Negative Camber
#1
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 181
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From: FWB, FL
Year: 03
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
Negative Camber
Ok, I've had this problem for a few years, my front driver side tire wears higher on the outside than the other tires. Last time I had an alignment done at Firestone, the report said my front driver side had a negative camber.
After talking with a few very experienced mechanics lately, it's been boiled down to bad bushing on a control arm. Question is upper or lower?
After talking with a few very experienced mechanics lately, it's been boiled down to bad bushing on a control arm. Question is upper or lower?
#3
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 730
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Bluebyu is exactly right. The camber is built in and controlled by the ball joints and hub bearings. If everything is in good condition, the only way to change the camber is with offset ball joints. the CASTER is controlled by the control arms and bushings. It's possible the spindle carrier is bent, but I've never heard if this before. The spindle carrier is the piece that the hub bolts to and the ball joints are attached to. This piece is forged steel and would have to have taken one hell of a whack to bend. Do you know if the front axle is from a wreck?
If the hub bearings are worn, this could be the problem, although if they were worn, it seems to me that the inside edge of the tire would be worn.
If the hub bearings are worn, this could be the problem, although if they were worn, it seems to me that the inside edge of the tire would be worn.
#5
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 730
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
You're right, Busted. I wasn't sure which was negative or positive. He was also confusing because he said the tire wore HIGHER on the outside. Did he mean there was more rubber on the outside?
#6
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 181
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From: FWB, FL
Year: 03
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
The axle is fine. No leaks, I've ran a back ground check on my Jeep and nothing came up.
I guess the better way to explain it is, when you look at the front of my Jeep, you see the pssngr wheel is straight up and down, but the driver wheel, the top is cocked out just a bit and it's very noticeable.
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#8
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 730
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
So you're talking POSITIVE camber. If it were mine, I'd take it to a really good alignment shop or the dealer and have it checked out. Positive camber can be remedied with offset ball joints, but there has to be a reason it's not right.
#9
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Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: FWB, FL
Year: 03
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
I think what I'll do it just replace both upper and lower ball joints and go from there. I can get them at cost for now so I'll just replace them
#11
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 181
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From: FWB, FL
Year: 03
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7
#13
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 730
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
#14
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47,923
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
99 percent of the time tires lean in on top when ball joints are bad . Id take to a reputable alignment shop not a one stop repair shop. Get another opinion one that deals in 4x4s and bigger trucks.