Lowered Cars /W Spacers And Adding -.5 Deg To Rear...

[BitViper]

So.. my mechanic said my upper control ar was not adjustable...

So I thought he's just avoiding a job... So I went to and adjustment shop... when in doubt.. go to a specialist....

He showed me my upper control arm.. and there is no way it could be adjusted... It was just a single bolt holding in the upper control arm...

BUT.. its seems that some.. but not all Explorers DO come with adjustable upper control arm BOLTS... I'm guessing 2WD's or some other random thing that happens at the Ford assembly factory...

To remedy the problem you'll need one of these (or equivalent) ... Link to Part ... to replace the M16x97mm OEM NON ADJUSTABLE bolt

Hey Unbroken... can you find a source for these I cant seem to find a source yet?

<<EDIT>>
I did find a place.. recommended All Tire Supply by the Northstar site (they have a "Where To Buy" link) .. they didn't carry the part.. but could order it.. $139.90 shipped to Ca for 15 bucks....

Might as well add the installation instructions... PDF Installation Instructions

 

[UNBROKEN]

So.. my mechanic said my upper control ar was not adjustable...

So I thought he's just avoiding a job... So I went to and adjustment shop... when in doubt.. go to a specialist....

He showed me my upper control arm.. and there is no way it could be adjusted... It was just a single bolt holding in the upper control arm...

BUT.. its seems that some.. but not all Explorers DO come with adjustable upper control arm BOLTS... I'm guessing 2WD's or some other random thing that happens at the Ford assembly factory...

To remedy the problem you'll need one of these (or equivalent) ... Link to Part ... to replace the M16x97mm OEM NON ADJUSTABLE bolt
View attachment 31044
Hey Unbroken... can you find a source for these I cant seem to find a source yet?

<<EDIT>>
I did find a place.. recommended All Tire Supply by the Northstar site (they have a "Where To Buy" link) .. they didn't carry the part.. but could order it.. $139.90 shipped to Ca for 15 bucks....

Your mechanic is wrong. Period. It’s not even negotiable. The UCA bolt at the frame is a slotted connection to adjust rear camber. It’s not an adjustment bolt…which is called an eccentric…the bolt hole itself is slotted.
Anyone that tells you anything different is a fool.
And again…that camber kit mounts INTO the factory adjustment slot. I don’t know how to be any more clear on this.

 

[BitViper]

I'm not doubting you.. I'm just relaying what folks who do this for a living are telling me.. lol

Question 1 - but what holds.. the bolt from shifting... Seems to me that by just making it F'ing tight it could slip.. which the cam in the kit addresses...

Question 2 ... Are there some sort of "keepers".. My experience tells me that things in slots eventually move if not limited by something...

"that camber kit mounts INTO the factory adjustment slot ".. I'm thinking that's a good thing....right? The cam will keep the bolt securely in place..

So worse case ... adding the kit will make the system "Overbuilt".. I can live with that

 

[2020FordRaptor]

So.. my mechanic said my upper control ar was not adjustable...

So I thought he's just avoiding a job... So I went to and adjustment shop... when in doubt.. go to a specialist....

He showed me my upper control arm.. and there is no way it could be adjusted... It was just a single bolt holding in the upper control arm...

BUT.. its seems that some.. but not all Explorers DO come with adjustable upper control arm BOLTS... I'm guessing 2WD's or some other random thing that happens at the Ford assembly factory...

To remedy the problem you'll need one of these (or equivalent) ... Link to Part ... to replace the M16x97mm OEM NON ADJUSTABLE bolt
View attachment 31044
Hey Unbroken... can you find a source for these I cant seem to find a source yet?

<<EDIT>>
I did find a place.. recommended All Tire Supply by the Northstar site (they have a "Where To Buy" link) .. they didn't carry the part.. but could order it.. $139.90 shipped to Ca for 15 bucks....

Might as well add the installation instructions... PDF Installation Instructions

Your guy is wrong. That bolt is the adjustment for camber. The cam bolt does nothing because it just goes to the stock location so it doesn’t change that at all.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I'm not doubting you.. I'm just relaying what folks who do this for a living are telling me.. lol

Question 1 - but what holds.. the bolt from shifting... Seems to me that by just making it F'ing tight it could slip.. which the cam in the kit addresses...

