I intend to install 1" drop springs, are the camber bolts necessary with only a 1" drop?

 

Yes! you are suppose to have them but I have been running without them on my FRPP kit for about 1000 miles and havent noticed any bad tire wear, and it still goes down the road straight.

 

YES you will need them. You may not notice the wear problem right off the bat, but you will eventually. Trust me...I have a 1/2" drop as well and I waited. Eventually, I ended up have to install the Herb's washers, cam bolts, lower ball joints (wore them out). Cost me a bit. They are pretty inexpensive and easy to install. Then get over and get a good alignment.

 

How did it wear out the ball joints? And how did you know they were worn? Also where can I get the cam bolt kit from?

 

I am looking at the cam bolts from LFP

 

Look at these ... available at your FORD dealer ... They
outshine NAPA, AUTOZONE, and all the imitations. Need
four of each ...

Pics courtesy of JMLAY (Mike)

 

FunFord,
I knew the (lower) ball joints were bad when I did a check.

Basically.....lift your vehicle with the tires unsuspended....the grab the tire on the 12 oclock and 6 oclock and shake back and forth. If you have any give....then your ball joints are bad.

Ford fitted our "L"'s with ball joints that don't have grease fittings and do not give. I have 20's and with the drop...and no cam bolts to adjust. The combination of these...caused the ball joints to wear very quick. Simply go to Napa Auto Parts. They have the cam bolts you seek. Very inexpensive.

 

SVT_KY, what was the price of each washer? I was qouted $6 each x 4 and the cam bolts are about the same. I can see the bolts being that much but the washers?

 

I think the whole setup was like $42 ... But it's the only
one that would hold my adjustments. Truly, you get what
you pay for.

 

Nice to see that my pictures did some one some good! When I purchase mine in Jan. of 03 the bolts were $6.50 each & the washers were $7.50 each, yes the washer is more than the bolt.

Mike

 

Hey Cliff,
Are the cam bolts recommended for a certain drop? What is your front drop? I have a 2" and my neighbour has a 1". The guy who did my alignment modified my stock bolts and everything including the alignment came out perfect. My neighbour use Eibach cam bolts and his alignment keeps going off. I've been wondering if I should have used other bolts but was worried in getting into a situation like my neighbour. if the alignment is good what are the advantages of these bolts?

So your Ford cam bolts did the job.

I may re-visit this.

Den

 

Mike,

I would have attributed the pics but I just had them
laying around the computer, and didn't know who's
they were.

Thanks for the effort.

Cliff

 

Stock "bolts" ??? Ain't no such thing ... They use little spacers
from the factory .. (Yet another cheap part).

So if you HAVE bolts, they were added somewhere. If your
drop is small, they might work. It is the holding part that is the
hardest on the twistie trucks, imho ... I bought NAPA bolts early
on and they looked so pansy assed I still have them on the
workbench somewhere ... I think they were $10 or so ... LOL

I need to elongate my holes so I can get back some negative
camber after the WC install ... I am runnnin only -.5 degrees
now ... HUGE DIFFERENCE on track ... I was running -4.0 on the
stock control arms ...

Keep the shiney side up, eh?


Cliff

 

I hear ya there! Thanks again for the info

 

I called my dealer to order the cam bolts above and he told me that those are the same part numbers that came with the truck. In that case, what is on the truck?

TB