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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / September 2005

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94 F-250 Front Camber question

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Popeye Jones - 20 Sep 2005 01:52 GMT
Posting a question for my father, about his 1994 diesel F-250 that he's
owned since new.

This has always been something he's noticed.  He has mentioned it to the
dealership several times over the years, and they've told him it is normal
for the truck.

While driving in reverse, there is a "major" negative camber on his front
wheels.  As soon as he drives forward, the camber returns to zero.   Most
recently, he's been parking in the back of the house, and has had to backup
down the 100' concrete driveway for the past 2 months.  He's now noticed a
slight uneven tire wear on the insides of the front tires, and thinks its
due to him backing up everyday.

Any ideas or suggestions if he's got a suspension problem?  Or, is this all
normal?

Thanks
Spdloader - 20 Sep 2005 03:27 GMT
That is the IFS 3/4 ton right?

(Independent Front Suspension)

It is normal for the IFS trucks to camber in at the top like that when
backing up. 1/2 tons too.

Inside tire wear COULD be negative camber, or could be too much toe out.

Negative camber COULD be caused by weakening front springs, or worn upper
ball joints.

Spring condition can be determined by checking proper ride height, a good
shop can do this.

Take it to an alignment shop that can do 4WD alignments, and don't pay for a
4 wheel alignment, there is no alignment adjustments to be made on the back.
Have them do a thrust angle alignment.

Good luck,

Spdloader

> Posting a question for my father, about his 1994 diesel F-250 that he's
> owned since new.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Thanks
TheSnoMan - 20 Sep 2005 15:03 GMT
> That is the IFS 3/4 ton right?
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Spdloader

There is no cure other than replace the truck and swapping in solid
front axle. Its very design is flawed from the start wnat camber will
change with are articulation and load change in the truck. Worst front
end design ever put on a 4x4 truck.

-----------------
www.thesnoman.com
Spdloader - 20 Sep 2005 15:11 GMT
Umm, snowman, you're an idiot.

When a subject in here arises that I don't know about, and that's often, I
have the good sense to keep my mouth shut. You should take the same advice.

Spdloader

>> That is the IFS 3/4 ton right?
>>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> -----------------
> www.thesnoman.com 
SnoMan - 20 Sep 2005 16:12 GMT
> Umm, snowman, you're an idiot.
>
> When a subject in here arises that I don't know about, and that's often, I
> have the good sense to keep my mouth shut. You should take the same advice.
>
> Spdloader

I think that who is in error here is apparent and it is not me. The TTB
is a very poor design for a off road vehical, worst front end ever built
and if it had been built by a smaller player than Ford it would have
died long ago. It is only by the nubers of them out there because that
was the only way ford built them that some are still in use. not because
it is a good design. Anybody with any engineering background or
understanding at all can see the design limitations from day one. They
can handle funny and eat tires regulalry too. Wishing will not change
its limitations or design flaws. It was meant as a cheap front end with
a fairly good ride and it does that will but jack it up with big tires
and use it for hard core off road and it does poorly there and eats
those big expensive tires very quickly too.

-----------------
www.thesnoman.com
Spdloader - 20 Sep 2005 16:25 GMT
SnoMan,

   You are unable to separate opinion from fact, speaking on subjects you
don't have any experience with, so I'll not carry this debate any further
with you.

Have a good day.

Spdloader

>> Umm, snowman, you're an idiot.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> -----------------
> www.thesnoman.com 
SnoMan - 20 Sep 2005 17:09 GMT
> SnoMan,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Spdloader

You have that backwards, you are in error because I have worked on few
of them for friend that got stuck with them and it is a poor design. And
of course you cannot debate it further because you do not understand the
engineering dynamics and limitations of its design. Any day you want to
talk mechcanical engineering design nuts and bolts "I" am up to it.

