hi everyone,
i am an owner of a 97 f350 crew cab longbed 4x4. I travel for work and am currently in kansas city far away from the homestead. I was wondering if anyone point me in the direction of a good place to get an alignment. i have just replaced the gearbox and balljoints in the parking lot of a local parts store and the steering is still a bit squirrelly. the is my first post in a forum of anykind and any info would be appreciated.

 

You was able to replace ball joints in a parking lot??

 

welcome to OBS PSD @ FTE!!! Are you sure it wasn't the tierod/ends you replaced? We are asking b/c it would be a pain to change in a parking lot...being a 4X4 and all. I have gotten it close with a tape measurer.

 

definetly upper and lower ball joints, replaced with moogs, and it was a bit intensive. a few months ago the caliper locked up and i had to replace the driverside bearing and replace the locker, i am getting pretty decent at the parking lot fixing of things. my boss offers to put in the shop but 9 times out of 10 i dont have the time to wait for a shop.

 

Not sure where in kc you are, but I Can recommend a few places on the western side. Feel free to give me a call. 9132058560

 

Just make sure and demand the shop give you a before and after printout of your alignment specs. In the green is NOT good enough. Especially for caster! It needs to be dead nuts on or make them keep doing it till it is. Have your tanks half full and nothing heavy sitting on one side when it goes in too. Don't take any crap off those alignment shops. Seriously. I've done it a long time and seen every way NOT to do an alignment there is.

One last thing, if your steering wheel is not perfectly straight then your toe is still off and they need to fix it. NOT by taking the steering wheel off either.

 

thank you fot the warm welcome, good advice and the point in the right direction