Alignment Question
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: New Castle, PA
Is there an easy way i can set my steering wheel center myself or should do i need to take it to the shop?
Maybe ill pull the caliper and pads and just double check that my right side isnt dragging. Ive checked them before. And the shop said they werent dragging. But they could have not even checked them and just said that.
Maybe ill pull the caliper and pads and just double check that my right side isnt dragging. Ive checked them before. And the shop said they werent dragging. But they could have not even checked them and just said that.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
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I don't know if it's an easy way, but for every rotation of the left steering link would need to be offset by the same amount of rotation on the right link. If you go in the wrong direction, you've screwed up your alignment. The shop that aligned it should have done that. I just had mine aligned and they said the toe was a good bit out of spec from the lift. My wheel is centered. You shop just did a bad job with the alignment. Now if the wheel/tire is pulling it to one side and you have to compensate with the wheel that makes it off center, that's a different animal.
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Posting Guru
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From: New Castle, PA
I dont think the shop that did the alignment touched anything cause they put it on the rack and saw it was in spec and didnt do a thing to it. Thats probably why they never messed with the steering wheel.
I pulled the brakes to check for drag. Neither front wheel was hotter than the other so i pulled calipers on both sides and clean and lubed the pins and put everything back together and still have the wheel to the left. The top pins were really hard to get out and a bugger to get back in with that rubber sleeve on it. The bottom pin doesnt have a sleeve its just the straight pin. Anyone know what im talking about with the rubber sleeve. If there is anything that would cause the caliper to hang up i would think it is that pin with the rubber sleeve. The bottom pin was running real free. The top one.....no way. I really had to work on it to get it out and when i got it back in it was better but still hard to work in and out. Any more thoughts?
I pulled the brakes to check for drag. Neither front wheel was hotter than the other so i pulled calipers on both sides and clean and lubed the pins and put everything back together and still have the wheel to the left. The top pins were really hard to get out and a bugger to get back in with that rubber sleeve on it. The bottom pin doesnt have a sleeve its just the straight pin. Anyone know what im talking about with the rubber sleeve. If there is anything that would cause the caliper to hang up i would think it is that pin with the rubber sleeve. The bottom pin was running real free. The top one.....no way. I really had to work on it to get it out and when i got it back in it was better but still hard to work in and out. Any more thoughts?
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Electrical Problems
In my 2004 F-150 I am having a few electrical issues. It started with the steering wheel butttons for the radio. The volume control only turned up the radio and not down. Then the interior lights when I open the door stopped working. The radio controls sometimes work on the steering wheel but the interior lights will not come on until I start the truck. Also the radio remains on even when I open the door.
I have been told that there is a plug that is corroded but have looked under the truck and in the engine compartment. Havent found anything yet. I have checked all the fuses and they all check fine.
Anyone have any ideas or had similar issues?????
I have been told that there is a plug that is corroded but have looked under the truck and in the engine compartment. Havent found anything yet. I have checked all the fuses and they all check fine.
Anyone have any ideas or had similar issues?????
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Posting Guru
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From: New Castle, PA
Anyone have any idea on the brake caliper pin thing. And if it helps it seems like slower speeds make it worse. If i get on the highway and lock it at 70 its so so bad. The tires i have on are 265/70/17 Courser AT. I have a set of General Ameritracs in the stock size. They just arent mounted to my other set of rims yet. Any chance it could be the bigger AT tires?
Freshman User
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Hi,I was having same problem since last september.my truck was pulling to the left,so Had alignment at DOBBS tire shop.but truck was still pulling to the left.I went back and complain that i have same problem!so they did second alignment within 1 hours of dropping it off they call and said it was done and was completely in line,its in all specs.maybe my front tire was bed and they switch the left front tire with rear.I had to drive the truck about month but it was bugging me so much any way i did drooped my truck today at different dobbs location and explained to them my problem was pulling left and i did rotate the tires also show them two alignment documents from other dobbs location.any way after there alignment now truck rides very smooth.also i have265/70/17 Courser AT tires on my truck with 25k on them.tomorrow i am going to check the left caliper pins to be makesure they are not sticks or drags.i will let you know how the upper and lower pins feels.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
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If it were my truck, I would want a little more caster lead. It seems with the camber settings where they are and the caster set where it is, it will tend to pull to the right. I would probably want close to 1/2 degree more positive caster on the left than the right to get the pull out. If everyone looks at the range of alignment specs on our Fords, There is a wide tolerance for all settings. It might very well be in spec, but that does not mean that the truck will like it. You need to find an alignment shop and mechanic who knows what the optimum specs are and shoots for them every alignment. A shop or mechanic that says it's in spec and sends it out the door is sloppy in my opinion. I don't want a half-donkey alignment done on any vehicle I drive. Also, when you put your summer tires on, it wiill not change the alignment.
