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1986 Camber Fix


jchris36

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Hi guys, I know that this is a popular topic, "I just lifted my truck, now how do I fix the alignment?" but I promise that I did read quite a few threads without solution before I posted this.
So yeah, my truck is a 1986 Ranger 2wd. I put in this front leveling kit, from "Summit Engineering", trying to go the cheap route. I put in 3" blocks in the back a few weeks ago.

Here's a link to pictures, the site won't let me upload.
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/sx20x3jat6lj5mz/RSGtbba5Zm

Here's the lift I just put in.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-RANGER-1983-1996-2WD-2-LEVELING-LIFT-KIT-2WD-FB2-/111000612529?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make:Ford|Model:Ranger&hash=item19d826eeb1&vxp=mtr

And not surprisingly, my camber is now way off.
I took it to Les Schwab, and the guy was not helpful in the least, saying he didn't have the bushings, didn't offer to order them, wouldn't really say anything about what he thought I should do, other than mentioning that drop brackets may be a good idea. He also refused to speculate on the remaining life of my tires as they are now.

I have read about camber bushings that adjust from 2 - 4 degrees apparently from NAPA? I'm going to look into these but I'm not sure whether that modification would be over my head, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

I also looked for drop brackets online, but couldn't find any apart from an entire lift kit from Summit Racing, which I definitely don't have the money for.

All of this to say, if you have any ideas on what I should do, please help! I'm desperate for a solution, I don't wanna destroy my tires, this is my DD, and I really don't wanna have to bum rides off of my sister and her saturn.

Thanks.
 


adsm08

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If you were able to install a lift kit on your own then the camber bushings should be a cake walk.

All there is to installing them is remove the pinch bolt by the upper ball joints, knock the factory slug out, and pound the adjustable one in.

Then take it to a competent alignment shop (that means NOT Les Schwab, people say the dealership is a rip off, those guys are jackasses), and have it aligned.
 

jchris36

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So I tried several times to get the camber bushings out, just to try and rotate them and see if that helped at all. I couldn't get them out. I took the truck to a different alignment shop that claimed they could do it, but then this afternoon they called and said that none of their suppliers had bushings with enough camber adjustment to fix the problem. Their readout from the machine says that my camber is off by 4.3 degrees on both sides, and there aren't any bushings even close to that anywhere online that I can find. I'm planning on taking the coil spacers out tonight, which should be at least a 2 hour process, and basically admitting defeat. But before I do that does anyone have any ideas that I could try? I located a guy near me with 4" drop brackets for only around $60, but that's more than I was planning to lift it. I'm pretty frustrated, any ideas would be appreciated.
 

john93rangerstx

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I got mine from rock auto
 

jchris36

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SenorNoob

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The most Napa lists for a 86 Ranger (and it may have been 4wd) is this:

3.25* Bushing

I wonder if the 4* Moog part for a D35 could be made to work? Or I suppose something could be custom made for your 4.3*. It doesn't look too complicated.
 

JoshT

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Not likely that the D35 bushing would fit or be made to safely

With that much camber needed you will probably have to get drop brackets.
 

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