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Hey guys. If you have a dually that had never been realigned, you probably have tire wear on the outside edges of you front tires if you tow heavy. I've noticed every single dually that I've seen had this problem, even noticed some in Wisconsin last year at the G2G and wondered why. So I set out yesterday to find out why as changing tire pressures and rotating made no difference. I found it in the forum here that Ford had the to set wrong for those that tow heavy, so I took mine to my buddy's shop to see. Keep in mind that I wore out a set of front tires in 26k miles due to the shoulders being extremely worn. This is what she looked like when we got her on the machine.
After a few adjustments, this is what she looks like.
Now, I don't claim to know a lot about front end alignment, so part of this thread is to see what you guys that know about alignment think. I can tell you that I don't have the slight pull to the right any longer and the truck tracks straight. Something she hasn't done for a while. Nothing was worn or bent under the truck as we checked.
Just wondering what you guys think about how it is aligned now?
Looks like the only real change that was made was the toe in/out.
I assume the yellow numbers are the minimum and maximum values?
That is what I was told that the machine keeps the specs for each in it's program and then gives the tech a range(in yellow) to stay in. The owners of the company that built this particular machine says that the perfect alignment is where the toe in close to zero as possible as long is one is positive and the other is negative.
As I understand it every chassis needs a certain amount of toe in order to point the front wheels inward. Slight rolling resistance gives the chassis stability and keeps the steering true, especially when rolling straight. Loading the steering linkages provides firm steering feel and responsive handling.
What confuses me is the caster. I am fighting a death wobble condition and my dealer service techs are telling me I need my caster numbers as close to zero as possible. All my research into the subject direct me to add caster. My truck currently has between 2.5° and 3° caster which is right where Ford supposedly wants it. I see yours has more so I'm inclined to think I still need another 1° added. I know that a shopping cart wobble happens more when there is too much caster angle, so my understanding of all this is a bit twisted up at the moment....
As I understand it every chassis needs a certain amount of toe in order to point the front wheels inward. Slight rolling resistance gives the chassis stability and keeps the steering true, especially when rolling straight. Loading the steering linkages provides firm steering feel and responsive handling.
What confuses me is the caster. I am fighting a death wobble condition and my dealer service techs are telling me I need my caster numbers as close to zero as possible. All my research into the subject direct me to add caster. My truck currently has between 2.5° and 3° caster which is right where Ford supposedly wants it. I see yours has more so I'm inclined to think I still need another 1° added. I know that a shopping cart wobble happens more when there is too much caster angle, so my understanding of all this is a bit twisted up at the moment....
I fought the death wobble coming through the hills of Kentucky last year coming home from the G2G in Wisconsin. Of course, I was pulling my 16k pound 5er. After I got home I was going to have to replace the right front shock as it got busted on the trip, I bought new shocks and the Bilstein 5100 steering stabilizer. I've been in the N GA mountains twice since and only had a slight pulsing feeling, not like a warped rotor, but like the wobble, only on a smaller scale. So, yesterday I asked them about this and they looked through the computer, which is brand new and 'supposedly' has the newest specs in it, and said it was within spec.
That being said, when a load is in the bed, the caster changes as well. Something I did not realize. So Joel, you may be onto something there. After reading your post, it makes me think if mine returns, or maybe even not as bad, I need to add more caster.
I wouldn't think that loading affects caster, that's the angle that the centerline leans forward or back (for a simple answer). Camber also shouldn't be affected with a solid axle. The Twin I-Beam used to have to crazy camber when loads changed.
The feathering and wearing on the edges of the front tires on my dually is why i took off the aluminum wheels and replaced them with steel wheels. I can do a conventional style rotation. The 4 steel wheels only added a total of 60 pounds (15 pounds for each wheel) to the weight of the truck.
I have a 2016 F-350, built Feb 2016.
Both front tires have wear on the outside.
I have 5/16" tread depth on the inboard side, less than a 1/4" on the outboard side. The truck has 13,000 miles.
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