-----------------
www.thesnoman.com
Spdloader - 20 Sep 2005 17:24 GMT
lol

Spdloader

>> SnoMan,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> -----------------
> www.thesnoman.com 
Matt Mead - 21 Sep 2005 02:14 GMT
>> SnoMan,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>engineering dynamics and limitations of its design. Any day you want to
>talk mechcanical engineering design nuts and bolts "I" am up to it.

Everybody has an opinion I guess.

I've owned two 4x4 Rangers with the baby version of the TTB and was
quite happy with it.  (Ranger #1 had 33" tires and Ranger #2 had
31"s.)  

I know some have tire wear issues with this type of front end, but I
never did.  I would guess those that do have obvious front end
problems to begin with and while it may be due to weak factory
springs, a properly set up TTB will wear tires reasonably well.

From a technical point of view, I can understand why the TTB would
have handling issues due to constant camber change, but in reality, my
experience was it was no more ill handling or numb than any of the
other 4x4s I've owned (72 Bronco, 83 Ramcharger, 88 Samari, 99 Super
Duty).

And although it has limitations, I think this design offers a pretty
decent compromise in ride, strength, ground clearance and the ability
to lift.  No, it doesn't excel in any one catagory, but if it did, it
would certainly be limited in others.

I would rather own a TTB set-up over any current IFS system and only a
coil-equipped straight axle would be higher on MY list.

Matt
99 V-10 Super Duty, Super Cab 4x4
Matt Macchiarolo - 21 Sep 2005 01:26 GMT
Where in the OP's message did it indicate this was a  4wd TTB front axle?

I had an e-150 van with the twin-I-beam, first set of tires lasted almost
70K miles, no problem with uneven wear.

>> Umm, snowman, you're an idiot.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> -----------------
> www.thesnoman.com 
Spdloader - 21 Sep 2005 02:08 GMT
The OP didn't, that's why I started my reply with a question.

Solid axle doesn't do that when backed, TTB does it worst when it's a 4WD.

Spdloader

> Where in the OP's message did it indicate this was a  4wd TTB front axle?
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>> -----------------
>> www.thesnoman.com
Popeye Jones - 21 Sep 2005 02:27 GMT
Thanks guys, I think everything is normal then, albeit odd.

BTW, it is a 4x4, forgot to mention that...have no idea about TTB, or what
that even means.

I think the whole issue has come up in conversation with me because he's
shopping around for a new truck again.   He showed me the other day what he
was talking about...I just found it strange to look at myself, with no
weight other than the engine overtop the front end.

Thanks again.

> Where in the OP's message did it indicate this was a  4wd TTB front axle?
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> > -----------------
> > www.thesnoman.com
Spdloader - 21 Sep 2005 06:34 GMT
TTB or (Twin Traction Beam) is a trade name used by Ford to describe their
version of first generation independent front suspension (IFS).

Spdloader

> Thanks guys, I think everything is normal then, albeit odd.
>
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>> > -----------------
>> > www.thesnoman.com
TheSnoMan - 21 Sep 2005 12:16 GMT
> TTB or (Twin Traction Beam) is a trade name used by Ford to describe their
> version of first generation independent front suspension (IFS).
>
> Spdloader

