Setting Camber on a I beam axle

I have a completed car with a chromed I-Beam axle. I've heard that a competent truck alignment shop can set the camber without damaging the chrome.

Has anyone ever had this done? I've never actually heard of any firsthand accounts of this and don't want to be the Guinea Pig.

 

ehhh good luck. I'm guessing 9 times out of ten they will wreck the chrome......

 

Are you sure the camber needs to be changed? Unless the axle was bent due to an accident or a poorly done drop it should be ok. I dought that anyone could bend the axle to adjust the camber without risking cracking the chrome.

 

I think a lot depends on how crudely the force is applied...if you chain the axle to a sewer grating while pushing with a jack, it's gonna be ugly.
Ford provided an elaborate set of jigs that cradled the axle and mounted the jack...those could likely do a neat job with some padding, but I've never heard of anyone with a surviving set!
Likely techniques at a truck place would be somewhere in between those extremes of tech...with an interested mechanic and some padding, chrome might at least stand a chance.

 

PS--this is done COLD...if anyone lights a torch, grab your iron and run!

 

If they have to bend the axle, it will probably crack the chrome. Have them check it and then decide if it needs bending. If it's not too far off, I'd just live with it. For the most part it will affect tire wear more than handling. If it's way off you may not have a choice. If it's only 1*, I wouldn't fret it.

 

The purpose of camber (the established angle of the wheel out of vertical) is to place the vehicle load on the large inner bearing of the hub.
Camber changes on all turns, the degree varying with the caster angle.

 

you have stated that your car has an I-beam axle...but not if it is forged or cast

you can only bend it if it's forged

 

I had a dropped axle in a 53 F-100 that was way off. Not chromed. When I took it to the shop and they tried to bend it it would just spring back. Ended up sending it back and getting another.

 

I hate to go steal this post but i must ask is someone can help...I built my own drop axle jig and successfully dropped my 50 3'' on both sides, problem is that on the last bend right before i let the jack relax the weld on the broke and allowed the axle end to cool at the wrong degree causing my camber too be off about an 1/8 or more. Is there any practice to fix the camber of an axle...