Camber alignment - what should it be

Get answers to Bronco-related technical issues.
Post Reply
User avatar
landshark
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 3942
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:16 pm

Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by landshark »

I am slowly dialing in the camber on my 69 bronco and have the spindle shims to do some adjusting. before I took it in for alignment and already knowing the driver side front was out over 1 degree positive I installed that one spindle shim.

The reason I know its out of camber is every tire I put on that front left (driver side) the outside edge of the tread wears faster that the rest. Regardless of axle straightness and in light of my upcoming trip I am thinking I can remove 1 degree + from the front driver and .5 degrees negative out of the passenger side to get somewhere in the ballpark for even wear.

Bronco currently drives great - even with the uneven tire wear before I stuck the camber shim in.

Am I thinking about this correctly? I have read .5 degree positive camber is good on Broncos with D44, 3.5" lift and running 35" BFG's - however i wasn't sure that was total or each side?

So to recap - before alignment I installed spindle shim on driver side knowing there was too much positve camber. Did nothing on the passenger side. Results are below.

Image
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
User avatar
Viperwolf1
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 1485
Joined: Tue May 07, 2013 9:37 pm

Re: Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by Viperwolf1 »

How many degrees was the shim and did you get alignment numbers before the shim was put in?

You can rotate the shim to get less camber offset but then will need to correct the toe-in.
User avatar
landshark
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 3942
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:16 pm

Re: Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by landshark »

Viperwolf1 wrote:How many degrees was the shim and did you get alignment numbers before the shim was put in?

You can rotate the shim to get less camber offset but then will need to correct the toe-in.


The camber shim is set to a bit over 1 degree. I lost the paperwork for the older alignment but have a lifetime at firestone and another appointment for Tuesday morning there to set the toe and take another camber measurement. I leave tuesday evening so trying to set the camber for my 2000 mile trip to not eat any more rubber than needed.


If i set the shim to .25 negative instead of 1.25 or whatever its set at should bring it into spec correct?
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
User avatar
Digger
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 1282
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:53 pm

Re: Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by Digger »

landshark wrote:I am slowly dialing in the camber on my 69 bronco and have the spindle shims to do some adjusting. before I took it in for alignment and already knowing the driver side front was out over 1 degree positive I installed that one spindle shim.

The reason I know its out of camber is every tire I put on that front left (driver side) the outside edge of the tread wears faster that the rest. Regardless of axle straightness and in light of my upcoming trip I am thinking I can remove 1 degree + from the front driver and .5 degrees negative out of the passenger side to get somewhere in the ballpark for even wear.

Bronco currently drives great - even with the uneven tire wear before I stuck the camber shim in.

Am I thinking about this correctly? I have read .5 degree positive camber is good on Broncos with D44, 3.5" lift and running 35" BFG's - however i wasn't sure that was total or each side?

So to recap - before alignment I installed spindle shim on driver side knowing there was too much positve camber. Did nothing on the passenger side. Results are below.

Image



I would aim for 0.00┬░ to 0.25┬░ Positive camber on both sides.. If you want to really dial it in, I would set the two sides so you have 0.13-0.25┬░ cross camber bias to the driver's side. This will combat road crown so you will go straight on most roads.

Looking at your picture, you need to dial your driver's side back to ~0.15┬░ positive and set the passenger side to ~0.00┬░ camber. Toe and caster look great.

With the amount of cross-camber you currently have, you should be pulling hard to the right. UNLESS it is compensating for some thrust angle between the front and rear axles. Did they give you thrust angle numbers?
Cummins R2.8 diesel, ZF5, AtlasII, HP44/BB9, ARBs, coiled / linked suspension, 37" KO2s, full cage, bumpers, etc.
Build Thread: http://www.coloradoclassicbroncos.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5420

Average 23.5 mpg, Best tank: 26.3 mpg
User avatar
landshark
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 3942
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:16 pm

Re: Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by landshark »

Doesn't pull at all. I have some other readouts will look and see if they included
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
User avatar
Digger
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 1282
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:53 pm

Re: Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by Digger »

landshark wrote:Doesn't pull at all. I have some other readouts will look and see if they included


If you come up with nothing, I would highly recommend a 4-wheel alignment. That will give you camber, toe and thrust angle of the rear axle. (Rarely is a straight axle straight)

Something is going on though. You can clearly see that you have -1.2┬░ of cross camber, which is way out of spec. I would not want more than 0.25┬░ ideally. Either way, if it is driving straight, the front end is compensating for something else that is out of alignment or there is a tire wear issue.
.
Cummins R2.8 diesel, ZF5, AtlasII, HP44/BB9, ARBs, coiled / linked suspension, 37" KO2s, full cage, bumpers, etc.
Build Thread: http://www.coloradoclassicbroncos.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5420

Average 23.5 mpg, Best tank: 26.3 mpg
User avatar
landshark
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 3942
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:16 pm

Re: Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by landshark »

So my driver side ball joint isn't doing so well. I've always had issues trying to get the upper joint into spec. I'm going to try and replace the upper and lower n the driver side before I leave. Might be able to squeeze in a few hours to install. Might have to drive with it as is. Not sure yet. Will tweak the passenger camber Sunday.
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
User avatar
landshark
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 3942
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:16 pm

Re: Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by landshark »

Well both ball joints on the driver side were completely destroyed - replaced them today and will take it in on Tue to get realigned and hopefully my camber is close ;)
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
User avatar
Kinder
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 4372
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:03 pm

Re: Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by Kinder »

Did you check the passenger side?
Best to Date MPG: 26.6
User avatar
landshark
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
Posts: 3942
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:16 pm

Re: Camber alignment - what should it be

Post by landshark »

Yup. All good. I had issues on the driver before could never get the torque specs right. New ball joints went together well and torqued good. Maybe better brand never used moogs. Had spicers before
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
Post Reply