Wheel Alignment Question??
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Wheel Alignment Question??
Does the Escape have a chassis that allows for caster and camber plus toe in/ toe out adjustments? My Ford Ranger truck did NOT...Wondering if the Escape is built on a truck type chassis like the Ranger or not, and if wheel alignments, 2 or 4 wheel, are necessary...thank you..
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The Escape is NOT built on a truck chassis. I've only had the front adjusted.
That being said...there is a paint dot on the front strut at the 4 o'clock position. You can move it up to 8 o'clock to impact the negative camber. Anything beyond those markings changes the caster. You can also buy aftermarket kits that will adjust the front/rear camber...usually used when lowering the Escape. I don't know if the rear caster can be changed.
That being said...there is a paint dot on the front strut at the 4 o'clock position. You can move it up to 8 o'clock to impact the negative camber. Anything beyond those markings changes the caster. You can also buy aftermarket kits that will adjust the front/rear camber...usually used when lowering the Escape. I don't know if the rear caster can be changed.
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Okay bananaboat thanks, so maybe next time I get new tires I should have them check or do a front wheel alignment. Was not sure if the Escape was on a truck chassis or not.
Someone had told me when I had the Ranger pick-up truck, that if the front wheels ever need an adjustment they have to bend the frame or axle, not sure, but something like that.
Someone had told me when I had the Ranger pick-up truck, that if the front wheels ever need an adjustment they have to bend the frame or axle, not sure, but something like that.
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Originally Posted by tonyford
Someone had told me when I had the Ranger pick-up truck, that if the front wheels ever need an adjustment they have to bend the frame or axle, not sure, but something like that.
I drive straight highway and never off-road. In all honesty, I can't say the last time I had a front-end alignment done prior to replacing suspension parts at 150k+ miles. This is the total opposite of what my vehicles required 20 years ago. If it drives straight and the tires wear good with rotation, I don't bother with an alignment.
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I also never had to have a wheel alignment done on the Ranger. Tires wore even and steering never pulled either way. It is just my tire guy told there is no adjustment on the Ranger for camber/caster toe in/toe out. If the vehicle was in a crash and the front end took a good hit, the frame would have to be straighten out to get the alignment back, this he said is usually done by computer for exactness. I would think it would just be easier to replace the front wheel axles/assemblies than to try and straighten them.
I also notice that the new vehicles don't need alignments like the older cars used to. In fact, you hardly see anymore advertisements for wheel alignments. Some of the nationwide chains like Pep Boys, and Strauss used to advertise 2 and 4 way wheel alignments almost every week in their ad, no more, haven't seen one in years.
I also notice that the new vehicles don't need alignments like the older cars used to. In fact, you hardly see anymore advertisements for wheel alignments. Some of the nationwide chains like Pep Boys, and Strauss used to advertise 2 and 4 way wheel alignments almost every week in their ad, no more, haven't seen one in years.
