rear fix?

[SSXtreme350]

does anyone know how to straighten up a negative camber on the 2 back wheels on my own?

it is bent just enough that the tires wear mainly on the insides. I can't notice any wobble of the back end while driving either. (I'm guessing the housing or the axle plate bolt area is bent)
i figure i have to take it in to get the rear aligned and maybe to a collision shop or get a new rear end, but was wondering if i can do it with out taking to them or getting a new/used one.

thanks

[87wildside]

It can be done with patience and a torch but I wouldn't recommend it. If you have the 8.5 try to get it straightened buy a collision shop that does frame straightening. If it's the 7.5/7.625 just get another.

[grumpy95]

If it's a 7.5/7.625 now'd be a good time to upgrade to a 8.5 or better yet a 8.8 out of a 95-up exploreer.

[87wildside]

you meant Exploder....hehe

[Mikz86TA]

I would say UR ****T!! If the axle tubes have been bent upwards from thoe outside so much to cause outter tire wear or inner tire wear, then whats going on inside? The alxe itself would have to be either bent on the end(which the c-clips would be worn iregularly and possibly about to part company), the outter bearings are going to have noise and become bad, the spider gear set if its an open diff. will be loose on one end of the rotation which would cause a good deal of wear and if its a gov-loc.....well I dont want to know how bad that could get. I would recheck this situation. Being you say camber, would mean the top of the wheel is farther inward. A level and t-square could be used to check this and also an angle finder at where the pumpkin and tubes meet. If it has bent, it would be best to replace the unit for what it would cost to repair all the componets and fix the bends properly. Next you need to find out what the hell caused that to happen. That would honestly take a DukesOfHazzard jump to accomplish! Yee Haw!! Are you sure the front was out of alignment and you rotated the front tires to the back??? I had my front end alignment done recently and the tires were wearing bad on the outter edge, I swapped the fronts to the back. I put the 245-50-16 BFG KDWS up there and am currently trying to burn off whats left to the inside of these crappy PoorYear Eagles so I can put on the Pilot 255-50-16s. Sounds like Im due for a burnout video Hehehe

[firefighter]

If you are gonna upgrade don't be so sure that the 8.8 is that much better than an 8.5.

Just because it's a Ferd rear doesn't mean it's as strong as a 9". The Ferd 8.8" has way more in common with the GM 8.5" than it does with a Ferd 9". Look at the construction of it. Almost identical to a GM Saginaw style rear actually I think it might even be a Saginaw. The Ferd 9" is a completely different type of construction and yes it is better.

Myself personally I'm working on narrowing an 8.5" out of a full size 1500 I got it for $125 and by the time I'm done I'll have about $1000 into it and then do the Triangulated 4 link.

[SSXtreme350]

[quote]Are you sure the front was out of alignment and you rotated the front tires to the back???[quote]

I know it isn't the front end alignment, due to the fact there is no irregular tire wear and that it was aligned awhile ago. I have got a frame shop fix the frame, but i guess they didn't fix the back good enough-that's when the front was aligned after that. The tires on the front and back were still good, but after driving it awhile the tires wore irregularly. When i got 2 new tires, the good front ones were put on the back and the new ones where put on the front.

[Sparky2263]

I'd suggest getting a 4 wheel alignment at a shop that has the latest infrared equipment and will give you a full printout (before and after).

Then post the results here.

[SSXtreme350]

Is there a certain way to determine what needs to be fixed?
example: measurements between certain points

If the frame is bent in the back, would that affect the camber or would it just be the axle?

[SSXtreme350]

I would suppose that the 4-wheel alignment would determine if i should have a collision/body shop fix it or get a new/used rear axle?

[87wildside]

A bent frame would not change the camber on the rear.

[grumpy95]

Didn't say 8.8 was as strong as a 9", but it is stronger than a 8.5+it's more easier to find and the 95+ had rear disc brakes. Pretty well abolt in swap just need adapter for the driveshaft.

However i'd definatly take it to a good alignment shop b4 looking at replacing the diff. i find it hard to believe that u bent the tubes that bad without some serious abuse.

[T Man]

A solid rear axle cannot be aligned for camber or toe. Thrust angle is the only adjustment most alignment shops will do. It is too costly time/money wise to try and straignten the axle. If the axle shafts are bent the wheel would be erratic, if the tubes are bent (which it obviously sounds like) they will give positive or negative camber. Replace the axle....thats more than likely what you are goinna hear anywhere

[Mikz86TA]

You left out valuble info about there being preveous frame damage in the earlier post. I would take it back to the shop that did the repair and have it fixed. If it was a insurance claim and fix, be sure to notify them of the faulty repair so that if they decide to say..screw you buddy...the insurance can take appropriate actions.

[SSXtreme350]

does anyone know an estimated price on fixing a bent tube?
and
how long it should take for a collision/auto body shop to fix it?

[Sparky2263]

Dude, you ain't got a 4 wheel alignment yet w/printout?

This thread is a waste of space 'til then.....