98 Expedition Alignment question

[Fitz98]

I have a 98 Expedition 5.4, 4x4.
Seems to be pulling to the right since I did my transfer case remove and replace.
The only thing I can think that might have had anything to do with front suspension is the torsion bars, which I had to remove to get the transfer case out.
Do they have any influence on alignment, or are they only for adjusting height of front end.

 

[The_Jeff]

Huge influence! As the tire arcs through its suspension travel its camber changes radically, especially on a short/long arm front end. It does this so when you corner it still puts a "flat foot" down despite folding the sidewall somewhat.

But you could set ride height back to snuff with a tape measure from the bumper, yes?

 

[Fitz98]

Thanks,
I will try that. I did take a measurement from the torsion bar mounting bracket to the head of the bolt and tightened them to the same distance, but I am thinking that a little turn on the bolt equals a big height adjustment at the front...
So the torsion bar adjusts camber?
Any basic rule of thumb that if the car pulls to the right, that I would lower or raise the right side? Or just try to adjust the height so left and right front are equal to each other off level ground?

 

[The_Jeff]

Well the torsion bar adjusts ride height at that corner of the truck. You can then get into the A-arms and diddle with how they mount to the frame to adjust the actual alignment.

But you need ride height correct first.

IIRC negative camber pushes away from the tire, positive pulls you in. So if it's pulling right your passenger tire is jacked up too much, lower it down. I don't know, though, how that would fight the effect of effectively having the right corner "uphill" from the rest-- would that push left?

Of course if you had an alignment at some point in the past and they didn't set ride height, you'd be fighting that now.

 

[Fitz98]

Thanks,
I did not "notice" a pull until I did the transfer case work, so I either and being hypersensative about what I am feeling, or I did not set something back to proper position during my remove and replace.