rangers bad at alignment
#1
#2
I think it can be true.
Our trucks toast ball joints surprisingly quickly. If you don't keep up with it, you will end up with some bad wear patterns and I've had them. Not fun.
I think the main thing that goes out, unless you crank the t-bars, is toe-in. It seems mine doesn't stay set and I'm adjusting it every 10k or so -- if I don't get lazy. But when I check it, it's drifted. Not sure what the "mechanism" is by which it happens, or if my truck is representative of the breed -- but it does "walk" over time.
Our trucks toast ball joints surprisingly quickly. If you don't keep up with it, you will end up with some bad wear patterns and I've had them. Not fun.
I think the main thing that goes out, unless you crank the t-bars, is toe-in. It seems mine doesn't stay set and I'm adjusting it every 10k or so -- if I don't get lazy. But when I check it, it's drifted. Not sure what the "mechanism" is by which it happens, or if my truck is representative of the breed -- but it does "walk" over time.
#4
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S tires are notorious for cupping issues. I'd say there is a good chance it is the tires and not your truck if you have them.
NVM, just saw that you have BFGs. I guess it could be your truck. I have never had any unusual wear issues with my truck...maybe it is because I have the coil spring front suspension.
NVM, just saw that you have BFGs. I guess it could be your truck. I have never had any unusual wear issues with my truck...maybe it is because I have the coil spring front suspension.
#5
I cupped a different set, but I had a more extreme crank.
The problem with torsion crank is that on an SLA (short-long-arm) independent suspension, the camber goes negative for either extension or compression. On small amounts of crank it won't amount to much.
I had quite a bit of negative camber because of the "extremity" of my crank, but the Doetsch spindles appear to have corrected that. My guess is that they assume most of their customers are going to crank the bars, so they made them appropriately.
It's true many Rangers have no wear problems, but I've hear that complaint from a bunch of people before. It probably isn't like an "epidemic" -- but maybe statistically speaking, they are more prone to wear if not kept up on.
Now, keep in mind I beat the living crap out of my truck on and off road. So my problems are going to be more severe than someone who's driving and choice of surfaces is less taxing on the vehicle, lol.
The problem with torsion crank is that on an SLA (short-long-arm) independent suspension, the camber goes negative for either extension or compression. On small amounts of crank it won't amount to much.
I had quite a bit of negative camber because of the "extremity" of my crank, but the Doetsch spindles appear to have corrected that. My guess is that they assume most of their customers are going to crank the bars, so they made them appropriately.
It's true many Rangers have no wear problems, but I've hear that complaint from a bunch of people before. It probably isn't like an "epidemic" -- but maybe statistically speaking, they are more prone to wear if not kept up on.
Now, keep in mind I beat the living crap out of my truck on and off road. So my problems are going to be more severe than someone who's driving and choice of surfaces is less taxing on the vehicle, lol.
#7
It's probably true....
I have had my truck aligned 3 times in the past 5 months, and no one can get to track straight. Only one guy had it perfect and it stayed good for a year, until I had to replace a ball joint, and it wrecked the alignment. The kid doesn't work for town fair tire anymore.
No matter who does it, they can't get it to track straight for more than a week. I've also had the front end check for worn or bent parts, and it's all good.
Vic
I have had my truck aligned 3 times in the past 5 months, and no one can get to track straight. Only one guy had it perfect and it stayed good for a year, until I had to replace a ball joint, and it wrecked the alignment. The kid doesn't work for town fair tire anymore.
No matter who does it, they can't get it to track straight for more than a week. I've also had the front end check for worn or bent parts, and it's all good.
Vic
#8
#9
Originally Posted by vp6799
It's probably true....
I have had my truck aligned 3 times in the past 5 months, and no one can get to track straight. Only one guy had it perfect and it stayed good for a year, until I had to replace a ball joint, and it wrecked the alignment. The kid doesn't work for town fair tire anymore.
No matter who does it, they can't get it to track straight for more than a week. I've also had the front end check for worn or bent parts, and it's all good.
Vic
I have had my truck aligned 3 times in the past 5 months, and no one can get to track straight. Only one guy had it perfect and it stayed good for a year, until I had to replace a ball joint, and it wrecked the alignment. The kid doesn't work for town fair tire anymore.
No matter who does it, they can't get it to track straight for more than a week. I've also had the front end check for worn or bent parts, and it's all good.
Vic
#11
ah.. the one time i paid to get an alignment they fixed it all up then about a week later i was bustin drifts a drove strait into a curb about a foot tall. then the alignment was off. so i just dont waste my time on it anymore. lol
just keep your hand on the wheel and you will be fine. lol
just keep your hand on the wheel and you will be fine. lol
#12
The mechanic that did my alignment last week replaced the factory set up with Ford aftermarket eccentric bolts in the control arms. The problem there is the bolts will push/pull the tire around, but if the hole they are in bottoms out the bolt, then you need to egg out the hole and re-align. It's a *****, but I'm sure it can be done. Then all you have to do is keep the whole set up tight so it doesn't fall out over time.
#13
I have set my alignment once and haven't had a problem since. That was after I cranked the t-bars last summer. I have had it on the rack at work 3 or 4 times after that and the numbers haven't changed. The truck still goes straight down the road (unless the road has a big crown on it, but that isn't the trucks fault).
Maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones.
Maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones.
#14
Originally Posted by pacodiablo
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S tires are notorious for cupping issues. I'd say there is a good chance it is the tires and not your truck if you have them.
NVM, just saw that you have BFGs. I guess it could be your truck. I have never had any unusual wear issues with my truck...maybe it is because I have the coil spring front suspension.
NVM, just saw that you have BFGs. I guess it could be your truck. I have never had any unusual wear issues with my truck...maybe it is because I have the coil spring front suspension.
#16
#17
I got 60,000 miles on the factory set of goodyear rts . But the truck hasn't been through hell , yet ! I couldn't find an alignment shop that I would trust . Last three times I went to one I ended up redoing it with a tape measure . As far as I know no one in my vicinity offers a lifetime alignment warrantee , like I read others talking about .Good luck !
#19
Originally Posted by mersingt
my alignment is good but why are my tires still cupping.....
#20
If you have the "good4ayr" Rt/s thats the problem mine lasted 15k before
they were cupped so bad I couldnt stand it any more.
they were rotated twice. only 2 cupped really bad the other 2 werent so bad
and they ended up being on different ends of the truck... go figure.
Your tires arent cupped until they look like that lol... no i didnt take a belt
sander or die grinder to em.
they were cupped so bad I couldnt stand it any more.
they were rotated twice. only 2 cupped really bad the other 2 werent so bad
and they ended up being on different ends of the truck... go figure.
Your tires arent cupped until they look like that lol... no i didnt take a belt
sander or die grinder to em.
#22
#23
#24
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