Alignment questions...
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: VA
Alignment questions...
OK...I need to get an alignment done soon and the local place that usually did mine for less than 50 bucks no longer will do it. I called Merchants Tire and they said 109 for the alignment and 1yr services like an alignment whenever you need it for that year, free tire rotation every 6000 miles, blah blah blah....149 for 3 years and 189 for 5 years. Im seriously thinking about this only because I drive in the city a lot and cant avoid some potholes and it will greatly reduce my costs on alignments. I need one every 4 months sometimes and I think this will definitely be worth it.
Has anyone used them before and had bad experiences with them? I dont even know how far over the nation are so this might be a shot in the dark! Here is the link to show all the included services...
Wheel Alignment packages ? Free Tire Rotation | Free Tire Inspection | Free Maintena
How hard is it to do your own alignments on these trucks and what equipment would I need to do this?! Im trying to get more and more independent with my truck and this is one thing that I havent had the courage or the cohones to do yet...
Has anyone used them before and had bad experiences with them? I dont even know how far over the nation are so this might be a shot in the dark! Here is the link to show all the included services...
Wheel Alignment packages ? Free Tire Rotation | Free Tire Inspection | Free Maintena
How hard is it to do your own alignments on these trucks and what equipment would I need to do this?! Im trying to get more and more independent with my truck and this is one thing that I havent had the courage or the cohones to do yet...
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 71
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From: Kentucky
Never heard of them and I have been all over the country, more than likely a regional company but I used to deal with a similar company out on the west coast called Les Schwab and those guys did a simalr program and it was well worth the money but I do have to ask, what are you doing that requires an alignment every 4 months?
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 786
Likes: 0
From: Reno nv
Ok stuff you can check and perhaps DIY:<caveat: I'm old and dyslexic, so the words are right, just may be in the wrong place>
camber (lean top to bottom) use a good quality 16" square and an accurate level bubble to see if the RIM is out of plumb. (most are set for 0 degrees)
If camber is off, it can be reset using offset bushings from either ford or a moog supplier. Have to remove upper ball joint to change bushing
caster can be changed with the same bushing, but unless it wanders caster is generally considered unadjustable in our trucks, usually caused by lifting/dropping or frame damage like parking curb hopping.
Toe is easy measure the front of the wheel side to side and the back of the wheel side to side , the difference is toe. Usually about 1/16 difference, could be as high as 1/8 narrower in the front. the tie rods have adjustment clamps that spin in and out.
Most shops measure camber and caster and only adjust the toe-in because of the construction of our front axles.
Go online for better directions, MOOG has a great set of instructions, somewhere
camber (lean top to bottom) use a good quality 16" square and an accurate level bubble to see if the RIM is out of plumb. (most are set for 0 degrees)
If camber is off, it can be reset using offset bushings from either ford or a moog supplier. Have to remove upper ball joint to change bushing
caster can be changed with the same bushing, but unless it wanders caster is generally considered unadjustable in our trucks, usually caused by lifting/dropping or frame damage like parking curb hopping.
Toe is easy measure the front of the wheel side to side and the back of the wheel side to side , the difference is toe. Usually about 1/16 difference, could be as high as 1/8 narrower in the front. the tie rods have adjustment clamps that spin in and out.
Most shops measure camber and caster and only adjust the toe-in because of the construction of our front axles.
Go online for better directions, MOOG has a great set of instructions, somewhere
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: VA
Well its not EVERY 4 months but my last one was around Thanksgiving. I do mortgage inspections and other things in the GREAT city of Richmond, VA. I-64 makes me feel like my whole front axle wants to just drop out sometimes. At 65mph its very difficult to miss most of those 100,000 potholes I seem to hit....
Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 595
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From: South LA
front end alignments should not have to be done but every 1-2 yrs, if that! front ends dont get knocked out of alignment except for hitting things, like car accidents, not potholes. If you getting alignments that often, you have other issues, like wearing front end parts or something.
My guess, with this company, is this is a promotional package geared to get you in the door and sell you other items saying, your alignment is fine, however your bj's need replacing. .02
My guess, with this company, is this is a promotional package geared to get you in the door and sell you other items saying, your alignment is fine, however your bj's need replacing. .02
Former Vendor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 1
OK...I need to get an alignment done soon and the local place that usually did mine for less than 50 bucks no longer will do it. I called Merchants Tire and they said 109 for the alignment and 1yr services like an alignment whenever you need it for that year, free tire rotation every 6000 miles, blah blah blah....149 for 3 years and 189 for 5 years. Im seriously thinking about this only because I drive in the city a lot and cant avoid some potholes and it will greatly reduce my costs on alignments. I need one every 4 months sometimes and I think this will definitely be worth it.
Has anyone used them before and had bad experiences with them? I dont even know how far over the nation are so this might be a shot in the dark! Here is the link to show all the included services...
Wheel Alignment packages ? Free Tire Rotation | Free Tire Inspection | Free Maintena
How hard is it to do your own alignments on these trucks and what equipment would I need to do this?! Im trying to get more and more independent with my truck and this is one thing that I havent had the courage or the cohones to do yet...
