PSD alignment, is it worth it?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
PSD alignment, is it worth it?
Ok, I have never had my truck in for alignment since I bought it. It is $200 minimum supposedly at the dealer and any plates needed are extra.
To the question. I have heard and read way to often that there is not much aside from serious lift kits or excessive spring sag that can cause the alignment to get out of whack on the Super Duty. I have just replaced all my tires and front shocks. I can do any steering work needed but cannot align or even check it.
Any ideas, experience with this? I don't feel like going to the dealer for them to charge me $200 and say I'm all set. It steers and drive great like always.
To the question. I have heard and read way to often that there is not much aside from serious lift kits or excessive spring sag that can cause the alignment to get out of whack on the Super Duty. I have just replaced all my tires and front shocks. I can do any steering work needed but cannot align or even check it.
Any ideas, experience with this? I don't feel like going to the dealer for them to charge me $200 and say I'm all set. It steers and drive great like always.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
$200 bucks for alignment? Take the vaseline, you are getting raped. The only way I could see it costing that much is if they had to replace every bushing/shim that they use to correct the angles, and multiple times. I just got quoted for alignment on mine because I need to replace ball joints- the expensive option was $100, the typical route was about $50.
What makes you think you need alignment- wandering, uneven tire wear, pulling one way or the other? If it drives fine, leave it alone! I let the tire store convince me my old 95 needed aligned even though it drove fine- they had to do it 3 times (of course the repeats were no cost to me) and it was never as good as before I let them mess with it. Yes it wore the front tires funny, but it was a TTB for crying out loud it's not uncommon for them to do that, especially with HD springs.
Short answer- unless there's a glaring problem leave it alone.
What makes you think you need alignment- wandering, uneven tire wear, pulling one way or the other? If it drives fine, leave it alone! I let the tire store convince me my old 95 needed aligned even though it drove fine- they had to do it 3 times (of course the repeats were no cost to me) and it was never as good as before I let them mess with it. Yes it wore the front tires funny, but it was a TTB for crying out loud it's not uncommon for them to do that, especially with HD springs.
Short answer- unless there's a glaring problem leave it alone.
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
OK folks, let me say this, there are 2 places in town that can align or even check my truck. One is the dealer and the other is a specialty shop, The specialty shop is cheaper but the question is, do most of our trucks even need this since I have read that there is no real way they can get out of alignment?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: 21791
I say so. Mine needs an alignment before i come to TN, $340 tires are cupping pretty bad i rotated them to the back and had to light them up to smooth them out! 
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,613
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff, Arizona
my theory is.....ANYTHING with moving parts can get out of whack, and be adjusted. I'm no expert on Ford front-ends by any means.......but I do think there are slight adjustments on solid axle suspensions. I once owned a 97 F250 w/twin I-beam. Talk about a nightmare to keep aligned!!!!! If Super Duties couldn't be aligned, we could sue anybody who charges us to do so 
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
Originally Posted by clux
Yep, local shop (Les Schwab) did mine for $59.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
From: NW Burbs of Illinois
there is nothing to align on the back but the front you can align the caster and i believe toe.
I had mine done a few months ago and it helped the truck steer straighter. they didnt replace anything, just realigned.
Mine was $100 and for the life of the vehicle i can go back anytime to get it realigned. i can have it done monthly if i wanted too for no charge. so its nice that ill never have to pay for an alignment ever again. This is at a firestone shop.
I had mine done a few months ago and it helped the truck steer straighter. they didnt replace anything, just realigned.
Mine was $100 and for the life of the vehicle i can go back anytime to get it realigned. i can have it done monthly if i wanted too for no charge. so its nice that ill never have to pay for an alignment ever again. This is at a firestone shop.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,250
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Originally Posted by strokin_it7.3
I say so. Mine needs an alignment before i come to TN, $340 tires are cupping pretty bad i rotated them to the back and had to light them up to smooth them out!
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 30
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Camber and toe is adjustable with most any soiid front axle truck (Dodge & Ford). The camber is adjusted by loosening the upper ball joint nut and rotating the bushing in a circle. It is essentially an eccentric or cam. These do provide for a limited amount of adjustment, if more is needed your alignment shop will need to swap this out for a different degree one. The whole process is not a big deal. The going price in this area is about $60, and $30 more per side if you need a new or different bushing. I need an alignment done to my truck and plan to wait untill later in spring when the roads are not full of frost heaves and pot holes, I'll put new tires on at that point as well.
best of luck!
best of luck!
