I need some help from you guys. I have an 01 that has never had an alignment. I heard that when you get an L aligned you MUST get the cam kit put on the vehicle. Is this true? What does the cam kit do? I am about to put the Hotchkis kit on my truck and need to know what I am getting into. I know that an alignment cost about $50 bucks, anyone know how much it costs when you get the cam kit and installation?

Thanks,
Crawford

 

Ford cheaps up to set the alignment, there is a slot in the lower arm with a bolt that sets the castor or "lead"(this is the offset on the wheels to account for the crown in most roads) This bolt tends to slip, therefor screwing up the alighment. By putting in the cambolt set, allthe alignment can be done from the top, and be more accurate. To solve the bolt slipping get a set of "herb's Washers" . He designed them to fill in the slot on the lower arm and lock the bolt in place. Do that first, and then have the alignment shpo install the cam bolt set and align. The cam bolt set is pretty cheap. This resolves the infamous "clunk" problem as well. The washers go only on the drivers side. Somebody on the board will get you Herb's e-mail address. Good Luck!!! Also, if you're going to lower your truck, do that first, cause you will have to realign after lowering.

 

Go to the NLOC board; Herb is on the vendor list.

I am putting on my Hotckis Springs on Monday. I am not doing the sway bars until I see how I like it with the stockers. Once you lower the truck you will need the cam bolt kit. Got mine at NAPA for about $25.

When you put the Hotckis Springs on don't forget to put on new end links for the sway bars to compensate for the drop.

 

An alignment shop will charge about $25 to put them in.

You can put them in before, during, or after you install the springs. They just rotate on the cam to move the upper A-arm in or out to correct for camber and caster.

You will need to get an alignment after the springs/cambolt change.

If you want, I can help you install, they are really easy to put in, take about an hour.

Mark

 

As far as the cam kit installation, I called Bankston and asked how much to install my cam kit which does not include the kit or the alignment and they want like $250. I called Dallas Frame & Alignment and they want $120 for cam kit install and alignment. I am having the clunk problem on the truck and I know there is a TSB out that calls for putting the cam kit on and aligning the front end under warranty. My plan is to take the truck in for warranty work on the clunk and get the cam kit installed free under warranty. Install the hotchkis, then get the thing aligned for $50 at dallas frame. What do you think Mark?

Crawford

 

Sounds like a good plan, and you will get the factory cams which are a little different than the NAPA cams that I gave/sold with the springs.

Mark

 

what's the difference between factory and NAPA cams? I had to get a set from NAPA and the Ford dealer and they were identical.

 

why don't you just put the springs on and then take it in for the clunk fix get it all done. if the Mechanic inquires buy him lunch

 

They already said they wouldn't touch it if its not all factory. Bah!!!

Crawford

 

Very slight difference. The factory cam bolts are cut flat only where the threads are, the NAPA cam bolts have a cut flat side on their entire length.