alignment help
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 5
From: Ottawa, Ontario
On doing it yourself or what??
Just take it to a shop that has the right equipment....meaning computers and lasers. Any shop that chains it out by hand is ban news.....unless it's a blind old guy that used to be a drag racing king....then it another story.
Just take it to a shop that has the right equipment....meaning computers and lasers. Any shop that chains it out by hand is ban news.....unless it's a blind old guy that used to be a drag racing king....then it another story.
RF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,623
Likes: 6
From: Kennett Square, PA
Toe in is easy. You just measure from the same spot on the front and rear of the wheel or tire -- more accurate with the wheel but not as accessible.
Some have you put pins in the tread and measure between them in the front of the tires, then roll the truck backwards to where the pins are the same distance from the ground as the previous measurement.
You adjust for no difference in the measurements between the front and the back.
If you have large tires and a lift, you may find your alignment "creeps" out quickly. So doing it yourself is the easiest.
Most shops charge your $50 or more just to do toe in and they do nothing else. Not worth it. You can do as good a job for a truck yourself especially if it doesn't last anyway, lol.
Some have you put pins in the tread and measure between them in the front of the tires, then roll the truck backwards to where the pins are the same distance from the ground as the previous measurement.
You adjust for no difference in the measurements between the front and the back.
If you have large tires and a lift, you may find your alignment "creeps" out quickly. So doing it yourself is the easiest.
Most shops charge your $50 or more just to do toe in and they do nothing else. Not worth it. You can do as good a job for a truck yourself especially if it doesn't last anyway, lol.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,878
Likes: 5
From: New Mexico
If you have an angle gauge you can easily set your camber as well. You can get them off ebay for cheap. Use that to measure your camber, I believe factory specs say your camber shouldnt be off more than 1.5 degrees in either direction.
Originally Posted by n3elz
Toe in is easy. You just measure from the same spot on the front and rear of the wheel or tire -- more accurate with the wheel but not as accessible.
Some have you put pins in the tread and measure between them in the front of the tires, then roll the truck backwards to where the pins are the same distance from the ground as the previous measurement.
You adjust for no difference in the measurements between the front and the back.
If you have large tires and a lift, you may find your alignment "creeps" out quickly. So doing it yourself is the easiest.
Most shops charge your $50 or more just to do toe in and they do nothing else. Not worth it. You can do as good a job for a truck yourself especially if it doesn't last anyway, lol.
Some have you put pins in the tread and measure between them in the front of the tires, then roll the truck backwards to where the pins are the same distance from the ground as the previous measurement.
You adjust for no difference in the measurements between the front and the back.
If you have large tires and a lift, you may find your alignment "creeps" out quickly. So doing it yourself is the easiest.
Most shops charge your $50 or more just to do toe in and they do nothing else. Not worth it. You can do as good a job for a truck yourself especially if it doesn't last anyway, lol.
John an almost near perfect explination. What do I adjust? I think I have an idea just don't want to make too much of a mistake. I hate trying to fix something and making it worse.
I need an alignment and am going to give it a shot myself if I mess it up too bad off to the shop it goes.
RF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,623
Likes: 6
From: Kennett Square, PA
Yes, Bryan, Ryan is correct.
Where the tie rods connect to the spindle is the tie rod end, and a shaft from the steering is threaded into that. There is a jam nut to lock it down. You back off the jam nut and turn the shaft that comes out of the rack to adjust it.
Until you get the "feel" of it, use a 1/4 turn of the thing so you don't get out of hand.
You can also use these adjustments to center your steering wheel. Once you have toe in proper, you can lengthen the side that your steering wheel is turned towards slightly, and shorten the other side by the same amount.
By the way, the threads on these adjustments are all standard right-hand thread. If you're left handed, you can't do this adjustment at all...
Where the tie rods connect to the spindle is the tie rod end, and a shaft from the steering is threaded into that. There is a jam nut to lock it down. You back off the jam nut and turn the shaft that comes out of the rack to adjust it.
Until you get the "feel" of it, use a 1/4 turn of the thing so you don't get out of hand.
You can also use these adjustments to center your steering wheel. Once you have toe in proper, you can lengthen the side that your steering wheel is turned towards slightly, and shorten the other side by the same amount.
By the way, the threads on these adjustments are all standard right-hand thread. If you're left handed, you can't do this adjustment at all...
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Kennett Square, PA
Anybody know where I can get cam bolts so I can adjust camber? I went to the dealer and they tried to sell me the wrong stuff. I'm pretty sure the upper control arm doesn't have cam bolts from the factory.
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