Front end drama...

[71f100]

Hello people,
Just a question regarding twin I-beam front end. One of my front wheels sits about 3/4" further back than the other, and I have next door to no castor. All is new apart from radius rods and I-beams, which I have never separated, (not to say this hasn't happened in the 30+ years before I got it!). Are I-beams side specific (left for left, right for right) or are they interchangeable? I'm wondering whether they are bent? or if they are just on the wrong sides? OR as another option I'm thinking of, are the radius rods side specific? as it appears they would have a fair bit to do with setting the castor angle. Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Damian

[FORDification]

Yes, there's definitely a left and right I-beam, due to the built-in kingpin inclination angles, as shown in this photo:



The radius rods can be physically swapped side-to-side, but the shock mount will be upside down. Not a huge problem, as it means the shock height will be about an inch higher.

Sounds to me like you've possibly got some crushed radius arm bushings.

[71f100]

Thanks dude, but the radius arm bushes are near new, Heres the weird bit. If I measure from the same point on the chassis to the centre of the bolt running through the radius arm and the I-beam, both sides measure the same. But if I measure from the same point on the chassis to the bottom centre point of eack King Pin, there is a difference. This leads me to believe the I-beams are bent. As I mentioned in my first post, It's all new under there, Springs, shocks, Bushes (I-beam and Radius Rod) Steering Box, Draglink, Disc Brake front end , Wheel bearings tyres blah blah blah!!!! Hence my dismay at the current situation. All I haven't replaced is the I-beams and the Radius rods them selves. Think I might, just for the hell of it. That way I'll know for sure. All I can think is they are bent, The poor thing has had a hard life. Thanks again for the info.....Damian

[NM5K]

Dunno....I think I would take it to a *good* front end, frame shop
that does alignments on ford trucks. "If you can find one.."
If the I beam is bent, it can be bent back to normal. Only the newer
style stamped I beams can't be bent. The older forged beams are
bendable...It's possible there may be some other problem you are
overlooking....Although I'm not sure what it would be.... When I rebuilt
the front end on my 68, I took to a frame shop here in Houston for
alignment..."Excel" That guy knew his stuff, and has the gear to do most anything. I did that work nearly a full two years ago, and my tires still
look about like new...In my case, I didn't need any axle bending.
Being I had replaced everything , including kingpins, etc, all he had to
do was set the toe...MK

[NM5K]

BTW....My old 81 chev monte carlo had "staggered" front wheels
also...The car had hit a hard curb once...But they aligned it so it
didn't really matter...It wore tires just like new, so it didn't really
hurt anything...Did look kinda funny though, if you were to notice it.
I think the pass side front wheel was about an inch back from the
drivers side...Whack!!!!! Them curbs hurt....Blew the tires on that
side also....No...I didn't do it.... MK

[mk]

G'day Damien
Welcome to the site. Is your truck right or left hand drive? I've been so curious about what the steering gear looks like in those converted trucks. Do you suppose you could get any pics for us of the r/h steering box mounting?

mike

[wt4speed#2]

Only other posibility is the frame is diamonded, meaning it has been hit at some point in time and one frame rail is pushed back father than the other and if some one was aware of this the bumpers could be adjusted to cover it. the best way to check for this is find a square at the back of your frame i.e. the two side rails and a fore and aft cross memeber and check it fore square just as you would a picture frame measuring diagaonally acros corners if it measures the same then your rails are true but if it's of even a 1/8" it could multyiply or manginify to 3/4" over even a short span ,but not likely

let us know

Tony B