Matt Cawson
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• Caledonia, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 10/20/2004 |
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• 82 posts |
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 Posted:7/12/2005 10:37 |
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Bubble gauge? What does that tell you? I've never heard of that. Is it special tool for checking the camber? |
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Richard Smith
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• Knoxville, TN, USA |
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• Registered on 10/4/2003 |
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• 104 posts |
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Posted:7/12/2005 12:20 |
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The bubble gage mounts on the spindle and reads it angle relative to vertical (camber). Caster is checked by reading angles lock to lock. Same concept that shops use but less complicated. Your vehicle must be level side to side to read accurately.
If my Excursion needed alignment I would get those adjustable gizmos and do it my self.
Look at your tires - measure tread depth across the tire face. You can see if your alignment is correct or your tire pressures are right. If the tire wear eavenly don't do anything.
Pick a shop! Educate your self - ask questions you already know the answers to. I PO a lot of people with this technique - but I do find out when I'm being BS'ed.
This forum lets us educate ourselves - correct our wrong way of thinking and get our stuff fixed the right way at reasonable costs. Its like a team where the members seldom meet except here. |
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Matt Cawson
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• Caledonia, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 10/20/2004 |
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• 82 posts |
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Posted:7/12/2005 13:18 |
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I hear ya Richard. I'm just juggling between the place that just installed my tires, the shop down the road that does good, honest work at a reasonable price, and what Belle Tire told me when I took it in for an alignment. Belle told me that the toe was off, so they fixed it. They said that the passenger camber was off, but not adjustable and quoted me the fix (they also said that this was why it's pulling left). They never once mentioned the caster adjustment. I talked to my shop yesterday and he said that camber won't cause it to pull, but the caster WILL. Should I take this thing to the place that just put on the tires? How about back to Belle Tire and tell them that the camber won't affect the pull and ask them why they didn't mention caster (hope to get them to pay for it)? Or should I give it to the most trustworthy guy and pay for the whole thing all over again? The other issue is that it shakes like crazy over 70mph. It did this even BEFORE the new tires, so I'm thinking it's not a balance issue. He's rattling things off like driveshaft balance, bent axle, etc... He also said that the pull could be from a steering gear (said to lift the front end up and see if it turns easier one way than the other). Not sure where to go from here??? |
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Richard Smith
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• Knoxville, TN, USA |
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• Registered on 10/4/2003 |
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• 104 posts |
• 1
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Posted:7/12/2005 14:09 |
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Matt,
Belle Tire said CAMBER is not adjustable but in fact it is adjustable via calibrated mounting locators. (See this thread above) BUT they can fix it?? Belle adjusted the toe-in did they do it correctly? Did Belle balance the tires correctly? The front axle of the Excursion is really rugged and it takes a lot to change the camber or caster.
Are your front tire pressures equal? Did it pull before the tires were replaced?/toe-in adjustment?
I would go to your honest - do it right guy.
Vibration over 70 MPH. Tire vibration usually shows up at 40 MPH or so. A wheel and tire that is truely balanced is balanced at 20/30/40---70 etc MPH.
Vibrations in Excursions in the 70-80-90 MPH range has been traced to rear u-joint alignment. Shims used to tip axle housing so that axle pinion shaft line up to driveshaft centerline. I shimed mine - just eyeballed alignment and it is now smooth to above 90 MPH. This fix was found on this forum a year ago. |
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Matt Cawson
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• Caledonia, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 10/20/2004 |
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• 82 posts |
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Posted:7/12/2005 14:19 |
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Hey Richard, just sent you an email. Did you get it? If so, reply and I'd love to talk over the phone. Thanks.
Matt |
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CHPMustang
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• Plano, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/24/2002 |
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• 1,800 posts |
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Posted:7/12/2005 15:15 |
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You've done tire pressure/s,wheel alignment/s.
Here's what Ford technicians will check if it was taken into the dealer at this time;
(1) Tire Pressure
(2) Wheel alignment
(3) Steering gear
(4) Steering column intermediate shaft
(5) Frame alignment
Perhaps Excessive side to side difference in camber or caster,maybe a brake dragging?
The truck should also pull to the side with the least positive caster and the most positive camber,that's per Ford.
Bill
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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Matt Cawson
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• Caledonia, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 10/20/2004 |
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• 82 posts |
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Posted:7/13/2005 13:10 |
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OK, here's the latest: Took it in the local shop this morning. They took it for a ride and definitely noticed the shake. Brought it back and lifted up the back, ran it up to speed, and still felt the shake. Took the wheels off and ran it up to speed, still felt a little bit but not much. Noticed that the rear rotors were warped. Replaced rotors. No change. When I picked it up I asked them to check tire balance on the rears just for giggles. Driver side was off 2.5 ounces. Passenger side was off 4.5 ounces! He said that my tires were "pretty big for their machine, but it should work". Re-balanced the rears and I took it for a road. Noticeable difference, but still a slight shake. I don't know if their machine is off (in favor of my truck) or if the tire shop's is off (not in favor). I'm going to the tire shop in a few hours. I'm going to have them check all four and show me what they find on the rears (should be pretty good if the local shop's machine is in line). I'm guessing/hoping that the fronts are off as much as the rears and this will solve the problem. Maybe just a bad day at the tire shop when I had them put on, who knows. Truck used to shake a while ago so I replaced both front rotors and it was gone. Recently started coming back and now that they changed the rears it's smooth braking. I have 115K on the bus. All this sound reasonable?
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Richard Smith
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• Knoxville, TN, USA |
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• Registered on 10/4/2003 |
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• 104 posts |
• 1
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Posted:7/14/2005 12:58 |
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Caster adjustment on 4 x 4. Because of the leaf springs in the front couldn't caster be adjusted by simply using tapered shims between the spring and the axle housing spring mount?? Put the shim in front or rear of the front axle depending on weither you need more or less caster.
This technique worked great for eliminating rear u-joint misalignment and that dreaded vibration above 70 MPH on my 2003 Excursion 4 x4.
Just a thought! What do you thik??? |
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Matt Cawson
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• Caledonia, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 10/20/2004 |
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• 82 posts |
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Posted:7/15/2005 06:43 |
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I'll have to look at that. What is considered "more" caster versus "less" caster. Wheel further ahead considered "more"? If I'm pulling left, which wheel needs adjustment and in which direction? |
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