Your Raptor and It's Alignment

Pirate - Need some help... after my front end upgrade at the TRR (new tie rods & front coil overs), I took my Raptor to the dealer for a front end alignment. He said he couldn't do it!! Strange I know. Any way, got the truck over to a specialty wheel & tire shop called Tommy. Tommy said the truck needed a camber kit on the right side, that the adjustment couldn’t be set exactly to zero and that without the kit, the tires would wear funny.
After reading your informative post, I feel that I’ve learned a bit. Looks the kit only makes it easier to adjust and that the adjustment will most likely stay put once adjusted. The kit WILL NOT provide any more adjustment, right??

I feel like having the kit installed would be a good thing, but why do they only want to install it on one side? I would think I should have it on both sides.

Do you know the part number for the Specialty Performance camber kit? I looked on their website and didn’t find it.

Finally, they said $250 for the kit and install. It didn’t look that hard to install, so I’m guess the kit is pricey?

Thanks for your help - Joe

Correct. The alingment cam kit will not add adjustment. It just makes it easier to adjust, and allows you to make adjustments with weight on the control arms so you don't put the bushings in a bind. They also help hold the adjustment.

Why they only want to do one side, I don't know. Doesn't make much sense to only do one side. I could see if they were trying to save you money... But the price qouted is way high for one side. Two kits (one kit for each side) runs about 120 ish in parts, and about an hour labor. They're pretty easy to install, and a few of our vendors (ADD,SDHQ) carry the cam kits. Kit number is 86250

Put the cam kits on my truck. Got them from sdhq. 42 dollars per side. Easy install.

Thanks guys. Looks like I should go with the cam kit on both sides. I need to talk to them tomorrow and make sure I fully understand what they are saying. Perhaps it was $250 for both? Thanks again!

I'd do both sides. 250 for both sides still sounds a little high though.

*****

BIRDMAN said:

this forum is like an internet mullet. business in the front, party in the back.

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Thought it was more like '' Liquor in the front, poker in the rear''

pirate air said:

I'd do both sides. 250 for both sides still sounds a little high though.

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yeah, especially since it sounds like I can install these in the drive way...
Unfortunately, the truck is already a the shop…

edit....

Just called and talked to the alignment place (ABT Customs in Omaha). They seem to really know what they are talking about and really wanting to dial the truck right in for maximum tire life. They were planning on using the SPC camber kit. The $250 includes two kits, install and alignment. I’m hoping to have the truck back tonight!

Rockauto.com has the camber caster kits for the F-150. Did anyone get confirmation that the kits for the regular F-150 will work on the Raptor? Which of these kits would be the one to get?

Here is what they have:

2010 FORD F-150 6.2L V8 SOHC : Suspension : Caster / Camber Cam Bolt Kit

RAYBESTOS Part # 6165004 Professional Grade (Rebate/Promotion Available!)
Plus Or Minus 1 Degree Camber; Plus Or Minus 1.5 Degree Caster; Front $35.79Add Part


RAYBESTOS Part # 6111215 Professional Grade (Rebate/Promotion Available!)
Plus Or Minus 2 Degree Camber; Plus Or Minus 1.5 Degree Caster; Front $46.79 Add Part



More Information for RAYBESTOS 6165004

The standard f150 kit will work with the raptor. The first kit above is much like the specialty products company kit. The lower one is more like the ford motorcraft kit. Imo the specialty products kit is one of the best out there, even being better than fords. It's advised you replace the bolts when loosening them, so in the perfect world when buying the specialty products company or first kit above, you would buy new lower control arm to chassis bolts at the same time. I think its ridiculous because the bolt also plays a roll in adjustment, you may need to adjust several time during alingment, you can't possibly replace them everytime.

Joe, that price sounds much better with both sides, labor and alingment.

Kaiser, I'll see it I can get ahold of the Ford cam kit part #

Well guys, got the alignment completed and cam kit installed. Here are some pics of the kit installed and of the tie rods.




Some were asking about scuff marks on the tie rods. They look to be clean, except for a small mark on the left, out board nut.



It's hard to see in this pic, bbt it is the lower portion of the nut.



The right tie rod is now positioned such that RPG isn't facing directly forward. No big deal.



PA - in your OP did you say that the kit would be installed on all 4 adjustment locations? Looks like they just installed the ones on the front adjustment. So is that just one kit? Now I'm wondering if I got ripped and they only installed the front portion of the two kits?

Here are some pics of the rear adjustment point.


Also, you mentioned that one could mark it with a sharpie, where do I make the marks? On the frame or on the shim?

Thanks for your help and input.