Has anyone used them before and had bad experiences with them? I dont even know how far over the nation are so this might be a shot in the dark! Here is the link to show all the included services...
Wheel Alignment packages ? Free Tire Rotation | Free Tire Inspection | Free Maintena
How hard is it to do your own alignments on these trucks and what equipment would I need to do this?! Im trying to get more and more independent with my truck and this is one thing that I havent had the courage or the cohones to do yet...
I got a life time one for my Jeep at local firestone store for $150 maybe look into that. I think if I wanted to I could get it done every month.
Ed
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Postmaster
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From: VA
front end alignments should not have to be done but every 1-2 yrs, if that! front ends dont get knocked out of alignment except for hitting things, like car accidents, not potholes. If you getting alignments that often, you have other issues, like wearing front end parts or something.
My guess, with this company, is this is a promotional package geared to get you in the door and sell you other items saying, your alignment is fine, however your bj's need replacing. .02
My guess, with this company, is this is a promotional package geared to get you in the door and sell you other items saying, your alignment is fine, however your bj's need replacing. .02
I definitely think I will get my money's worth outta this deal...wish they offered a lifetime here though. 150 for 3 years...
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Former Vendor
Joined: May 2007
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I definitely agree with you but 90% of my 28K miles last year were work related and if you were to visit Richmond, VA you would understand most of these simple "potholes" would swallow VW Beetles. If I didnt know any better I would think the state is trying to drum up business for local mechanics by leaving the roads in this condition. VDOT shortfalls for the last 3 years...hurts me and other drivers bad. I refuse to drive the Mustang to do work for the simple fact it would bottom out and might take the oil pan with it. Im hoping that my buddy's shop is to blame but who knows. Theres no way, promotional or not, they are gonna tell me anything is wrong up front! I do everything up there myself except alignments, and am under there at least every 2 weeks greasing up and checking parts out!
I definitely think I will get my money's worth outta this deal...wish they offered a lifetime here though. 150 for 3 years...
I definitely think I will get my money's worth outta this deal...wish they offered a lifetime here though. 150 for 3 years...
Mine is good anywhere in the USA.
Sounds like roadtrip for you.
Ed
Former Vendor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,811
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My tires were to big to mount here at work so I took it to my local Firestone store near my house so they could mount them, I told him I needed to go to a offroad place next and get an alignment, he said they do them there for all the offroad places, USUALLY no one wants to do a alignment on lifted trucks, he says they do them all the time. then he asked if I was going to keep the Jeep for awhile, I said until I destroy it. He said spend a few more bucks and get a lifetime alignment then. he said he got one and gets his done every other month, So I bought it.
Ed
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: VA
Man, Im blind! I saw you mention Firestone in an earlier post! I might just get the year one done this time and check out the local firestone and see about that lifetime stuff...thanks!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
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front end alignments should not have to be done but every 1-2 yrs, if that! front ends dont get knocked out of alignment except for hitting things, like car accidents, not potholes. If you getting alignments that often, you have other issues, like wearing front end parts or something.
My guess, with this company, is this is a promotional package geared to get you in the door and sell you other items saying, your alignment is fine, however your bj's need replacing. .02
My guess, with this company, is this is a promotional package geared to get you in the door and sell you other items saying, your alignment is fine, however your bj's need replacing. .02
My Ex 7.3 needs alignment because the Caster is off and it has a drift to the right. I had it aligned once and a new shim put in but apparently not quite enough. ( The shim is installed by removing the castle nut and taper end of the top ball joint. Then an air chisel was used to remove the old shim. Napa had replacements.) Had I bought the Firestone I could have had a new shim installed and alignment done again. But....
I didn't.But once it is aligned you probably won't need one for quite a while. I agree most shops will check caster but only set toe in. I set the toe-in on my corvette for years with a tape measure.
I was watch out for the get you in shops. I have also traveled that road of lining the pocket of several less than straight shops. I use Firestone and speak directly to the guy doing the work. Last time he told me there was still a drift but didn't have time to take it back.
BTW. Geaux Tigers from SE La.
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Postmaster
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From: VA
Took it in today and they checked it and said it was perfectly aligned as far as what they could do. I think my caster is out because it drifts to the right. I rotated my tires and its still doing it. The shop charged me nothing because they basically did nothing but he said its a pain to set the caster in these trucks (he has a 7.3 dually). I dont know if this is true or not but I remember last time I got it aligned he used 2 shims to set something...
Is adjusting the caster myself something smart with proper tools?
Is adjusting the caster myself something smart with proper tools?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 1
Took it in today and they checked it and said it was perfectly aligned as far as what they could do. I think my caster is out because it drifts to the right. I rotated my tires and its still doing it. The shop charged me nothing because they basically did nothing but he said its a pain to set the caster in these trucks (he has a 7.3 dually). I dont know if this is true or not but I remember last time I got it aligned he used 2 shims to set something...
Is adjusting the caster myself something smart with proper tools?
Is adjusting the caster myself something smart with proper tools?
and on alignments to avoid having to pull the shim.