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I know there are a good bit of resources out there about this and I have read through them, but I wanted to ask if anyone here has some tips on how to set the Alignment of a truck (In my case a 1981 F250 4x2) at home. I would take it to a shop to get it done properly, but no one in Germany is capable of setting the alignment on anything they don't have in their database. I just have to get my steering wheel straight while driving straight (If that makes sense, I am slightly turned when driving straight right now.) for inspection. So if anyone has any old-school tricks to get this done, to where it is usable I would appreciate the input.
If you just need the steering wheel turned while keeping the wheel alignment the same you will need to turn the sleeves on the tie rods. Loosen them and look at the threads on the tie rods. You will need to turn them so one tire goes out and one comes in based on the direction you need your steering wheel moved.
Turn the sleeves the exact same number of turns to keep your wheel alignment. Hopefully the sleeves will loosen and turn for you they can be rusted out after many years.
Is it they don't have the spec for the truck and why they don't want to touch it?
I don't really know how the new (crap) computer machines work if they need the car / truck info plugged in first or not?
If that is the case, info in before they can do any thing and no spec I think there is a way around this if THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING!
A lot of todays young techs don't have a clue and why I said what I did, if the computer does not tell them what to do / fix they cant do it.
Here is what "I" think can be done.
Pick any car / truck in the computers system so it can start the machine.
Have the trucks specs handy, maybe on paper so they can look at it.
Then check the specs on the machine what the truck is at and adjust from there.
Dave ----
Is it they don't have the spec for the truck and why they don't want to touch it?
I don't really know how the new (crap) computer machines work if they need the car / truck info plugged in first or not?
If that is the case, info in before they can do any thing and no spec I think there is a way around this if THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING!
A lot of todays young techs don't have a clue and why I said what I did, if the computer does not tell them what to do / fix they cant do it.
Here is what "I" think can be done.
Pick any car / truck in the computers system so it can start the machine.
Have the trucks specs handy, maybe on paper so they can look at it.
Then check the specs on the machine what the truck is at and adjust from there.
Dave ----
I agree 100% they are not capable because they aren’t actual mechanics. Pretty sure most of them have less hands on experience than you and I. They are just doing what the computer says. I could tell them the specs, I mean they are on Gary’s site. „But they have no way of knowing if that is right“. In my opinion it doesn’t matter if it’s right, they are just supposed to do what I tell them.
They were unable to balance my tires because I did not come in with a vehicle on which they were attached. How am I supposed to drive unbalanced tires? They would probably be incapable of undoing the lug nuts anyway, cause there are 8 not 5. The Walmart auto center mechanic in Tennessee was way more helpful than any of these „trained“ mechanics I have talked to here.
Sorry for the rant, but you said what I have been thinking since I got back to Germany.
The alignment specs will be in the shop manual so it may worth the few bucks to get an electronic copy.
As for setting the alignment this where you may run into issues, as until 81 these trucks had King Pins so the camber and caster were set by bending the I beams. (See below pics) The ONLY place in Europe that may be able to do this would be a shop that services in medium or heavy trucks, there maybe somewhere in the east that still the tools kicking around to do this work as kingpins were used for much later in the Soviet Union.
The alignment specs will be in the shop manual so it may worth the few bucks to get an electronic copy.
As for setting the alignment this where you may run into issues, as until 81 these trucks had King Pins so the camber and caster were set by bending the I beams. (See below pics) The ONLY place in Europe that may be able to do this would be a shop that services in medium or heavy trucks, there maybe somewhere in the east that still the tools kicking around to do this work as kingpins were used for much later in the Soviet Union.
I have the alignment specs, they are on Gary`s website. I don´t want to adjust the camber or caster at all, I just want to get the truck to run straight (as much as possible with the play in steering that is) when my wheel is turned straight. So its just a matter of adjusting the sleeves on the tie rods. I was just wondering if anyone had some tricks as for setting the toe-in at home without any special tools.
I have the alignment specs, they are on Gary`s website. I don´t want to adjust the camber or caster at all, I just want to get the truck to run straight (as much as possible with the play in steering that is) when my wheel is turned straight. So its just a matter of adjusting the sleeves on the tie rods. I was just wondering if anyone had some tricks as for setting the toe-in at home without any special tools.
Caster and camber both affect straight-line tracking. Especially caster, you may be able to adjust the toe so the steering wheel is lined up and it drives straight without pulling to one side or another and it may still be all over the road. You can't just adjust the toe and expect that it will not wander all over the place.
Caster and camber both affect straight-line tracking. Especially caster, you may be able to adjust the toe so the steering wheel is lined up and it drives straight without pulling to one side or another and it may still be all over the road. You can't just adjust the toe and expect that it will not wander all over the place.
I tried my luck with the string method for toe-in, just to see where they were at. Passenger side had a little bit of toe-in, while the driver side was just way out of whack, pointing out and away from the truck. I adjusted it, but didn’t test drive it yet. My hope is that it’ll fix my problem because it did track okay before, just that ,my steering wheel was not aligned. Although, if it is absolutely terrible I definitely will have to find a place that can adjust the wheel alignment fully.
