Need help! working on camber issue / '48 Coupe

A

apairof66s

Junior Member
Thanks for allowing me to join.
We're currently working on a stock front suspension camber issue.
There is alot of negative camber that we need to correct.
This is a '48 2dr. coupe w/ a straight axle and monoleaf.
Any advise at this point would be great !
 
The only way to correct neg CAMBER is to bend the axle ends back into spec. You sure we're talking about neg CAMBER (top of tires closer together than bottom of tires)? DD
 
If it is an aftermarket axle (cast iron) it may not be a good idea to bend it to correct the camber issues. If it is the original forged axle (even a dropped original axle) then it may be possible to rebend it to correct angles. I've never done it myself, but people say that shops set up for big trucks should have the equipment needed to bend the axle.

Mart.
 
Rod and Custom magazine did a feature a while ago on this subject. Of course they were located in So Cal so everything car related is available. What the shop did was use a large type hook assembly to hold down the axle and then used a large hydraulic jack to "tweak" the axle into spec. I would also recommend looking for a shop that does trucks with "I" beam axles. I don't think I would try to tackle a job like this on my own. How far out of spec is your axle?
 
The king pin inclination angle is 8° on Ford spindles, but on similar appearing Lincoln spindles it is only 4° (or maybe it is 4 1/2°, CRS). Regardless, if the spindles are Lincoln you will have negative camber. KPI is the angle of the king pin in relation to the backing plate flange of the spindle. By any chance do you have Lincoln Bendix type brakes, rather than Ford Lockheeds? Can you post pictures?
A previous owner may have used the Lincoln spindles because ther Linc' backing plates will only fit earlier '32-36 spindles without modification. They can be fitted to the later '37-'48' Ford spindles with some work.
 
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Thanks for all the replies.....
It has NOTICABLE negative camber.
Tops of the tires are out, bottoms are in.
Also appears stock.
When I go to post a picture it asks for the url with the http://
which won't allow me to take from "my pictures" from my pc.....

YOU"RE RIGHT IT"S POSITIVE CAMBER !!!
 
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To post pics from your PC, click on the BLUE "post reply" at bottom left. When that screen comes-up, click on the little paper clip icon. You should be able to go from there. DD
 
Sounds like the spring is part of the problem also. That front end is set up to rum with a multileaf spring. You have not said what wheels you have which can be another alignment problem. Since I also suffer from CRS, had to look at some of my Fords, all are further apart at the top than the bottom of the wheels and tires.
 
Top of tires out and bottoms in is positive camber. Some positive camber is there as stock. When we can see some pics we might be better able to help.

Mart.
 
here's the first pic
 

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The steering rack (which is not factory ! ) has the bar that you see across the front. well, it's also resting on the rack itself. after closer inspection one of mounts for the rack is broken.
I'm pretty sure I see what I need to do next.....
 
You can do a crude measurement with just a common angle finder ans a straightedge from top to bottom of each wheel. Good enough to define the problem or tell if there is one.
 
I circled where the bar is making contact. see pic.
Tomorrow I'll remove that bar and re check everything, including the broken mount for the rack.....
 

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Is the car drivable? The stock frontend is rear steer some how its front steer now.
I wonder what was used for spindles.
I would buy the right front end parts and bring it back to standard.
 
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