Too call a TTB a first gen IFS is a poor use of terms as it is a very
poor choice of words to describe it. "Swing Axle" is a more proper term
because with a true IFS the wheels do not use the cheap swing axle
design because a TTB is nothing more than a D44 with a hinge in the
middle of it. Its design causes a lot of issues with camber and track
width. If you say put 36's on it and allow for a 12 inch travel (6 up
and 6 down) you will see a variance of 14.5 degrees in camber angle plus
at full compression (wheels up as far as they go) the wheel track at
center line of tread contact will be about 5 inches wider and at full
extension the front track will be 6 inches narrower than level or a
total track width variance range of 11 inches!!! (besed on the the
physics of the geometery of its primative design) So, while your front
end is articulating the front track and camber is constantly changes
effecting traction, handling and is in effect erasing the front tires
too. Even driving down the road commuting, the track is constantly
changing and wearing the tires with side forces (this is why TTB's eat
front tires because of constanly changing camber and track width) A
straight axle does not do this nor does a truck like a GM with true IFS
because the camber is far more constant and the track changes an lot
less too because it is not aggrevated by large changes in camber angle
as the suspension articulates. The TTB was a design that should have
never been used in a consumer vehicle and it added to the Explorers well
known tendance to roll over and Ford quietly dumped the TTB when they
redesigned the Explorer because no vehicle should be so unstable that
the loss of a tire is a one way ticket to a rollover because the front
end could tuck under in the right conditions and accelerate the roll
over which the Explorers were known for in past models. Firestone got to
much blame for that whole thing too because Ford was even under
inflating the tires too with their suggested tire pressures.
Signature


-----------------
www.thesnoman.com

Spdloader - 21 Sep 2005 12:56 GMT
Exactly how did you help the OP Snojob?

Crawl back into your hole.

Spdloader

>> TTB or (Twin Traction Beam) is a trade name used by Ford to describe
>> their version of first generation independent front suspension (IFS).
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> much blame for that whole thing too because Ford was even under inflating
> the tires too with their suggested tire pressures.
Matt Macchiarolo - 22 Sep 2005 03:16 GMT
He must be awfully important, he has his own forum...wait, he's the only one
who posts to it, never mind.

:-)

> Exactly how did you help the OP Snojob?
>
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>> thing too because Ford was even under inflating the tires too with their
>> suggested tire pressures.
David M - 22 Sep 2005 03:17 GMT
> He must be awfully important, he has his own forum...wait, he's the only one
> who posts to it, never mind.
>
> :-)

John Stan
 PO Box 205
 Donnelsville, Ohio 45319
 US

jrstan@earthlink.net
937-882-1336
 

>> Exactly how did you help the OP Snojob?
>>
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>>> thing too because Ford was even under inflating the tires too with their
>>> suggested tire pressures.

Signature

David M  (dmacchiarolo)
http://home.triad.rr.com/redsled
T/S 53
sled351 Linux 2.4.18-14  has been up 25 min 1 user

Matt Mead - 22 Sep 2005 16:13 GMT
>He must be awfully important, he has his own forum...wait, he's the only one
>who posts to it, never mind.
>
>:-)

Awww, that's just sad......

Matt
99 V-10 Super Duty, Super Cab 4x4
Spdloader - 22 Sep 2005 23:20 GMT
lol

Spdloader

> He must be awfully important, he has his own forum...wait, he's the only
> one who posts to it, never mind.
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>>> much blame for that whole thing too because Ford was even under
>>> inflating the tires too with their suggested tire pressures.
Matt Macchiarolo - 21 Sep 2005 23:15 GMT
Well, the Fords don't use the TTB anymore. TTB stands for (Twin Traction
Beam, the 4wd equivalent of the Twin I-Beam that is still used in new
E-series and Superduty 4x2's. F-150's use a double A-arm front suspension,
and the Superduty 4x4's use a solid axle...leaf springs up to MY 2004, 2005
brought back coils.

> Thanks guys, I think everything is normal then, albeit odd.
>
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>> > -----------------
>> > www.thesnoman.com
SnoMan - 21 Sep 2005 04:36 GMT
>That is the IFS 3/4 ton right?
>
[quoted text clipped - 56 lines]
>>
>> Thanks

It is not a IFS truck, it is a TTB truck and the primative design its
use or swing axles allow for drastic camber changes when ever the
usupension articulates. There is no fix or cure and it is not to be
confussed with a real IFS front end like GM’s which does not have this
problem by design. I never liked the TTB. THe only "fix" is to swap
it out for a solid front axle which is not cheap too do. Shorten tire
life and strange wear is a TTB trade mark too.

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