QuestionQUESTION: The truck is a 1996 4x4. Does it have a camber/caster kit? Or is it a "heat-n-beat" alignment? I currently have very excessive wear on the inside of both tires, and they're wearing very quickly. I drive 90 miles to/from work. There seems to be no shimmy or shake in the front end, just wandering on the road. I'm preparing for the worst, and await your answer.
One more thing. If is uses, and needs an alignment kit, can it be installed at home, and without special tools?.
ANSWER: While the arms can be bent to change camber, the most common method are camber adjuster on the upper ball joints.Measure the camber, then remove the stock adjuster. It is a cylindrical metal slug about 1" diameter and 1-1/2 " long. There is a pinch bolt that has to be removed and a special tool to pull the adjuster out that you can probably rent. or you can try to knock it out with a chisel. Clean it and find the off set numbers on it. then add this offset to the amount your camber is out , to determine the correct adjuster to purchase. I believe they come in 1/4 degree increments up to 3 degrees. If more is needed, then you springs are worn out or something is bent.
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QUESTION: First, tremendous answer; feedback left. Now,two quick questions. Regarding your last comment about worn springs or something bent. This I do know. The truck was in an accident that bent the front bumper, and the left/front section of the frame end, in front of where the frame is intentionally "rippled", by maybe 1/2" to 1" toward center-line of truck. It appears the grille, and radiator frame were replaced;maybe the radiator as well. The hood has a dent in the very left front corner, and pushed back toward the firewall slightly; adjusting the hood, it would probably realign. There was some bending of the rear bumper as well; as though the truck were sandwiched between two vehicles, with most damage done to the front end. Is it safe to believe if something, i.e. frame, were bent, it would only show on the alignment side, i.e. tire angle, that's damaged? When I look at the tires from 20 feet away, they look to be at the same/equal angle value; like seeing the left and right sides of a trapezoid having the same angles.
I've checked underneath the front end of the truck, and see no apparent damage to spindles, shocks, coil springs, etc. Ball joint(s) may need replacement, and I haven't raised the front end off the ground to do the "push left right" to check ball joints, and "push top bottom" to check wheel bearings, yet; believing these checks can be done on both car and truck.
Finally, your answer was well defined, and it sounds like I would need to disable the truck, to procure the correct adjusters. I only have the truck, and live in rural America, so I guess I should leave this detail to an alignment shop. I feel confident I could do the job itself, but would need to buy ALL the different adjusters, and do a hit-or-miss assembly, maybe several times.
AnswerYes, honestly, the best bet is an alignment shop, but here are a few things you can do to save some time and money.
#1 a well done front end check will save you a lot. 1 side at a time, jack the wheel off the ground about 1-2" with the jack as close to the wheel without interfering with it.
to check the tie rods and steering, push -pull the sides of thew wheel with considerable jerking force. (steering wheel unlocked) have someone watch the tierod ends for excessive movement. If you are not sure, put your hand on the questionable joint, you will be able to feel if they are good and moving as 1 or worn and popping around.
#2 push pull top and bottom of wheel. this checks for horizontal wear in the upper and lower ball joints. there should be none.
#3 using a 2' lever or prybar, lift the wheel while watching the ball joints for vertical wear. I'd say 1/16" =ok.
While you are under there, soak the adjusters and nuts with a good penetrating fluid. If you do this 2 or 3 times, the labour costs should be minimal and you may even get a thanks from the alignment guy.
The alignment will also tell you if the frame is twisted or diamonded
Typical alignment is about $70 up here with the shims about $30 plus .5 hour to install them.
I hope this helps.. let me know.
