I beam swap
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Dunno about newer beams with ball joints but the kingpin style i-beams are "aligned' (ahem, "bent") using braces, chains, and a bottle jack... it's quite ...ummm.. what's the term?... Aha.. "primitive".
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,867
Likes: 3
From: Alton, MO
It doesn't need to be anything but primitive. Once set an I Beam suspension almost never needs reset (camber or caster). If so it is an indicator something is bad & needs replaced.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Yeah - not primitive at all, but rather closer to a "real" truck = big truck. Just not super practical anymore... Kingpins are much stronger than ball joints & wear out much less.
To answer the original post - no, newer beams are NOWHERE near a bolt in swap.
To align you'd need to have an old school alignment shop or big truck alignment shop check the thing & do the work.
What is the truck doing that it needs an alignment? Tires pointing in at the top (bad camber) due to coil sag? Or you trying to lift/lower it or what?
To answer the original post - no, newer beams are NOWHERE near a bolt in swap.
To align you'd need to have an old school alignment shop or big truck alignment shop check the thing & do the work.
What is the truck doing that it needs an alignment? Tires pointing in at the top (bad camber) due to coil sag? Or you trying to lift/lower it or what?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Yeah - not primitive at all, but rather closer to a "real" truck = big truck. Just not super practical anymore... Kingpins are much stronger than ball joints & wear out much less.
To align you'd need to have an old school alignment shop or big truck alignment shop check the thing & do the work.
To align you'd need to have an old school alignment shop or big truck alignment shop check the thing & do the work.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Okay, shackles.
Lemme grab a cold one from the ice box, fill 'er up with Ethyl, and dial the rotary phone.
Lemme grab a cold one from the ice box, fill 'er up with Ethyl, and dial the rotary phone.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I'd gladly have someone who had the knowledge to align one of these trucks work on mine rather than the $6/hr kid most of todays alignment shops have work on it. They throw the thing on the rack, make sure the computer says "it's good" (more like - eh, it might work) and they scoot you out.
I'll take stronger over easier just because in most cases.
I'll take stronger over easier just because in most cases.
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