Front end alingment,
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Concord, New Hampshire
Front end alingment,
HI, ok i have an 87 f-150, 4X4, 351, with the dual I-beam front end, i was wondering if anyone had ever got an aligment on a truck like this, im scalloping th outsides of BOTH my front tires, not the insides or the middles just the outsides, but i called an alignment shop locally that is very respectable, they told me 500 bucks, with no guarentee that the aligment wouldent be worse when i left then when i got there, dose this sound right or do you tink there feeding me a crock of shat?
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From: Concord, New Hampshire
ok they wanted to do upper ball joints, because they said they would be junk after they moved them, i belive them there because there pretty rusty, and they said they mina as well do lowers if there that far into it, and as for more info, she pulls a tinny bit to the right but i dont think much off it most everything ive drivven does that, but they all could need to be aligened? i just cant see letting it ruin tires, thats all.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Wearing on the outside of the tires indicates that your toe-in is incorrect. It is very rare to have to adjust either the caster or the camber on a ford truck (these are done by removing the upper ball joint nut.) Toe-in is adjusted with the adjusting sleeves on the tie rods. You don't have to touch the ball joints to fix this.
In other words, you're getting ripped off. Don't go back there.
Is it a very common thing for the toe-in to drift on these trucks, sometimes even to the point where you need an alignment two or three times a year.
This is where firestone comes in. You can buy a lifetime alignment for $160, I believe, and they will re-align it as many times as you bring it in to them for free. For ford truck owners, this is the steal of a lifetime.
In other words, you're getting ripped off. Don't go back there.
Is it a very common thing for the toe-in to drift on these trucks, sometimes even to the point where you need an alignment two or three times a year.
This is where firestone comes in. You can buy a lifetime alignment for $160, I believe, and they will re-align it as many times as you bring it in to them for free. For ford truck owners, this is the steal of a lifetime.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 140
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From: DE
Originally posted by AJ Goss
Wearing on the outside of the tires indicates that your toe-in is incorrect.
Wearing on the outside of the tires indicates that your toe-in is incorrect.
Originally posted by AJ Goss
This is where firestone comes in. You can buy a lifetime alignment for $160, I believe, and they will re-align it as many times as you bring it in to them for free. For ford truck owners, this is the steal of a lifetime.
This is where firestone comes in. You can buy a lifetime alignment for $160, I believe, and they will re-align it as many times as you bring it in to them for free. For ford truck owners, this is the steal of a lifetime.
Later,
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Ashland City, TN
alright. my dad had an 89, they quoted him for 300 for a front end alignment.
From what i'm told. The system works based on shims!?
I have no clue ablout this. But ifyou live in the greater flint area, there is a place in montrose taht does it super cheep i geuss. GOtta call them and find out for my 91, just rotated the tires, and the front end is worse.
I can understand it being a big crock for the 500.
the 300 they told my dad sounds like BS too from all i have read on the forums here.
I'm tempted to take it up to the school and have them do it, cause the auto teacher is good mechanic. not one of those rip off teachers.
bad toe is a big issue. It makes your truck roll like crap.
I have it myself. Bad tire wear can cause bad traction and crap too. =(
From what i'm told. The system works based on shims!?
I have no clue ablout this. But ifyou live in the greater flint area, there is a place in montrose taht does it super cheep i geuss. GOtta call them and find out for my 91, just rotated the tires, and the front end is worse.
I can understand it being a big crock for the 500.
the 300 they told my dad sounds like BS too from all i have read on the forums here.
I'm tempted to take it up to the school and have them do it, cause the auto teacher is good mechanic. not one of those rip off teachers.
bad toe is a big issue. It makes your truck roll like crap.
I have it myself. Bad tire wear can cause bad traction and crap too. =(
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Concord, New Hampshire
ok even if firestone did it i wouldent take it there, i hae firestone, they have turned into the worst company, they have recalls up the wazzoo, im sure other tires too but i just dont like firestone. and the od part is the the outside of the tire is wearing bad but the inside like 1/2" dosent even touch the ground, its never clean, its always dirty while the rest of the tire is clean, maby ill take it to sears or something and let them mess it up, and as for not going back there again, i would, they are honest, they told me what they wanted to do for a front end aligmnet, and gave me a cost, i dont see anything wrong with that. but they also havent actually seen the tires, so there going by what i say, ill have to bring it somewhere and have them take a peek.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: philly pa
Originally posted by AJ Goss
This is where firestone comes in. You can buy a lifetime alignment for $160, I believe, and they will re-align it as many times as you bring it in to them for free. For ford truck owners, this is the steal of a lifetime.
This is where firestone comes in. You can buy a lifetime alignment for $160, I believe, and they will re-align it as many times as you bring it in to them for free. For ford truck owners, this is the steal of a lifetime.
i heard about this before. it would be cool to have if your one to play around w/your suspension alot.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Sierra Vista AZ
Re: Front end alingment,
Originally posted by ATC_250SX
HI, ok i have an 87 f-150, 4X4, 351, with the dual I-beam front end, i was wondering if anyone had ever got an aligment on a truck like this, im scalloping th outsides of BOTH my front tires, not the insides or the middles just the outsides, but i called an alignment shop locally that is very respectable, they told me 500 bucks, with no guarentee that the aligment wouldent be worse when i left then when i got there, dose this sound right or do you tink there feeding me a crock of shat?
HI, ok i have an 87 f-150, 4X4, 351, with the dual I-beam front end, i was wondering if anyone had ever got an aligment on a truck like this, im scalloping th outsides of BOTH my front tires, not the insides or the middles just the outsides, but i called an alignment shop locally that is very respectable, they told me 500 bucks, with no guarentee that the aligment wouldent be worse when i left then when i got there, dose this sound right or do you tink there feeding me a crock of shat?
only $55. However, the end bill was $340 after adding the parts and pieces, bearing repack etc etc.
Roland
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 223
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From: Cheyenne Wy.
Just had the bearings re-packed and front end alignment done/ Total cost (out the door) $118.00. I would have to look at the bill to see how much of that was alignment and how much was the re-pack.
The shop I go to would never give a quote like $500.00 without tearing it down and looking at the parts.
Fact is, if you are not getting wierd bounces or the like, probably not ball joints. Rust on the outside does not mean anything.
I would get a quote from another shop.
Jim
The shop I go to would never give a quote like $500.00 without tearing it down and looking at the parts.
Fact is, if you are not getting wierd bounces or the like, probably not ball joints. Rust on the outside does not mean anything.
I would get a quote from another shop.
Jim
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Joined: Jun 2003
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The tire wear problem may be the result of the I beam front suspension design. I'm sure when you turn there's a lot of scrub on the outside wheel (understeer), more so in 4wd configurations. This will wear the outsides of the front tires.
Two people can easily check toe in. Just take some straight edges, lay them up against the tires and measure under the truck with a tape measure ahead and behind the wheels. Keep the edges high enough up on the tires so the budge where the tires sits on the ground does not affect measurement. This method is surprisingly accurate.
Two people can easily check toe in. Just take some straight edges, lay them up against the tires and measure under the truck with a tape measure ahead and behind the wheels. Keep the edges high enough up on the tires so the budge where the tires sits on the ground does not affect measurement. This method is surprisingly accurate.