i replaced the axle u-joints.

Now I should order one to have on hand the next time I need it.

Puvong, if you or a previous owner had the spindles off your rig, and did not replace the spacer shim properly, you could very well be way out on your allignment!! :eek:<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

IF you had a shim in there to begin with.... someone had put it there, to correct the geometry....hmmmm there is no "factory" spacer or anything that goes between the spindle and the knuckle. IT's metal on metal...unless like I said, the PO had a coreection shim installed. You may want to check up on that.... they are degreed...or tapered if you will... to alter the geomtery.

Seriously...have a 'good' alignment shop have a look at it that "knows" about the degreed cosmo shims and degreed upper balljoint adjustment sleeves.... both are very useful and can corrected up to 1.5 degrees of error each. ;)

[jeepguzzi]

Gotta disagree with you here, Mr. Beast. I have taken apart two wide trac Cherokees, and they both had the degree shims between the spindle and the steering knuckle. Could this be a wide trac thing??? :confused:

[Puvong]

Thank You much for everyone inputs. Yes, the truck is driving everyday without any handling problem at all. I do suspect bad ball joints?, but not all of two front tires.

Stuka is right, the solid axles are not supose to have to adjust the camber angle?, the factory should have done the math to compensate the road curve.

ibnfe. Yes,I will try to check the bearings and retorque them.

Andy d. the tire wears patern seems very clean and there is no sign of scrubing against the road surface.

Rever Beast. That will be my last option to pay the shop for finding out how much the front end off, then i can get the right shim.
very good sites!! and I actualy call them for the shims "$13.75+Tax each" but I have to have the right tools to do it though.

Jeepguzzi. That's possible that the PO had removed the spindles, since I never have had a chance to work on the front end yet.

Thanks again to all.

[Langdon]

There were no spindle shims on mine when I took it apart...alignment is fine.

A 3-owner WT...

[ August 17, 2001: Message edited by: Langdon ]

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Some had the shims and some did not. Seen quite a few in the WT very few in the NT ;)

[River Beast]

the spindle shims can be done with common hand tools... the upper adjustment sleeve uses the special tool and much more of a task to set correctly. Use the spindle shims for your correction for a "do it yourself" job much easier.

A good alignment shop should give you a printout of your alignment as you sit on the machine.... ask them to explain how far off you are and what spindle shims you will need to correct it.

As for factory installed shims, I have seen one FSJ with factory shims...I am installing mine to correct it from doing the SOA and a slight accident the PO had and NEVER told me about.... I'm only off by 1.0 degrees on the right and 1.5 degrees on the left. Spindle shims will bring me back to where I need to be in a matter of about 1.5 hours of my work.... FREE LABOR!!!!! :D

[<Puvong>]

Sorry folks, I had not have the time to work or correct this problem yet, because there were onother things that I have to take care first;
1. the one year old 3-cores radiator is leaking and luckily free replacement, but I am upgrading to the 4-cores added $50.
2. I have to take care the oil leaks, this will include the oil pan, main seals, new valve covers, intake gasket,rebuild 2150, and "MSD" ign-upgade and I do have all the parts but the times. However, I will try to get intouch and let you folks know...Thanks much for your helps.