Alignment tips?
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Lancaster, CA
Alignment tips?
ok, I've gotten 3 different stories on front end alignments from 3 different people with SD Fords. All have 2000 and up 4x4s. I need to get mine aligned. It's a 2001 F350 4x4 CC, 8" Fabtech lift with 37"s. It slightly pulls to the right (just barely enough to notice, and the steering wheel is just slightly off of center when driving straight hown the highway. Tires are not worn abnormal at all, and they have approx. 20k miles on them. I got a quote from a tire shop to do the alignment for $55. When mentioning this to one of the above mentioned other people, they said no way. One said, alignments on the 4x4 SD truck are like $100 and up minimum. He was saying they have to put shims here and there, and I honestly do not think an alignment should cost that much without replacing major parts in the process. I want my tires to last as long as possible. Seeing how my lift is a good one, and I believe it was profressionally installed, I think just a simple alignment would be in order. I think $55 is alot, but $100 and above seems way out of the ball park. What has everyone done for their alighments??? thanks!
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Joined: Mar 2004
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It's TOUGH to knock a straight axle out of "alignment"....
Is it out of alingment? OR is the steering wheel not centered?
Usually If you think you knocked it out of alignment...then go to a shop...
If the steering wheel is not centered (which is usually the case after a lift) then adjust the track bar. It's a bar that goes diagonal from the pitman arm down to the axle. Just lossen 2 bolts and twist it in either direction until the steering wheel gets straight.
Is it out of alingment? OR is the steering wheel not centered?
Usually If you think you knocked it out of alignment...then go to a shop...
If the steering wheel is not centered (which is usually the case after a lift) then adjust the track bar. It's a bar that goes diagonal from the pitman arm down to the axle. Just lossen 2 bolts and twist it in either direction until the steering wheel gets straight.
Last edited by Kadukoboy; Mar 31, 2005 at 03:25 PM.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Lancaster, CA
what about camber, tow, etc.??? That's the part they say needs shims if it's not setup right... or does even apply to this type of front? It does pull slightly to the right... been that way since I bought it (1) month ago.
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If the only reason it's off, is cause u lifted it ....it should just need an adjustment.
Ive been wheelin and hit a pretty big rut...Knocked the steering wheel almost 45 degrees to the left....Got home...adjusted the track bar...and 10 thousand miles later I still have evenly wearing tires.
Its TOUGH to knock a straight axle out of alignment....you'd have to bend some SERIOUS metal to do so
Ive been wheelin and hit a pretty big rut...Knocked the steering wheel almost 45 degrees to the left....Got home...adjusted the track bar...and 10 thousand miles later I still have evenly wearing tires.
Its TOUGH to knock a straight axle out of alignment....you'd have to bend some SERIOUS metal to do so
