Just got my new tires on and I still have the really bad camber that roasted my first set of tires. I have really bad tie rods, they're pretty rusty and the boot is completely torn. Before I get an alignment, should I install new tie rods? I don't want to get an alignment, install new tie rods, and then I have camber again. So will these new tie rods mess with camber at all?

 

tie rods ends adjust toe in, toe out not camber, but yes they should be changed before alignment is done. and with new tires I would do it soon

 

Install the tie rods before you get an alignment. Check out your ball joints while you're working on the tie rods. They may need to be addressed too.

 

Depending on the adjustment of your upper control arms, you may also need adjustable camber kits from Summit Racing in order to get the alignment within spec.

 

Yeah I am going to need to get the camber kit. I think I'll order the new tie rods so I can get the alignment done as soon as possible. I kind of really don't want to do ball joints though. That's so much work lol

 

They're not too terrible to do.

Plus, if they're really shot, odds are you won't be able to get the truck aligned. So Might as well get it out of the way and not have to worry about it.

 

Yeah the uppers or so much easier than the lowers though. I found tie rods. But I can't find just the ball joints alone. Most of these kits come with lower ball joints and the whole upper control arm which I don't need. Just trying to find the ball joints separately

 

It's completely worth the extra cost to buy the UCA/ball joint combo as opposed to just getting the ball joints. You can also install the new camber bolts when you remove the UCAs too, so you're killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

 

The original plan was to take it to my friend that does alignments at his shop. I don't know how to do that. I'd rather just pay him the $80 to have his machine do it. But I'm thinking I should do the tie rods and stuff before. What will I benefit from new UCAs?

 

Get some moog uni ball uppers. They allow for more of an angle safely.

 

They are made by Moog?! I can only find uniballs made by Fabtech

 

The ease of installation. Remove three bolts, pull old control arm, put in new control arm, replace said three bolts. Makes things super easy. Especially if you're doin a camber kit as well; two of the three bolts need to be pulled to put the camber bolts in anyway.


The lowers, on the other hand, aren't as quick and easy. But if you're doing uppers, you might as well do the lowers.