Camber adjustment ???

Ryder

Ryder

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I have a 2016 that pulls to the right. There is uneven tire wear on the right front tire. Alignment shop can’t fix it.

I understand there are offset aftermarket parts that will adjust camber.

I’m attaching the numbers. Left front is out of specs but it’s the right hand tire that’s cupping.

I am happy to work on my Jeep but am not sure what to do. image.jpg
 
Ryder said:
I have a 2016 that pulls to the right. There is uneven tire wear on the right front tire. Alignment shop can’t fix it.

I understand there are offset aftermarket parts that will adjust camber.

I’m attaching the numbers. Left front is out of specs but it’s the right hand tire that’s cupping.

I am happy to work on my Jeep but am not sure what to do.View attachment 120492
Click to expand...

You might have a bent axle or "C". You could try replacing the ball joints and/or getting a shim like you mentioned. An offroad shop should be able to tell you if the axle is bent.
 
A Alignment Shop shouldn't have a problem doing a Alignment, and if there was a problem keeping it from being aligned they should be able to fix it.

Usually the only time aftermarket parts are needed is when it's lifted.
 
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BLACKJKU said:
A Alignment Shop shouldn't have a problem doing a Alignment, and if there was a problem keeping it from being aligned they should be able to fix it.

Usually the only time aftermarket parts are needed is when it's lifted.
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Thanks, the shop said there are a no adjustments possible unless I installed an offset ball joint to correct camber. I have been misinformed before by shops so thought to do some checking with folks that know heck of a lot more than I…
 
Ryder said:
Thanks, the shop said there are a no adjustments possible unless I installed an offset ball joint to correct camber. I have been misinformed before by shops so thought to do some checking with folks that know heck of a lot more than I…
Click to expand...

I guess I never paid that much attention, I wonder if it's just the Dana 30 axles that don't have the adjustable camber.

My Dana 60's do and i'm pretty sure my old Dana 44's had them also.

Buy yes I did see you have to buy adjustable offset ball joints and they are available. You'd think that the alignment shop would have them unless they don't replace them.
 
BLACKJKU said:
I guess I never paid that much attention, I wonder if it's just the Dana 30 axles that don't have the adjustable camber.

My Dana 60's do and i'm pretty sure my old Dana 44's had them also.

Buy yes I did see you have to buy adjustable offset ball joints and they are available. You'd think that the alignment shop would have them unless they don't replace them.
Click to expand...

Really? I didn't think any solid front axle had camber adjustments other than using shims/adj. ball joints. Only adjustment I've ever been able to get done is toe.

Even caster requires adjustable control arms.
 
Idk. I work on trucks and 4x4 most every day. Ive never seen a straight axle with adjustment from the factory on any jeep, GM, Ford, nor Ram/Dodge. We have to buy offset joints, sleeves, or shims.

If your stock jeep is having issues other than toe then you have bent something. No other way for it to happen

So far this week I've changed two broke front left rubicon axles (same day...ironicly) both 08 model. One a 2 dr and one a 4. Lol Neither had adjustment.
 
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Creston said:
Idk. I work on trucks and 4x4 most every day. Ive never seen a straight axle with adjustment from the factory on any jeep, GM, Ford, nor Ram/Dodge. We have to buy offset joints, sleeves, or shims.

If your stock jeep is having issues other than toe then you have bent something. No other way for it to happen

So far this week I've changed two broke front left rubicon axles (same day...ironicly) both 08 model. One a 2 dr and one a 4. Lol Neither had adjustment.
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Ok, thanks. I’ll get an offset and install it.
 
Ryder said:
Ok, thanks. I’ll get an offset and install it.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't do that without figuring out what caused it to get off. Either your knuckle is bent or your axle tube. Not much else i can imagine could do it without a bent track beat or something. Either way you need another alignment shop if they couldn't tell you why it was out of alignment.

