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Adjustable Ball Joints - Upper or Lower?

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  #1  
Old 12-02-2006 | 04:23 AM
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Default Adjustable Ball Joints - Upper or Lower?

I went to have an alignment done on my truck and I need to put in a set of adjustable ball joints to adjust the camber. The guy was going to put in the egg shaped eccentric bushings but that will only work on one side. The passenger side is out a little more and I need the adjustable ball joint to get the tire to sit on the road correctly.

Now what I am not sure is should I put the adjustable ball joint in the bottom or the top? I am going to replace all off them since the truck has 110k miles on it right now. The guy suggested doing the lower on the passenger side. My initial thought was to put the adjustable in the lower on both sides and the regular on the top.

What have you all done that have done this in the past?

Also I remember reading a thread where someone suggest how many degrees to set the camber at. Was it 5 degrees maybe? Whatever it is, was that stock? If not why go with more or less camber?

Also, this truck is stock ride height (97 4x4 with stock 265's on it).

Thanks!
 
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Old 12-02-2006 | 05:28 AM
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Default RE: Adjustable Ball Joints - Upper or Lower?

are ur ball joints worn out because that could cause ur camber to be out to because i dont see why u would need the adjustable ones unless u took a big hit takes alot to bent a soild front axle what are the specs i am a alignment tech
 
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Old 12-02-2006 | 12:28 PM
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Default RE: Adjustable Ball Joints - Upper or Lower?

They do not appear to have excessive play. After doing some research here it appears that people have run into this in the past with their trucks since these are not adjustable.

I find it hard to believe the front axle is bent based on how the truck rides. A visual inspection of the front end does not lead me to believe that is the case.
 
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Old 08-25-2011 | 10:34 PM
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Default upper or lower?

So whats the answer here then? Upper or lower. I had an alignment guy telling em I needed lowers. But a lot of threads I am reading say uppers. Im running 37's on a 96 that has a more then usual bend housing..
 
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Old 08-25-2011 | 11:14 PM
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How much adjustment do you need? You may need to do both.
 
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Old 08-26-2011 | 08:11 AM
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You can only go so far(on the passenger side anyway) before it starts binding the shafts together. I know this from my 98. I had to make a shim to bring the hub out a 1/4".
 
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Old 08-26-2011 | 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by HeyYou
How much adjustment do you need? You may need to do both.
I need 1-1/2* on on the driver side and 1* on the passenger side. So I bought 1-3/4 in adjustable ball joints for the lowers. I was expecting some instructions [preload torque, indexing ring, something...] but it jsut came in a box with nothing else.

These are supposedly adjustable too, not just offset. they have an allen head in the stud. So I guess for the driver side I could just put them in and twist them slightly off of perpendicular and i would be close. but the other side I would be hit and miss. and if I put them off center do I put the cams forward or backwards.... or does it matter? I hate this. I called the company to ask too and some foreign guy took my number and said he would go look in the box and call back....doesnt help me much..
 
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Old 08-26-2011 | 11:58 AM
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These are MOOG ?
 
  #9  
Old 08-26-2011 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by zman17
You can only go so far(on the passenger side anyway) before it starts binding the shafts together. I know this from my 98. I had to make a shim to bring the hub out a 1/4".
hopefully 1-1/2 inst too much. The alignment guy didnt say anything about it, but then again he aligned my truck with tie rods about to fall off and ball joints that one of the shafts literally fell out of when I took it off...
 
  #10  
Old 08-26-2011 | 12:33 PM
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I would find a different alignment shop.....

I think you are correct in your assumption that turning the stud will alter the angles. That is something that the alignment tech is going to have to set correctly though.
 


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