alignment crisis
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: waterbury
alignment crisis
well guys jsut to get my truck aligned has taken 3 days and 180 bucks and well iain't happy at i don't know the exact caster/ camber numbers and stuff today but i am gonna get them tomarrow and tell you
also another problem i have stubled upon is that the right front axle is cocked forward 1/2 inch more than the left. i measured center to center front to back the the right side is farther forward. what coulda happened? o yea and the truck pulls to the right how could this be ???
any help would be appreciated chris
also another problem i have stubled upon is that the right front axle is cocked forward 1/2 inch more than the left. i measured center to center front to back the the right side is farther forward. what coulda happened? o yea and the truck pulls to the right how could this be ???
any help would be appreciated chris
Last edited by blue96psd; Nov 10, 2005 at 08:47 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
geez man, i align all my trucks and never have a problem with tire wear... i just do it by eye! 
have you chacked all your bushings? if a bushing on one side is rotting the axle would then become cocked to one side. i have the same problem with my 96 but its with the rear axle. not sure why one side is further forward than the other quite yet
-cutts-
have you chacked all your bushings? if a bushing on one side is rotting the axle would then become cocked to one side. i have the same problem with my 96 but its with the rear axle. not sure why one side is further forward than the other quite yet
-cutts-
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 0
From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!
if the axle is cocked the spring pins could have sheared off letting the axle move. i would check your pins and make sure all the ubolts are nice and tight too. on most roads the truck will go to the right due to the crowned roads but should be minimal. the caster and camber angles are a pretty big job on the 4x4's due to haveing to take it apart change shims, reassymble and check again. its a pain in the butt......
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 0
From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!
i bet the axle has shifted in the springs. i would check for that i bet thats the start of the problem
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: waterbury
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 2
From: SHELTON, WA
i just replaced alll my bushings/shocks/tie rods. and i seriously needed an alignment. every ford i took it took said. 79.00 bucks to check to see if it out of alignment.(i am here because my truck needs an alignment. why do you have to tell me that for 79.00 bucks???) ok and then if we have to do any adjustments or add shims on the ball joints its gonna be 200.00. and its gonna need that they said. This was at 2 ford dealers i got this.
well i got tired of trying to be ripped off. so i took it to sears(barely fit on rack) and they did it for me. my camber/ caster adjustments were within specs and my toe was out by an inch(i replaced tie rods) now my truck drives great except for the steering box play.
and your problem sounds like the pin got sheared off and slid forward on the perch???????
well i got tired of trying to be ripped off. so i took it to sears(barely fit on rack) and they did it for me. my camber/ caster adjustments were within specs and my toe was out by an inch(i replaced tie rods) now my truck drives great except for the steering box play.
and your problem sounds like the pin got sheared off and slid forward on the perch???????
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 10
From: Templeton, Massachussetts
Originally Posted by 1997F-350
i just replaced alll my bushings/shocks/tie rods. and i seriously needed an alignment. every ford i took it took said. 79.00 bucks to check to see if it out of alignment.(i am here because my truck needs an alignment. why do you have to tell me that for 79.00 bucks???) ok and then if we have to do any adjustments or add shims on the ball joints its gonna be 200.00. and its gonna need that they said. This was at 2 ford dealers i got this.
well i got tired of trying to be ripped off. so i took it to sears(barely fit on rack) and they did it for me. my camber/ caster adjustments were within specs and my toe was out by an inch(i replaced tie rods) now my truck drives great except for the steering box play.
and your problem sounds like the pin got sheared off and slid forward on the perch???????
well i got tired of trying to be ripped off. so i took it to sears(barely fit on rack) and they did it for me. my camber/ caster adjustments were within specs and my toe was out by an inch(i replaced tie rods) now my truck drives great except for the steering box play.
and your problem sounds like the pin got sheared off and slid forward on the perch???????
we do in fact charge $79 for a 4 wheel laser alignment.
but most and i say most tire stores do not actually do a full alignment. they just put on the projectors and then set the toe.
and just because the alignment is w/in specs does not mean it will not pull or wear tires.
if you have a mono-beam, which mosy likely anF350 does. then ussually they never need shims. but the twin I bean like i have on my F250 always needs shims.
they are ussually like 30-$50 each and take at least and hour per side to install them. never mind if there is rust holding the shims inside the axle.
it is an hour per side extra to install these caster/camber shims because you have to take the front end partially apart each time you adjust and let the vehicle back down to take another reading.
if you did need both sides done and it was a bad situation it is safe to say that is may takle 2-3hrs to do a proper alignment.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 10
From: Templeton, Massachussetts
Originally Posted by blue96psd
well guys jsut to get my truck aligned has taken 3 days and 180 bucks and well iain't happy at i don't know the exact caster/ camber numbers and stuff today but i am gonna get them tomarrow and tell you
also another problem i have stubled upon is that the right front axle is cocked forward 1/2 inch more than the left. i measured center to center front to back the the right side is farther forward. what coulda happened? o yea and the truck pulls to the right how could this be ???
any help would be appreciated chris
also another problem i have stubled upon is that the right front axle is cocked forward 1/2 inch more than the left. i measured center to center front to back the the right side is farther forward. what coulda happened? o yea and the truck pulls to the right how could this be ???
any help would be appreciated chris
the alignment will show that the rear is tracking. and if it is really off 1/2 inch then the alignment will not come out properly and they should tell you this.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
I spent 850 to get my 86 set to the preffered settings instead of just within spec.
It was worth every penny I spent at the local Ford dealer.
Tire wear was greatly improved, enough to pay for the alignment in three years.
And the way it drove after the alignment, priceless.
A 4 wheel alignment is going to be the only way to know if the front or back axle is to blame for the different measurements. Once you know which wheel is out it should be easier to track down the problem.
Right now it could be left rear forward, right rear back, left front back or right front forward. To many places to look for small differences.
A big pot hole or hitting a curb could have shifted either axle and sheared the locator pin off in the leaf springs. Spring bushings in the fixed spring hanger could be bad on either end. The bushings in the IFS front axle housing could be bad.
It was worth every penny I spent at the local Ford dealer.
Tire wear was greatly improved, enough to pay for the alignment in three years.
And the way it drove after the alignment, priceless.
A 4 wheel alignment is going to be the only way to know if the front or back axle is to blame for the different measurements. Once you know which wheel is out it should be easier to track down the problem.
Right now it could be left rear forward, right rear back, left front back or right front forward. To many places to look for small differences.
A big pot hole or hitting a curb could have shifted either axle and sheared the locator pin off in the leaf springs. Spring bushings in the fixed spring hanger could be bad on either end. The bushings in the IFS front axle housing could be bad.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: waterbury
what sucks is i am strapped for cash i don't have 850 to drop on an alignment cause this week with work i get laid off for the winter and i go to school full time.
so what i should look at is the spring it self to see if the locator pin has shifted or been broken off. i believe new bushings were put in but again i will put it on a lift and try to figure it out
hey thanks guys for all of your help greatly appreciated
so what i should look at is the spring it self to see if the locator pin has shifted or been broken off. i believe new bushings were put in but again i will put it on a lift and try to figure it out
hey thanks guys for all of your help greatly appreciated