Question 2 ... Are there some sort of "keepers".. My experience tells me that things in slots eventually move if not limited by something...

"that camber kit mounts INTO the factory adjustment slot ".. I'm thinking that's a good thing....right? The cam will keep the bolt securely in place..

So worse case ... adding the kit will make the system "Overbuilt".. I can live with that

Well the guy that does it for a living is wrong.

#1: it holds it just fine, that’s how it works for every other vehicle and the other adjustments for alignment

#2: Dont know what you mean by “keepers”, the bolt holds just fine, I don’t think you understand the way it works.

With that bolt you’re not overbuilding it at all, you’re unnecessarily replacing a bolt that does its job just fine, nothing will do it better because there’s nothing better for it to do.

 

[GearHead_1]

I'm not doubting you.. I'm just relaying what folks who do this for a living are telling me.. lol

Question 1 - but what holds.. the bolt from shifting... Seems to me that by just making it F'ing tight it could slip.. which the cam in the kit addresses...

Question 2 ... Are there some sort of "keepers".. My experience tells me that things in slots eventually move if not limited by something...

"that camber kit mounts INTO the factory adjustment slot ".. I'm thinking that's a good thing....right? The cam will keep the bolt securely in place..

So worse case ... adding the kit will make the system "Overbuilt".. I can live with that

Slotted eccentric holes have been used on a variety of makes of vehicles for decades, including this one. No offense intended, but your Alignment Tech is absolutely wrong. Perhaps he needs to brush up on things. Go pull the nut off and take a look.

Save your money on the cam kit. These too, have been available for years and only make money for the shop that sells and installs them.They advertise making things easier. As a Certified Tech, having done thousands of alignments, I thought they simply got in the way.

 

[BitViper]

Ha.. No offence taken.... Just trying to get things done....

 

[22robertlittle]

Ha.. No offence taken.... Just trying to get things done....

you will learn not to debate with unbroken. he knows his stuff from all the writings that he has done. if you have any Qs he will more than likely have the answers....

 

[JFam]

I have been to two shops this week (Ford Dealer and Custom shop) both saying nearly the same. I am not doubting anything being said here about the adjustment but just don’t understand how some make it seem so easy yet after showing people the pictures , can’t get anywhere near the numbers.

Frustrated to say the least. If ther is anyone in the tampa area that has a guru, please share.

, custom shop pic 1 after second visit and Ford second pic.

 

[JFam]

 

[GearHead_1]

I'm not telling you that you will get it all the way to -.5, but there is at least a degree and a half in that adjustment from side to side. Sadly, if these guys have any real (read quality, perhaps expensive) alignment equipment they typically have picture diagrams that show how to make the adjustment.

Take the picture that Unbroken provided and show it to the Tech, and he'll slap his forehead and say how could I have been so foolish.

 

[JFam]

I'm not telling you that you will get it all the way to -.5, but there is at least a degree and a half in that adjustment from side to side. Sadly, if these guys have any real (read quality, perhaps expensive) alignment equipment they typically have picture diagrams that show how to make the adjustment.

Take the picture that Unbroken provided and show it to the Tech, and he'll slap his forehead and say how could I have been so foolish.

I have taken the photo of the Ford print out to both. Ford told me the stock setting was .5-.8 degree adjustment available from where it was factory (acknowledged the ability to adjust). Custom place , no input other than more movement but completely uneven settings

 

[GearHead_1]

Obviously we can't see what the Tech is doing, but if he'll lift the rear end and let the wheels hang unloaded and perhaps use a bar between the frame and knuckle extension, he'll get the very maximum the slot has to offer.

The amount of movement that is available in this adjustment is typically what is needed to bring it to specs at an OE height. You lose some of that range when the car sits lower.

I can't tell you how many times I have used a die grinder on the ellipse hole to get that little extra bit of range I wanted. Chances are, if you max it out as is, it will be close enough.