The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 51 with bad toe problem

Hi guys I have a problem with the tires wearing really bad on the outside.When you jack up the front end the tires come back straight untill you drive it then they go back to this bad angle.I checked the king pins and they slid right out with a bottle jack and looked new with plenty of grease.Could the springs cause the axel to bend? Or is this something that just happens over time. This is a great website Thanks Jim

With the truck jacked up did you try rocking the wheel back and forth by pushing in on the top of the tire and pulling out on the bottom. The wheel should not rock. You say the kingpin looks new, but how are the bushings. It does not take a lot of wear in the bushings to cause a problem.
Also how are the wheel bearings?

Hy ymmij, by the sound of it, you need a trip to a good alignment shop. It could be as simple as too much toe-in, but it would be better to check everything out, hope that helps.

Well the bushings and bearings looked new as well.When I rock the wheel top and bottom the play is minimum.Looks like problem is in the axel.But with the weight of the truck pushing down on the front end, looks like the axel would bend the other way, and the tires would toe out instead of in

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/51ctsm0311.htm

Have you checked the toe in/out adjustment. You need a helper and a tape measure. Roll the truck forward at least one tire revolution. Pick a spot about 8" to 10" off the ground and measure across the front and rear of the front tires. The front should be 1/8" less then the rear.

Tire wear can be caused by a lot of things, loose king pins will wear the inside edge of the tire. Toe-out will wear the inside edge, toe-in will wear the outer edge.

How does it drive? straight, darts around, hard turning????

Bad Camber angle is caused by loose king pins or bent axle. Think of Camber as point above or below the truck that tires point to.

Toe in/out is a point in front or behind the truck that the tires point to.

Read the shop manual link I have added, it may help you pin point the problem.

Joe

I have a feeling that we are talking about camber here. When I was putiing my truck together, I just put the front end together knowing that I would check the toe in later. Sitting on the garage floor, it had a toe out of about 2". What this did was exhibit a large camber angle as when it is in a turn. When I finally set the toe in, it looked normal.

The toe is out by about 2 inches it drives pretty good ,likes to wander a bit I think I'll hit the alignment shop tomorrow Thanks Jim By the way Joe thats a fine looking 37