how to do alignment at home?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
how to do alignment at home?
I was wondering what would be some basic things I could do to check/fix my aligment in my trucks.
Anyone know how to do this on a
77 F100 2wd
79 Bronco 4wd
98 F150 4wd
04 F150 4wd
? If anyone has some ideas on one of the trucks, that'd be great.
Anyone know how to do this on a
77 F100 2wd
79 Bronco 4wd
98 F150 4wd
04 F150 4wd
? If anyone has some ideas on one of the trucks, that'd be great.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 0
From: conroe tx
not sure about the 98 & 0,4 but on the 77& 79 if you jack up the front end enough to spin the tires, you can scribe a line with a screwdriver or a piece of chalk.
set it back down, and using a tape measure check the distance line to line in front of and behind the axle, by adjusting the tie-rod ends, you can it get close enough get to an alignment shop with out ruining your tires.
set it back down, and using a tape measure check the distance line to line in front of and behind the axle, by adjusting the tie-rod ends, you can it get close enough get to an alignment shop with out ruining your tires.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
Either Hot Rod or Car Craft had an article on this within the last 2-3 years.
Seemed to be some reasonable ways to CHECK. Adjusting is another story.
It might still be on their websites. Else you could check your library -- for Hot Rod -- CC doesn't seem to get out much.
ford2go
Seemed to be some reasonable ways to CHECK. Adjusting is another story.
It might still be on their websites. Else you could check your library -- for Hot Rod -- CC doesn't seem to get out much.
ford2go
New User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
If you want to check and/or adjust the alignment, all you need is a tape measure to check it, and a wrench and/or screwdriver to make adjustments.
A jack and two stands will help too; just put the vehicle up in the air a couple of inches, and measure the distance that the front wheels are apart at the most center, forward-facing locations of the rotors or drums. 180 degrees away, at the center of the rearward facing part of the drums or rotors, take the measurement again, and see if it the same.
If so, then the alignment is not your problem. If the vehicle is out of alignment, loosen the sleeve on the tie rod ( with either the wrench or screwdriver ) and rotate the shaft(s) until your tie rod assembly is longer or shorter, however you need it so that your wheels are the exact same distance apart at both front and back. ( Don't forget to tighten everything snug when you are done! )
You may need to remove the wheels to make it easier, but it is not necessary. It's a good idea to have the alignment's final adjustments made by a mechanic or tire shop, but if you're careful with the tape measure, you should be within a 1/16 of correct alignment.
Good luck!
A jack and two stands will help too; just put the vehicle up in the air a couple of inches, and measure the distance that the front wheels are apart at the most center, forward-facing locations of the rotors or drums. 180 degrees away, at the center of the rearward facing part of the drums or rotors, take the measurement again, and see if it the same.
If so, then the alignment is not your problem. If the vehicle is out of alignment, loosen the sleeve on the tie rod ( with either the wrench or screwdriver ) and rotate the shaft(s) until your tie rod assembly is longer or shorter, however you need it so that your wheels are the exact same distance apart at both front and back. ( Don't forget to tighten everything snug when you are done! )
You may need to remove the wheels to make it easier, but it is not necessary. It's a good idea to have the alignment's final adjustments made by a mechanic or tire shop, but if you're careful with the tape measure, you should be within a 1/16 of correct alignment.
Good luck!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Align the race car often, first DO NOT LIFT THE VEHICLE as this moves the suspension/arms. Why do you think alignment shops roll a car on to their alignment unit and NOT lift the vehicle?
What you want is a level area and the tools necessary. Besides the normal tools, you might want to see:
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/gro...=ARTLASERTOOLS
Basically you want to check camber, caster and tow and bring the vehicle back to stock specification first. If you are racing it then you'd want to run her hard and use a pyrometer and check the temps on the outer, center, and inner section of the contact patch and adjust camber accordingly (keep stock caster and tow if you are not familiar with the various interactions those cause).
Naturally there are various ways to 'skin a cat', though the below links will give you some ideas as to the specialized tools and what they do. At a minimum you'd want:
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...asp?RecId=5124
and
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro....asp?RecId=883
What you want is a level area and the tools necessary. Besides the normal tools, you might want to see:
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/gro...=ARTLASERTOOLS
Basically you want to check camber, caster and tow and bring the vehicle back to stock specification first. If you are racing it then you'd want to run her hard and use a pyrometer and check the temps on the outer, center, and inner section of the contact patch and adjust camber accordingly (keep stock caster and tow if you are not familiar with the various interactions those cause).
Naturally there are various ways to 'skin a cat', though the below links will give you some ideas as to the specialized tools and what they do. At a minimum you'd want:
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...asp?RecId=5124
and
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro....asp?RecId=883
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