"Custom Cam Bolt", Front End Work

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doitmyself

doitmyself

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So, my son takes his '02 Ford Ranger in to the most "respected" front end shop in the area....the one my "personal mechanic" says is where you take stuff that others can't fix.

My son had the ball joints done on one side last year at a mechanic friends place for about $500+/-.

This "respected shop" says the other side ball joints are bad. $800.

They recommend installing a "custom cam bolt kit" to achieve easier and "better" alignment.

What do you think? Is this shop milking customers? I had someone try to sell me these cam bolt kits before, and I got the impression it was a profit making upsell.

Comments?
 
sounds really high.

the camber adjusting bolt is necessary I had a 2002 ranger.. and you really do need it.. price should be about 50$

I think retail might be 99$
 
If these cam bolts are required, then why don't they come installed from the factory?????
 
For a full alignment, it is the easiest and cheapest way to get it done, period. You may be able to do a full alignment without the kit, but it will take a significant amount of time screwing around with it to get the same result - and most shops will charge for that time. Either that or not adjust the camber/caster at all, and still charge you full price.

The factory can set this without the kits because they are in a factory setting with much different equipment. The bean counters win this arguement.
 
At the factory, when parts are new, tolerances are kept pretty tight and they don't need those adjustments. As things wear like bushings and springs, adjustability is required to correct alignment. This is the same thing as the back of both of our Hondas. The upper control arm is not adjustable (this is what sets camber). If rear camber is out, you need to buy adjustable upper control arms to be able to adjust camber.

So be happy all you need are some bolts!
 
OT:

$500-$800 to replace the ball joints on one side? Really? Why? I have an '01 Ranger but haven't done much to it other than spark plugs & wires.
 
That does seem high. i did the lower and upper ball joints on both sides and all tie rods and drag links on my camaro and it only took me 5-6 hours to do it. the parts came to about 300$. I did it in my driveway with common hand tools and a removal kit that also works for driveshaft stuff and it only cost 80$. Definately not a rookie job but next time i could do it in a couple hours.
 
The upper ball joint on those Rangers are a part of the upper control arm. The factory one lists for around $150ish depending on side and if the vehicle has coil spring or torsion bar front suspension.

We sell a bunch of these and the lower ball joints. Generally the joint itself isn't bad, but the boots tear and then destroy the joint when all the grease goes away.
 
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
The upper ball joint on those Rangers are a part of the upper control arm. The factory one lists for around $150ish depending on side and if the vehicle has coil spring or torsion bar front suspension.

The upper ball joint can be pressed out on the coil sprung trucks. Torsion bar trucks need the whole control arm.
 
Follow up. My son took it too his friends shop and is told the ball joints are o.k.? Dilemma.

He stops at a Ford Dealer and they SHOW him the bad upper ball joint assembly(wishbone).

Moog parts from Advanced Auto are about $175 ($125 with coupon). Book rate is about 2 hours.

"Elite" shop was $800 total (with alignment)

Ford Dealer is about $480 total (with alignment) and FREE rental car. $200 parts(OEM)/2 hour labor/alignment.

Ford said that the special cam bolts are not needed.

DIY: $210 ($125+ align) vs. $480 at Ford. DIY was NOT an option this time due to numerous reasons.
 
Originally Posted By: Roadkingnc
They are necessary to change caster and camber, if they arent replaced all you will get is a toe correction


'Crash bolts', or cammed bolts , don't address caster, only camber.
It is important to get both sides even, and they can help quickly. But they are often skinnier than stock bolts, and are not as beefy to hold tension. that is, they can slip sometimes.
I like to slot the strut mount -also very fast and works great.

BTW, I know things are high priced nowadays, but those prices seem way too high.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: exranger06
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
The upper ball joint on those Rangers are a part of the upper control arm. The factory one lists for around $150ish depending on side and if the vehicle has coil spring or torsion bar front suspension.

The upper ball joint can be pressed out on the coil sprung trucks. Torsion bar trucks need the whole control arm.


That may be so, but from Ford they will only sell the whole arm.
 
If the Ranger front end is anything like the 2nd gen Explorer front end, the camber will be off after some miles pile up on the front end. Over time, the torsion bars sag and the camber gets worse and worse. There is a reason you see the inside only of 2nd gen explorers front tires get worn out. Your options are to adjust the camber (using the cam adjusting bolt)or adjust the ride height with the torsion bars. The latter isn't a lot of fun when everything is rusty from years and years of salt exposure.
 
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Originally Posted By: Roadkingnc
They are necessary to change caster and camber, if they arent replaced all you will get is a toe correction


'Crash bolts', or cammed bolts , don't address caster, only camber.
It is important to get both sides even, and they can help quickly. But they are often skinnier than stock bolts, and are not as beefy to hold tension. that is, they can slip sometimes.
I like to slot the strut mount -also very fast and works great.

BTW, I know things are high priced nowadays, but those prices seem way too high.



The ranger is a SLA suspension. With aftermarket cams installed in both upper control arm mounts you CAN adjust camber and caster. Its not a setup where you use cam bolt in strut mount.
Anyway, as somebody mentioned earlier some trucks won't have them but they are really good to have to dial in your alignment angles perfectly as your suspension components begin to wear. I've installed many of these kits and with proper tools they take about 15 minutes per side, but vehicle MUST be aligned right after installation.
 
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