Do Ford vans track crooked?

[Huskinhano]

Is it me or do they? Every time I'm behind one they look like they don't track straight. It looks as though the rear tracks about an inch or so to the right. I know it could be an optical illusion or parallax thing going on. I've followed to where I'm more towards the center line but still can see the whole left side. Even the front and rear tire appear to follow different tracks ( I realized all the camber on the Twin I Beam might make it look that way ).

When the roads are wider, I've moved way over to the right and don't notice seeing the whole right side of them. It's not just one, it's all the Ford vans I see. I've seen cars before that have had collision damage and drive dog leg and the Ford vans appear to do the same. Try it the next time you're behind one. I haven't noticed this with GM or Dodge vans.

[Schtauffer]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

Yes.

So do most Chevy pickups.

[dieselgeek]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

every ford explorer I have ever seen, is doing the same thing and the driver is holding the steering wheel a half turn off center.

[SpiderGearsMan]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

73-87 GM trucks did that half ton
still great trucks

[Junk Whisperer]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

I noticed that too! Hmmmmm,it would take a TRUE 'Carjunkie/Bang-Shifter' to notice that ;D. But then again,I tend to hang in Junkyards ;). ~J/W-OO6.

[Huskinhano]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

I've noticed this on other vehicles as well now that it's been mentioned. I didn't notice this on the 73-87 GM trucks and I use to drive a 73 PU. I'll have to take a tape measure to my new E250 from work. Maybe I'll strap my cheapo laser torpedo level to the rear wheels and see what it shows. Interesting.

[oletrux4evr]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

I noticed that on Ford pickups and vans in the 70s. Always with the rear kicked out to the right.......still see it today. Maybe the frame jigs aren't square.

[antmnte]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

Used to see alot of 75-79 Nova's like that years ago.

[1988montecarloss]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

every ford explorer I have ever seen, is doing the same thing and the driver is holding the steering wheel a half turn off center.

one of the drivers ed cars was a ford explorer and it had that same steering wheel problem

[FEF100]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

Used to see alot of 75-79 Nova's like that years ago.

Yeah, and F-bodies too if they had a broken spring or axle locating bolt. Have seen both several times.

[Weldangrind]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

I've noticed the same thing, primarily on pickups. It's my theory that any rear driver that makes at least some torque will twist. I've never noticed it on a front driver.

[realsteelfreak]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

You could use a string alignment off the rear tires to the front , this might be a different thread, You might be a carjunkie,gearhead,redneck if you used 4 cinderblocks and a roll of twine to line your car up!
I am guilty, do it all the time

[realsteelfreak]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

Most of the time it wasnt a spring or bolt broke, the front unibody would slip and slide forward on one side, the rear springs also mounted in pockets on the front hanger and would also self adjust.

[nosnerd]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

Used to see alot of 75-79 Nova's like that years ago.

those were bad....

really 73-87 trucks? i owned two and never noticed....hmmm

[CarPlayLB]

Re: Do Ford vans track crooked?

The 73-87 Chevy/GMC 4x4 trucks may appear to not track straight, but the front axle is wider than the back axle!