Tredalign - Your total alignment solution

Installing Offset Ball Joint

The customer's concern was a slight drift to the right. This is the alignment specifications measured before any adjustments as received by the customer. As you can see by the printout the camber was under specifications on the left front, along with caster being even compared to each side. A vehicle will pull towards the higher camber and lower caster number. Unfortunately with some vehicles, there are no factory adjustments for camber or caster. This is where the aftermarket makes what is called an offset ball joint to correct this issue.
Start with supporting the vehicle in a safe manner with jackstands. Next, remove the wheel/tire. In the picture to the right, we will need to remove the brake caliper, brake rotor, tie rod end and hub bearing to get access to the spindle.
Once you have access to the spindle, we can now remove it from the upper and lower ball joint.
Now we need to remove the original upper ball joint and install the offset ball joint.
Using the ball joint removal tool, we press the original ball joint out.
Here is a comparision of the original ball joint and the 1* offset ball joint we are using to correct the camber'caster issue.
The offset ball joint comes with a positioning card to aide in setting the correct direction you want to install it back into the axle. In the case of this vehicle, we want to increase the camber and decrease the caster. There is a line on the side of the offset ball joint you will use to line up with the line on the card. in this case we are installing it with the line at the 8 o'clock postion. That is inbetween the POS CAMBER and NEG CASTER as noted on the card.
Finally, reinstall the spindle, hub bearing, brake rotor, brake caliper, tie rod end, and wheel/tire. Remeasure the alignment to see what the new specifications are now. As you can see by the printout on the right, the camber is now within specifications. Also, the camber is slightly higher on the left with caster being lower on the left, when compared to the right side. This results in a vehicle that will track straight. Some of you may be asking why not make all the numbers equal? That is a good question. For those people that live along the coastline states, you will be aware that roads are slanted to the right. This is to drain rainwater off the road. If the camber/caster numbers were equal to each other, the vehicle will drift to the right as a result of the road inclination. If you have any questions, call us at (407)832-1120 and set up an appointment.

The customer's concern was a slight drift to the right. This is the alignment specifications measured before any adjustments as received by the customer. As you can see by the printout the camber was under specifications on the left front, along with caster being even compared to each side. A vehicle will pull towards the higher camber and lower caster number. Unfortunately with some vehicles, there are no factory adjustments for camber or caster. This is where the aftermarket makes what is called an offset ball joint to correct this issue.

specs before

Start with supporting the vehicle in a safe manner with jackstands. Next, remove the wheel/tire. In the picture to the right, we will need to remove the brake caliper, brake rotor, tie rod end and hub bearing to get access to the spindle.

brakes

Once you have access to the spindle, we can now remove it from the upper and lower ball joint.

spindle

Now we need to remove the original upper ball joint and install the offset ball joint.

Using the ball joint removal tool, we press the original ball joint out.

Here is a comparision of the original ball joint and the 1* offset ball joint we are using to correct the camber'caster issue.

The offset ball joint comes with a positioning card to aide in setting the correct direction you want to install it back into the axle. In the case of this vehicle, we want to increase the camber and decrease the caster. There is a line on the side of the offset ball joint you will use to line up with the line on the card. in this case we are installing it with the line at the 8 o'clock postion. That is inbetween the POS CAMBER and NEG CASTER as noted on the card.

offset ball joint position

Finally, reinstall the spindle, hub bearing, brake rotor, brake caliper, tie rod end, and wheel/tire. Remeasure the alignment to see what the new specifications are now. As you can see by the printout on the right, the camber is now within specifications. Also, the camber is slightly higher on the left with caster being lower on the left, when compared to the right side. This results in a vehicle that will track straight.

Some of you may be asking why not make all the numbers equal? That is a good question. For those people that live along the coastline states, you will be aware that roads are slanted to the right. This is to drain rainwater off the road. If the camber/caster numbers were equal to each other, the vehicle will drift to the right as a result of the road inclination.

If you have any questions, call us at (407)832-1120 and set up an appointment.

specs after