If it's pulling right and just wearing the tire too quick it would be a tow issue which they should set and then reset the steering to straight. If it's wearing the inside or outside then it would be bent and needing camber but that's not really possible without something bent or broke with a front axle
 
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I ran into something similar with my WJ before. My driver side rear tire was wearing on the inside. Took it to get aligned and they said the camber was off and there was no adjustment to be made. Gave me a bill of $180 and sent me on my way. I went to a shop that installs lift kits and do their own alignments. They told me right away my axle tube was bent at the housing. Go to another shop.
 
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JeepJeezy said:
I ran into something similar with my WJ before. My driver side rear tire was wearing on the inside. Took it to get aligned and they said the camber was off and there was no adjustment to be made. Gave me a bill of $180 and sent me on my way. I went to a shop that installs lift kits and do their own alignments. They told me right away my axle tube was bent at the housing. Go to another shop.
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Thanks! This is why I posted. I needed more options than, “not real sure maybe an offset ball joint, but no guarantee” that I got from my local alignment shop.
 
20210503_134849.jpg


Everything is permanent except the pressed in ball joints. The only way for the tire to lean is a bent ear on the knuckle or a bent tube. And these tubes suck if you really go offroad. Generally they do ok in the mall parking lot but I suppose a hard hit on a pot hole could do it.

On trucks we see it a lot with over loading but the jeeps are so puny that we don't see that much. Lol

Generally camber is set by an oblong bolt in the upper bolt hole to the strut which a solid axle jeep doesn't have. Sometimes it's set by moving the top of the strut or moving the upper A- arm that again, live axles don't have those.

The offset ball joints will make up for whatever you have ruined but it would be best to fix the problem. Straighten the tube and gusset it or whatever needs done. If its bent it will only get worse if you use it.

The knuckles aren't very high of that's the issue and cost the same to install as doing ball joints. The axle tube would take a bit more skill and id about bet that is where the problem is
 
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Creston said:
View attachment 120496

Everything is permanent except the pressed in ball joints. The only way for the tire to lean is a bent ear on the knuckle or a bent tube. And these tubes suck if you really go offroad. Generally they do ok in the mall parking lot but I suppose a hard hit on a pot hole could do it.

On trucks we see it a lot with over loading but the jeeps are so puny that we don't see that much. Lol

Generally camber is set by an oblong bolt in the upper bolt hole to the strut which a solid axle jeep doesn't have. Sometimes it's set by moving the top of the strut or moving the upper A- arm that again, live axles don't have those.

The offset ball joints will make up for whatever you have ruined but it would be best to fix the problem. Straighten the tube and gusset it or whatever needs done. If its bent it will only get worse if you use it.

The knuckles aren't very high of that's the issue and cost the same to install as doing ball joints. The axle tube would take a bit more skill and id about bet that is where the problem is
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Very good info. Thank you! I’m assuming it’s difficult to see a bent part as it’s only a bit out of camber. Rest of the numbers are within spec. So the question then is how to tell what’s bent?
 
Can be very difficult. The tube is most likely. The right side is the long side so you have that working for you too. Don't underestimate a carpenters ("L") square or a masonry twine for checking. I have lasers and digital alignment tools but still use squares and string and tape measures for a lot of work on straight axle trucks and jeeps.

Just remember the front and rear end technology is straight axles. The dana 44 has been used by GM, Mopar, and Ford since the 70s at least. Nothing mythical about it at all. One could check and align a jeep better with a string or broomstick than many "tech" can with a 50k dollar hunter machine. A cheap set of caster camber alignment plates is perfectly fine for a Jeep or straight axle truck.

I've seen million dollar race car chassis set up via a fancy string system. The posts and all that were nice shiny aluminum and adjustable.... but the geometry of the car was set by a string regardless.

Same for the 3.8 and 4.0 in jeeps. No vvt no direct injection etc etc. They are old school. Nothing difficult on them. Time consuming perhaps but not difficult. Tow and camber can be set work a tape measure and string if your careful and pay attention. Caster is another matter entirely BUT most "alignment" shops won't even adjust caster. They say "not adjustable" even if it is. Ive had cars come to me that I know alignment shops lied about.
 
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