Alignment and Rear End.

Tiny
RMOORE09
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 FORD F-150
  • 172,300 MILES
Hello, I was wondering if you could tell me if this F150 is out of alignment. The Camber is -0.7 degrees on both sides and toe is -0.24 on both sides. This was about February so it might be a little worse by now. Is it time for an alignment? Also, the Rear Differential gear oil has never been changed out and the truck has 172400 miles on it. Should the gear oil be changed out as well?
Friday, July 6th, 2012 AT 2:29 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
If you have the miserable twin I-beam suspension, that negative camber is due to sagged front springs. That's a real common Ford problem. There are offset ball joint stud inserts available to correct the readings but it won't fix the geometry changes the suspension goes through as the truck goes up and down over bumps. In other words, those inserts produce nice numbers on the alignment computer for a vehicle that is standing still, but you'll still have tire wear problems. Any alignment shop will have a small book with the published height specs and where to take those measurements. If the springs are sagged, they aren't real hard to replace yourself. No special tools are needed.

Is the toe reading in inches or degrees? Either way, it's toed out meaning the tires are steering away from the center of the truck and skidding sideways as they go down the road. You'll feel the feather-edging on the inside of both front tires. Rear-wheel-drive vehicles almost always call for a little total toe-in. The road forces tug the tires backward a little and they end up perfectly parallel.
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Friday, July 6th, 2012 AT 2:44 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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Forgot about your differential. The fluid gets replaced when you have to replace a leaking axle seal, typically during a rear brake job, but other than that there is generally no need to do anything unless you suspect water got in through the vent from driving through deep water, or if you suspect it got overheated from trying to get unstuck from snow or mud. Believe me, you do not want to smell gear lube that has been overheated. You'd rather sleep with a skunk than smell that stuff!
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Friday, July 6th, 2012 AT 2:48 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD AID YOU GREATLY!

http://www.2carpros.com/questions/2007-ford-taurus-tune-up

I GENERALLY "OVER" MAINTAIN MY VEHICLES

I DON'T HAVE THE SPECS FOR YOUR ALIGNMENT (WHAT WAS SAID WHEN YOU OBTAINED THE NUMBERS YOU HAVE?)

I USUALLY GET MY RIGS ALIGNED ONCE EVERY 2 YEARS...NEED IT OR NOT

THE ONLY THINGS THAT MIGHT MAKE IT SOONER IS,

IF I NOTICE UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR (WHICH I NEVER SEE!)

---IF THE WHEELS GET REALLY SLAMMED AGAINST SOMETHING

----IF I REPLACE WORN STEERING COMPONENTS

AS FAR AS THE DIFF FLUID CHANGE---WITHOUT ABLE TO LOOK IN YOUR MANUAL----I'D SAY YOU ARE WAY OVER DUE, PROBABLY MULTIPLE TIMES

I DO NOT RECOMMEND "S.UCKING" IT OUT THE FILL HOLE (THIS DOES NOT PROPERLY CLEAN OUT THE CRAP) IF THE FACTORY MANUAL SUGGESTS REMOVING THE COVER TO DRAIN AND INSPECT IT.......YEP, I'M RIGHT THERE WITH 'EM

IN THE FRONT END OF THE MANUAL IS "SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE"---I'D TAKE A HIGHLIGHTER AND GO TO TOWN, THEN CATCH IT ALL UP!

I DO ALL OF MY OWN MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ON MY DAILY DRIVER JEEPS....SHORT OF ALIGNMENTS

THAT'S THE WAY I MAKE MINE LAST FOREVER!

THE MEDIC

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Friday, July 6th, 2012 AT 2:57 AM

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