alignment....???....good idea bad idea?
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alignment....???....good idea bad idea?
Okay, i have a 99 f150 with 230,000 miles on it. I had new tires on it and now they are wearing on the inside........ They are almost worn out because of it... and yes i rotate them every other oil change... Heres what i was told by the tire shop "you can have us rebuild the front end for 1500-2000 USD and everything will be back to normal and it will drive like a new truck." I want to put a baja lift kit on the truck (7.5 lift) ... i do not know what is wrong with the alignment and seems no one can figure it out... The front end rebuild is 1500 and the lift kit i am going to buy is on a display truck and it is only 1100 (my friend owns the shop) so... if i do not lift it, what can i do about the alignment? Does the truck need a cam kit? any help greatly appreciated thanks -marshall
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From: Lexington Mo
Cam kits
Yes there is a kit that is needed to adjust caster and camber on these trucks. I have one too. If the fron suspension is solid, the kit should be all you'd need to be able to set samber and caster.
The shop I work at we'd sell the kit installed for about $50, plus around $60 for the alignment.
If you are going to raise the truck, yes that may change a good alignment. Raising can change you camber and toe setting.
Bob
The shop I work at we'd sell the kit installed for about $50, plus around $60 for the alignment.
If you are going to raise the truck, yes that may change a good alignment. Raising can change you camber and toe setting.
Bob
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the first thing you need to do is check the lower and upper ball joints. how long have they been in service? i cam kit might hlep adjustments, but is not needed. your biggest problemis figurnign out waht is wrong , then deside whan ti fix. check ball joints, toe in- out, and tie rods. thoes are what cause wear on tires. camber- castor is a minor effect. besides, how would that get off??
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Steve is right...Find out what the real problem is first. $1500.00 is way too much for a cam kit and an alignment. You would be as well to put the lift kit on the truck and shop around for a better price on the cam kit and alignment and get that done after the lift. Just my opinion... Joe
Last edited by 3-RANGERS; Feb 4, 2007 at 08:07 PM.
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From: Lexington Mo
The $1500 I think was to repair front suspension parts and alignment. There shouldn't be an alignment on the planet for $1500. I do these for a living. We only charge $145 for a 3 axle alignment on a road tractor.
What should be done first. Replace any warn or busted/missing part of the suspension. Then yes if you're going to put a lift kit on the vehicle, do that next. After that, then get the alignment done. Most shops (including myself) "will not" even set the toe-in if there are warn/missing/broken parts.
If you are told you need a caster/camber kit. Do it. Caster will not wear a tire, but can give you a bad pull if it's out enough. Camber and toe will wear a tire.
If you're not sure about the shop that gave you a $1500 estimate, check it out you'reself, or get a couple more opinions. Don't even tell the shop what the first has told you. Wait for them to tell you what they see. Then tell them what you have been told was wrong.
See if they will show you the part, and show you the movement, so you can see it's bad.
Bob
What should be done first. Replace any warn or busted/missing part of the suspension. Then yes if you're going to put a lift kit on the vehicle, do that next. After that, then get the alignment done. Most shops (including myself) "will not" even set the toe-in if there are warn/missing/broken parts.
If you are told you need a caster/camber kit. Do it. Caster will not wear a tire, but can give you a bad pull if it's out enough. Camber and toe will wear a tire.
If you're not sure about the shop that gave you a $1500 estimate, check it out you'reself, or get a couple more opinions. Don't even tell the shop what the first has told you. Wait for them to tell you what they see. Then tell them what you have been told was wrong.
See if they will show you the part, and show you the movement, so you can see it's bad.
Bob
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FWIW, I paid 350.00 at Sears for a cam kit install, and two shocks, and alignment. I realize my truck isn't like yours, but the cam kit and install shouldn't cost over 200.00
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I replaced the ball joints not that long ago... probably about 210k... That is why i had the alignment done. I think i'm going to just buy the lift because that includes a new alignment kit.
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Maybe the frame on your truck is bent. If the frame is off then the computer cannot get everything lined up. It's like trying to build a square level wall on whooped up foundation, not gonna happen. Are you the original owner of the truck, maybe its been wrecked in a past life?
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your problem is
the people who did your alignment dident tighten down the the uper control arm bolts
i bet thare tight but lose to the point were you hit a bump and it pushes in..
I bet thats your problem
happen to my truck 2 times
untell i did it myself at home.. Jack the truck up and look at the tire...
change it a little drop the truck then see how it looks.. you can ball park it pretty
close....
well thats what i think your problem is
and if you do it your self make sure the tires are point front..
if the tire is a little left or right it will change the angle of the tire
the people who did your alignment dident tighten down the the uper control arm bolts
i bet thare tight but lose to the point were you hit a bump and it pushes in..
I bet thats your problem
happen to my truck 2 times
untell i did it myself at home.. Jack the truck up and look at the tire...
change it a little drop the truck then see how it looks.. you can ball park it pretty
close....
well thats what i think your problem is
and if you do it your self make sure the tires are point front..
if the tire is a little left or right it will change the angle of the tire
Last edited by shanesF150; Feb 8, 2007 at 09:25 PM.
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i am not the original owner of the truck. It was never wrecked, it was owned by a close friend of mine. The frame is not bent, the alignment bolts are torqued to 135 lbs. My problem lies somewhere else