Greg B
Greg B
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Posting Guru
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From: New Castle, PA
I know what you mean, even though its in spec, it can still be off a bit, if i post all my alignment info would someone be able to give me some suggestions about what to ask for when i take it back, like give me some numbers comapared to what I got. I have a whole sheet about my alignment. I can actually see my one tire leans a bit, some people might say no, but ive been known to have an eagle eye, and even if its a hair off, i can see it.
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Posting Guru
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From: New Castle, PA
Here are my numbers:Front:CasterLeft 4.58*Right 4.63*CamberLeft -0.48*Right -0.53*ToeLeft .02"Right .00"Total .02"Rear:CamberLeft -.23*Right .00*ToeLeft -0.01"Right -0.04"Thrust angle: .02*There are some seconday angle number, dont know if you would need them as well, thanks!
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
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From: land of 10,000 lakes
well I just got 4 new generals put on and the truck DOES NOT pull to the right any more, from the roads i have been on it is nice and straight.
So it was the tires in my case
So much for having the "best tire they make" on my truck.
Michelins LTX AT/2
So it was the tires in my case
So much for having the "best tire they make" on my truck.
Michelins LTX AT/2
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Posting Guru
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From: New Castle, PA
See, im almost tempted to just wait a month and see if my summer tires, (Generals) make any difference. Mine isnt real bad, and a normal (not **** like me) person probably wouldnt notice it.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
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From: land of 10,000 lakes
I notice every little change in something...
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 69
From: land of 10,000 lakes
Yeah, I would not be surprised if once you put your generals back on you notice a difference for the better. I was talking to one of the guys today and said that the newer Fords seem to be more sensitive to tire changes.
Anyway here is the review I posted on tirerack and discount tire.
Anyway here is the review I posted on tirerack and discount tire.
Bought theses tire to replace my OEM generals(p255-70-17) which had 20k on them with over half tread remaining. Bought the LTX's in p265-70-17. As Soon as I left from having them installed I noticed they pulled to the right....BAD. Brought it back and they rotated them, no change. I'll get to the point as I don't have enough room to type it all here.. They ended up trying 3 different sets and none made it any better, in fact the last set they put on made it worse. They were all balanced good and had no vibration in the wheel and rode smooth but pulled HARD to the right. I could take my hand off the wheel and cross 4 lanes of traffic in 4 seconds flat!! Before with the General I could ride on a certain road for a 1/3 of a mile and not touch the wheel, now I cant make it more then a 1 second. It pulled so hard that I had to hold my wheel at the 11'0 clock position to keep the truck straight. Even when the road was crowed to the left my wheel was to the left to hold the truck straight, that's how bad it pulled! And no it is not my alignment has I had it checked at two different shops and all was in spec. The tire shop (discount tire) agreed that there is an issue. I finally had it and told them to give me my money back and put my original Generals back on, which they did. Just got them on today and guess what? Truck drives straight and does not pull!!!! Steering wheel is back to center. I DO NOT recommend theses tires. I bought them because of the great reviews but was truly disappointed with them. Also when I was there getting my Generals put on they must have sold about 3 or 4 new sets of the LTX's, to whom ever buys them I wish you luck because I certainly did not have any. I think everybody needs to give General more credit then they do!! Anyway I really hopes this helps somebody and saves them a huge time consuming mess.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
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I have also had issues with Michelins such as pulling to the right or left. Your settings are close enough that any pull to the right would be minor, camaro89. Also every Michelin I've had was not good on wet pavement. I'm thinking about going with General Grabber HTS or Continental Cross Contact LX's in the spring. Michelins are too pricey and not good enough on wet roads. I can get a General or Continental LT for the price of a P-metric Michelin.
Greg B
Greg B