Question about a 4 wheel alignment
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Hamilton, ohio
Question about a 4 wheel alignment
ok i recently installed a lowering kit on my truckl and next week i am going to get an alignment on it. i was wondering if a 4 wheel alignment in assure that my differintial is lined up with my trans and so on so that i am not replaceing "U" joiunts and all the other things it might tear up. i want to be sure before i spend the money for it and also if a 4 wheel alignment wont do it what can i do to check and ake sure its ok. when i installed the kit the "U" bolts mounted back in where they were on the rear axel from the factory. also when for made these trucks why did they not put a camber adjustment on them?? i have to install a camber kit on my truck. any info would be great.
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From: Hamilton, ohio
then why should i even get it on the back. i have a solid rear axel truck. i dont see how it would get out of alignment at all in the rear. i have put a couple hundered miles on the truck and there are no noises comeing from the rear when it is moving so i guess that its in line. nothing is leaking or feels sloppy. i just need to know more info so that i will feel more comfortable.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: SW Ontario
I'm just an amatuer at this, but I believe, that the rear wheels can be adjusted for toe and camber; by adjusting the rear end, the vehicle will move straight down the road, rather then "dog legging" .
Hopefully a real tech, will come and answer your questions. better then I can
Hopefully a real tech, will come and answer your questions. better then I can
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Shreveport, La.
Any vehicle with a 'fixed' rear axle is not a candidate for a 4 wheel alignment.
4 Wheel alignment denotes that there is something to 'adjust' at each wheel area.
Yes, some shops will offer you one, even suggest one. These shops should be avoided. And yes, you can 'hook' up the sensors to all 4 wheels on a truck, and it will give you a read out. That is exactly what they will be charging you for doing, hanging the sensors on the back.
Now if a vehicle has been in an accident bad enough to bend/twist/warp the frame, then a frame shop can set it straight.
4 Wheel alignment denotes that there is something to 'adjust' at each wheel area.
Yes, some shops will offer you one, even suggest one. These shops should be avoided. And yes, you can 'hook' up the sensors to all 4 wheels on a truck, and it will give you a read out. That is exactly what they will be charging you for doing, hanging the sensors on the back.
Now if a vehicle has been in an accident bad enough to bend/twist/warp the frame, then a frame shop can set it straight.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: RI
Yes, I'm interested in the same question deckedout, as I'm soon to be switching rear axles, and want to make sure that the new axle lines up well with the driveline and front axle. I would think there's more to it than eyeing it and hoping for the best....
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Posting Guru
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From: Hamilton, ohio
me to. i wonder if there is a way you can measure off the frame at the trans and rear and see if they match up or not. i hope that a tech will respond to this. i was also thinking about posting this on F150.net
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Shreveport, La.
Y'all talking about axles on 4x4's or the main drive shaft or both?
I'm not a 4x4 guy, can't offer any valid facts there.
As for main axle (and maybe 4x4's too) as far as I know, perfection isn't required, they are flex joints after all. Drive shafts set at an angle anyway, lay down and look at it on the horizontal, and it certainly isn't lined up.
Engines certainly aren't absolute in alignment as they are bolted in.
I've always lined them up by eyesight with a large (true) angle square, like carpenter's or sheetrocker's use.
As suggested measuring from the frame is good too, just must be certain to find a true straight line in the frame.
If an absolute is required, I've never even had that question pop-up.
If someone else is reading, please join in if you know factual critical shaft alignment requirements, we're all interested.
I'm not a 4x4 guy, can't offer any valid facts there.
As for main axle (and maybe 4x4's too) as far as I know, perfection isn't required, they are flex joints after all. Drive shafts set at an angle anyway, lay down and look at it on the horizontal, and it certainly isn't lined up.
Engines certainly aren't absolute in alignment as they are bolted in.
I've always lined them up by eyesight with a large (true) angle square, like carpenter's or sheetrocker's use.
As suggested measuring from the frame is good too, just must be certain to find a true straight line in the frame.
If an absolute is required, I've never even had that question pop-up.
If someone else is reading, please join in if you know factual critical shaft alignment requirements, we're all interested.
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Posting Guru
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From: Hamilton, ohio
this is not for 4x4's its for a 4x2 2002 f150 extended cab. and i was wondering about the main drive shaft going to the rear of the truck. i am not owrried about up and down because i know that it has to move up and down with the truck as the suspension moves. all i am worried about is side to side. the whole time we were installing the lowering kit on the rear my friend was worried about the rear lining back up. he said we should have marked it. i said the instructions say of we do one side at a time it will be fine so that what we did. thatnks for the info on the 4 wheel alignment though. now i know not to waste my money on it. being that i ahve a solid rear axel and not independant rear suspension.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
If all you did was lower the vehicle without welding new spring perches on the axle, there is no way for you to misalign the axle (left to right) so I would not worry about it. I do not know about the newer F-150s, but, 1st and 2nd generation Rangers are designed with dog tracking built in from the factory. fwiw.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: "tween the cotton and tob
Ok.. there are several ways to align a solid axle rear truck. There is no need, nor no way to do an actual aligning of the rear axle BUT it can be checked. The first type of alignment is the "thrust" alignment(perfered method) All four wheel sensors are installed and calibrated. The truck is lowered onto the turn plates and a caster sweep is done. After completion of the caster sweep all the axis are ready to read.. caster, camber, toe and thrust angle. The thrust angle is the center line of rear as compared to the front. If the toe angles are correct and the wheel is straight ahead, but the thrust angle is off, it indicates that perhaps the rear has moved either left or right. The second method is the "center line" alignment. All four sensors are installed, but only the front ones are actually calibrated. The front is lowed onto the turn plates, a caster sweep is done and only caster, camber and toe are shown, along with a Steer straight setting. The machine will only read the front axle and doesnt care about the back. its mostly used as a Toe and go method of alignment and is not the prefered method becuase of the lack of thrust angle data.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 545
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From: Shreveport, La.
Originally Posted by DeckedoutF150
so should i even spend the money to get the 4 wheel of should i just get the 2 wheel done??
Thrust alignment if you must, alignment shops will probably offer it, it's higher priced than a reg.
In reality, a two wheel is fine.