Hello. I have a 1985 F350 2x4. I took it to the shop to get a front end alignment, and they said it couldn't be done because my front axles were bent (left & right). The shop said I needed to have the axles straightened. I live in Delaware, and tried calling everywhere. Nobody does it. I've also tried to find buy the part/parts new, but I can't find it anywhere. Any ideas?

 

Go to a big truck shop. They do it all the time.

 

Yeah. Last shop I knew that did it sold when the owner finally retired about 5 years ago. He was 85 or 86 and had been doing alignments since he was 17. He had pictures aligning model A's as a kid hanging on the wall. Really cool guy to talk to, and lots of the old rodders and antique guys used to go there.

 

Thanks. I'm going to try a semi shop and see what they say. Would it be easier/cheaper to buy a new front axle?

 

It would really surprise me if you could even get a new axle for your truck.

The bigger shop should have a rack they put it on with a spot to put chains and a very large jack. They chain it down in the right spot and then use the jack to push up and bend it. They may not have the specs for your smaller truck, so you might have to volunteer to go beg for them from a smaller shop, and then run back to the bigger shop and give them the specs(caster, camber, toe, etc.)

 

Maybe what they are saying is correct, but it seems bad luck that both axles would be bent.
I found I had one bent axle a year or so ago......but the springs were also original, & had sagged over time.

I replaced the coils (which made a significant improvement alone to the steering) then straightened the bent axle, with a chain & large hydraulic jack, to match the undamaged one.

Before this repair the steering had been slightly unstable in a straight line (best way I can describe it), despite everything being tight - but is good now.

 

Found this on youtube and found it to be pretty neat...