Alignment questions...
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
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I put ball joints on my own truck and a new tie rod end and took it to the ford dealer and had it allined for $32. It really seemed to help make the truck roll better and not pull to the right. They must have been running sale or something because everywhere else is more than $75.
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: VA
You could put the parts in but you have no real way (I know of) to measure the change. When you change caster it will shift the toe and camber so they will both have to be reset. He was right it is a REAl Pain but years ago this was a normal thing to set caster. Guess most shops only want to set the toe in and charge full price. But toe is only 1 of 3 major adjustments. My suggestion find a shop that knows about changing the shim and adjusting castor. In many cases they treat you as a mushroom 
and on alignments to avoid having to pull the shim.
and on alignments to avoid having to pull the shim.I put ball joints on my own truck and a new tie rod end and took it to the ford dealer and had it allined for $32. It really seemed to help make the truck roll better and not pull to the right. They must have been running sale or something because everywhere else is more than $75.
But back to my research...I read that the vehicle will fade/drift to the side that has negative caster. I also read that caster was independent of toe and camber but I only have been looking for the last hour or so. I see a few tools online to measure the caster as well. Not too expensive either...
I dunno...only one place I know around here that messes with the caster and I dont like them...they took 6 hours the last time I took it there. He replaced tie rods as well so it wasnt all just on the stupid shims!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
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Ive been doing some research and the cost of an adjustable shim for one side is 43 bucks off the bat. Seems like you got lucky with that 32 dollar alignment. My last alignment I had to get 2 shims and they were 30 a pop. So total was like 120 or so.
But back to my research...I read that the vehicle will fade/drift to the side that has negative caster. I also read that caster was independent of toe and camber but I only have been looking for the last hour or so. I see a few tools online to measure the caster as well. Not too expensive either...
I dunno...only one place I know around here that messes with the caster and I dont like them...they took 6 hours the last time I took it there. He replaced tie rods as well so it wasnt all just on the stupid shims!
But back to my research...I read that the vehicle will fade/drift to the side that has negative caster. I also read that caster was independent of toe and camber but I only have been looking for the last hour or so. I see a few tools online to measure the caster as well. Not too expensive either...
I dunno...only one place I know around here that messes with the caster and I dont like them...they took 6 hours the last time I took it there. He replaced tie rods as well so it wasnt all just on the stupid shims!
The shims are a
to get out. I would let a shop do it. Drive to another town if necessary. You are right on your findings. (-) neg caster will cause a drift to that side. Normally you would set the right caster about 1 degree more than left to compensate for road slope and water drainage.If you are drifting right on a 4 lane road try moving to the left lane to see if it drives straight. If so this is a good caster indication.
Camber and toe can change when you move the top of the assembly and change the "king pin" inclination. This will cause a minor change in toe and camber. Normally after caster camber/toe are set. That is if they adjust caster at all. I paid one shop and, "it is to the numbers" but the
thing would not drive straight and would naturally turn right. So it was on the numbers,, just the wrong numbers.
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: VA
Yea, Im gonna deal with it for now and call around for prices and such on the base and just add on the 60 or so with the shims in my mind. I drift left crazy in the left lane and its not as noticeable in the right lane so I stay in the right just to not notice it anymore!
I am going to go out and look around that top ball joint just to see exactly how it works. Any idea on how the caster got knocked out and my toe and camber were "within specs" today?!
I am going to go out and look around that top ball joint just to see exactly how it works. Any idea on how the caster got knocked out and my toe and camber were "within specs" today?!
