Camber angle/Caster angle/Toe in adjustment

[TJim]

Hey everyone!

As far as I have researched pinion angle and caster angle are adjusted by replacing your control arms with new adjustable ones.
The toe in like this: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-align-your-jeep-wrangler-tj.85/

Questions:
1) What about the camber angle? How is it adjusted?
2) Is there any way to adjust caster angle without adjustable control arms?
3) is there any other angle I should be aware of?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

The camber angle is only adjustable with aftermarket ball joints. It is not normally required to be adjusted. As you said, the caster angle is adjusted with aftermarket adjustable length control arms and toe-in like shown in that link.

 

[TJim]

The camber angle is only adjustable with aftermarket ball joints. It is not normally required to be adjusted. As you said, the caster angle is adjusted with aftermarket adjustable length control arms and toe-in like shown in that link.

Are cam bolts something worth a try?
is it adjusting caster angles at all or do they have very little impact?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Cam bolts up front can provide a small amount of caster angle adjustment, no more than about 1.5 degrees. Don't install rear cam bolts, they can't hold the adjustment without welding them into place.

 

[Weasellee]

Cam bolts up front can provide a small amount of caster angle adjustment, no more than about 1.5 degrees. Don't install rear cam bolts, they can't hold the adjustment without welding them into place.

Shouldn’t the front stock cam bolts solve the non adjustable control arm issue more than enough for a proper alignment? Does he need the adjustable ball joint for a perfect alignment? Mainly asking because I’m about to tackle same issue but i do have the adjustable control arms

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Shouldn’t the front stock cam bolts solve the non adjustable control arm issue more than enough for a proper alignment? Does he need the adjustable ball joint for a perfect alignment? Mainly asking because I’m about to tackle same issue but i do have the adjustable control arms

The factory front cam bolts stopped being installed around mid-1999 so his 04 doesn't have them. He doesn't need adjustable ball joints. Unless you have a bad camber angle you need nothing else to obtain a perfect alignment.

 

[Blackjack]

As Jerry mentioned camber cannot be adjusted without using something like adjustable ball joints. If your camber is that far out though I would look into having the housing straightened or replaced as adjustable ball joint mess up the alignment of the axle ujoint to the ball joint centerline causing premature axle joint wear.

Cam bolts are also limited in how much adjustment you get and unless you are at 3 inches or less of lift they may not be enough to get you back into spec. For the expense and effort adjustable arms are a better long term solution.

 

[williambmac]

As Jerry mentioned camber cannot be adjusted without using something like adjustable ball joints. If your camber is that far out though I would look into having the housing straightened or replaced as adjustable ball joint mess up the alignment of the axle ujoint to the ball joint centerline causing premature axle joint wear.

I can tell you the the camber was out 2.0 degrees on my drivers side and 1.5 degees on my passenger side.
It had nothing to do with the housing being bent at all.
it had to do with Dana or their supplier installing the outer C's incorrectly. I believe there is a TSB for it.

I had my housing in a jig and the tubes were straight.

I installed offset upper ball joints to correct the issue. No way was I going to replace the housing.

I have not has any issues with axle alignment or premature u-joint wear in 60k miles.

Now if the tube are bent, that is a different story.

 

[Weasellee]

The factory front cam bolts stopped being installed around mid-1999 so his 04 doesn't have them. He doesn't need adjustable ball joints. Unless you have a bad camber angle you need nothing else to obtain a perfect alignment.

And. If camber is still off what is the solution? Adjustable ball joint?

 

[williambmac]

And. If camber is still off what is the solution? Adjustable ball joint?

It kinda depends, if the outer C's are incorrectly installed from the factory, yes.

If the tubes are bent, I don't think so. The tubes would need to be straightened or the housing replaced.