I was hit pretty hard just behind the rear driver-side tire a couple months ago. The collision pushed me sideways and I hit the curb with the passenger-side front and rear tires. There was some bodywork in the rear that had to be done, three new tires and wheels, and both rear axles shafts had to be replaced. The body shop said the frame was still within specs, but they only did a two-wheel alignment. I know the rear wheels can't be aligned, but I still wanted to see how far out they were. Today, I had a Ford dealership do an an alignment (body shop paid for it) and I'm kind of concerned with the readings. I had an alignment done about a year ago and here are the differences:

Before Accident
Left rear camber -0.4
Left rear toe 0.03
Right rear Camber 0.0
Right rear toe -.07
Thrust Angle 0.05 Specified Range -0.50 to +0.50

After Accident
Left rear camber -.0.1
Left rear toe 0.27
Right rear Camber -.2
Right rear toe -.18
Thrust Angle 0.22 Specified Range -0.50 to +0.50

The toe differences jumped out at me and the dealership did say they were near the limits, but still okay especially since the thrust angle is still in specs. Is there anywhere where I can find out how much rear toe on both sides is acceptable or is the thrust angle the determining factor? Thanks.

 

My 2011 Ford service manual does not list rear specs. I would go back to the guy at the shop and ask for a copy of that spec. Not just a print out from the alignment machine.

But for perspective my 11 (No accidents and measured at 75K) has the following
Left rear camber 0.0
Left rear toe 0.24
Right rear Camber -.1
Right rear toe -0.09
Total Toe 0.16
Thrust Angle 0.16 Specified Range -0.50 to +0.50

 

I was an alignment tech for years, more than 10. On passenger cars, light trucks, then going into heavy truck (Tractor trailer, Fire Engines, Dump trucks etc) as a specialty.
With your after the accident numbers, that camber on both sides is a good number. But the toe, with a positive 0.27 degrees on the left rear, and a -0.18 on the right rear will wear a tire faster than it should. (the left rear is pointing in under the bed of the truck, and the right rear, is facing out).
I'd take a stab at saying that the rear axle housing is bent. Most manufacturers give a large range for tolerances. Though it may be "In Specs" they are not good numbers.

Unk Bob

 

Thank you very much for your reply. I don't like those numbers either and even before the alignment I was looking at the back of the truck from a distance and you can visually see that the rear tires don't look even close to being straight. The dealer said the only way to get the rear toe better would be to take it to a frame shop, but I also thought the rear axle housing could be replaced. Would this help get the readings closer to specifications. Thanks again for your help.

 

IF... The frame is bent a frame shop should be able to straighten it, (To Specs). But that will not fix the toe problem. You can't bend those housings to do adjustments.
It would need to be replaced. But getting an insurance company to do that, unless you can back it up that the housing needs to be replaced.

Unk Bob

 

Thank you. Just contacted the body shop that did the initial work. I would have thought they would have replaced the housing when they did the axle shafts, but it seems like "par for the course" from what I experienced during this repair. I'll keep you posted. Thanks.

 

I gave the before and after alignment information to the body shop and still waiting to hear back. I think the problem is, as you mentioned, is going to be proving to the insurance company that there is an issue. The thrust angle is within specs, and I haven't been able to find anything which gives the range for the rear toe as they're not adjustable.

 

You haven't mentioned what you are driving, I guess a 09 or newer F150?

Unk Bob

 

2011 F150 Lariat 4X4.

 

I haven't found anything that gives what the specs are. That might be useful if you could do some leg work and get a big name alignment shop to give you a print out of what Ford say's the specs are. I imagine that the tolerances are pretty wide, meaning that it would be something drastic to say that the axle is bent.

Unk Bob

 

That's a good idea. I tried to call Ford Co. direct, and as I expected, and go nowhere.

 

I'm bringing my truck in on Monday and dealing with the head of service at a local dealership. He wants to compare my rear alignment numbers with a new F150 as he doesn't totally believe the before accident alignment readings since this was done at another dealer. I mentioned that regardless the new readings look bad, but he still wants to do a comparison. I think if he finds one that has bad readings in the back, he's going to tell me everything is fine with my truck and send me on my way.

He also wants to do some measuring of the axle housing, but said in 30-years he saw very few that were bent from an accident. He talked about doing some shim work to get the alignment readings better, but I'm not very comfortable with that.

 

If anyone with a crew cab 4X4 that has had an alignment can post the rear toe numbers, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.