Need input on alignment issue

[Drome]

Yesterday i adjusted the alignment on my 06 I-350 ( Z71 4X4 crew w/ T-bar suspension). I had a very noticeable positive camber which had worn out my tires significantly on the inside edge. About 2 months ago I flipped the tires on the rims to even out the wear and will soon be putting new tires on. Using a digital angle cube I set the camber to 0.0 on the right side only since the left was already at 0.0 and the total toe to 1.5mm inward (got dark and cold so I left it at that). Left side is 1mm in and the right is .5mm.

I'm curious if the caster is adjusted with the same cams as the camber. Both sides of the UCA were adjusted the same amount but maybe i threw it off. It may be the tires still unevenly worn but the steering is kinda squirrelly. When turning left, the wheels straighten nice and smooth but when I turn right, they snap straight very quickly.

When I let go of the wheel on the highway, it sometimes drifts left and sometimes to the right which makes me think the tires are the culprit but the turning issue has me baffled. I will be getting the alignment professionally done right after I put the new tires on but just so I have a better understanding of if I did something wrong, I'd like some input from anyone knowledgable as this was my first attempt at a DIY alignment and I would like to be able to do it on my own.

I'll most likely be getting firestone's lifetime alignment for $179 so I can practice and will never have to pay again to have them redo it. I just have to look at the fine print before I decide on it. Anyway, I double checked the camber angle and the toe and the measurements are accurate with yesterday. The truck was on level ground when the adjustments were made and double checked.


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[CUZICAN]

Pay someone with a computer alignment machine to do it, you will never be able to get it to the same quality. There are just to many factors that will make you doing it in your driveway inaccurate. A DIY alignment should be done after you modify your suspension, just to keep you from tearing up your tires until you get to the alignment shop.

[Breckej]

I just did the lifetime alignment myself. It's a good deal. Trying to sell it to me, the guy asked me how long I'm going to have my truck. I looked at him and said....forever.

[08Canyon]

I'm sure having slide plates for your wheels would be helpful. Scrubbing the tires on the paved surface while trying to make changes s probably not idea.

I don't know how to align, I'm just speculating. But maybe some background on your vehicle would be helpful, such as are you lifted/lowered or any other tweeks up front?

I get my alignment done about once a year on this truck and my previous truck. That is 4 alignments for me before I would break even at $180. I don't have a "firestone" here, but I hear complaint after complaint from the lifted guys who come here asking questions about the firestone alignment. Maybe they are a good shop, but also may not specialize in custom suspension. I don't know.

I'd just take it to a reputable alignment shop and get it done.

[olds88]

ya i did all that right before my trip to the usa meet and now shure as hell eating the inside of the the front tires and this was just 10-15k fucking sucks

[Drome]

Originally Posted by 08Canyon

I'm sure having slide plates for your wheels would be helpful. Scrubbing the tires on the paved surface while trying to make changes s probably not idea.

I don't know how to align, I'm just speculating. But maybe some background on your vehicle would be helpful, such as are you lifted/lowered or any other tweeks up front?

I get my alignment done about once a year on this truck and my previous truck. That is 4 alignments for me before I would break even at $180. I don't have a "firestone" here, but I hear complaint after complaint from the lifted guys who come here asking questions about the firestone alignment. Maybe they are a good shop, but also may not specialize in custom suspension. I don't know.

I'd just take it to a reputable alignment shop and get it done.

As slide plates I used 2 ceramic tiles facing each other with salt between them under each tire. With the truck off I was able to grab a wheel and turn them fairly easily. I had set my torsion bars close to maxed out to level the truck prior to my last alignment because they had sagged to the point that the control arms were resting on the bump stops but like I said, that was prior to my last alignment. Other than that, the suspension hasn't been altered in any way.

What threw off my alignment was that about 3 months ago some a-hole driving next to me in the left lane decided to change lanes without looking to his right (2 lanes each way and about 5:45am) and forced me to put the right side over a curb and onto the grass at about 65mph. I had checked right away for any bent or damaged steering/suspension parts and all are fine.

I have checked about 2 dozen shops from bigger companies like Firestone to mom and pops shops and every one of them quoted me at $79.99. Figured Firestone's lifetime one was the best choice because three alignments and it's paid for itself. My steering rack has a slight leak on the left side so i will be replacing it when summer rolls around so that'll be alignment number two this year. As far as them not getting it right, I'll be able to bring it back as often and as many times as I like without having to pay any further.


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[08Canyon]

Wow, that's expensive. Both of my alignments have been $55. Guess it's just random from shop to shop.

If it requires shims, that may be the difference in cost, I guess.

I've gotta get mine done soon, we'll see if it's still that cheap. It's been since November over a year ago that it was last done.

I like the slide plate idea you came up with.

[Drome]

Well, I re-checked again today and my caster was way off. Adjusted again and other than a slight drift to the left, it feels great. Camber now measures at .35 on the right and .2 on the left. Not sure what the caster angles are as i just eyeballed it with a plumb line but the steering is now as smooth as the day I drove it off the lot both local and on the highway.

I'll still be taking it in to be professionally done but so far I'm happy with my driveway results. When I take it in, I'll find out how close to specs I really am.


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[Zeuce]

If u have an iphone check out ialign, i compared it to our alignment machine at work and it damn close, enough for diy untill you get it on a rack. Way nicer to obtain caster readings.

To answer one of your questions, caster is adjusted with the same cams as camber, to adjust caster move one cam in or out depending on what you need. Say your camber is 0 but you need more positive caster, you would move the front cam out half the amount you need. Then move the rear cam in the other half. This will maintain camber while increasing caster( you said your truck is 4wd) if your roads have high road crown and your truck pulls right then you need to offset caster ro have .5 degree less on the left side.

[d.jump13]

almost a year ago now with my 2wd 2'' lift on new a/t's with a alignment and my inside rubber is wearing badly. Called the shop i had all the work done at and they told me thats i would have to pay for another alignment. they also informed me that 355's in general are very bad for eating tires. and at like almost $100 a pop cause im lifted which i dont really understand makes me want to look into a lifetime alignment but wonder if it is still good on lifted trucks.

[Zeuce]

wow I just dont understand why I keep reading this. "my alignment guy told me 355's are bad for alignments and eat tires" this confuses me as I am alignment tech myself. I have aligned dozens of stock, lowered and lifted 355's without any issues. Im sitting on a 3" crank and am perfectly in spec. Am I the last of a dying breed of techs that actually knows how to properly do alignments?

[CUZICAN]

Yeah, I'm going on 3+ years with 7.5" of lift on 33's and my tires are still wearing flat, find someone else to do the alignment.