Alignments Suck -- What Am I Missing
- Thread starter wildcatgoal
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
swathdiver
Full Access Member
That's me! That's why I drive a Yukon XL! LOL
dubyagee01
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2015
- Posts
- 301
- Reaction score
- 365
Most alignment shops at tire places are inept. They will do a “toe and go” and charges you the full price. I take mine to a frame shop. I get a report sheet and have never has an issue with it.
iamdub
Full Access Member
Sad, but true.
iamdub
Full Access Member
sorry but LOL!
Lol at my alignment or...?
George B
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Big O’l Boy story. I have one very similar from a past life on auto service.
wildcatgoal
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2020
- Posts
- 140
- Reaction score
- 132
I'm 200 lbs of pure sexy...
wildcatgoal
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2020
- Posts
- 140
- Reaction score
- 132
The last place I went to was a Firestone. I'm giving them one more chance and having them use a different alignment tech. I don't have the sheet - he gave me one and castor was red, I had positive camber, and toe out. It was questionable. I do my own alignments on my race car but they won't let us do personal vehicles on our club's alignment rack (to keep people from running a shadow alignment business and overloading our resources). If they would just let me do the alignment on their rack, it'd be fine. I should have no slop. Literally everything that can cause slop is new. I will have to go to Gran Turismo East north of Atlanta, which is a great place to get a race car aligned, and see if they can put some care into it. They are just WAY out of my way but they will let me sit in it and hold that wheel straight!
On top of what the guys have recommended, I would also check to make sure your steering wheel hasn’t been incorrectly installed (there are groves that it sits on and someone can still force it on incorrectly - you’ll have to pull the airbag off, so do some research first for safety).
I’d also recommend checking if the steering wheel shifted when changing out that plastic bearing or intermediate shaft. If it did, then it could explain the aligned wheels with a crooked steering wheel. If this is the case, you’ll have to reset the steering wheel/shaft to align with your wheels when they’re clocked straight ahead.
I’d also recommend checking if the steering wheel shifted when changing out that plastic bearing or intermediate shaft. If it did, then it could explain the aligned wheels with a crooked steering wheel. If this is the case, you’ll have to reset the steering wheel/shaft to align with your wheels when they’re clocked straight ahead.
I get the steering wheel straight and locked (if there isn't a steering wheel lock notch that holds it dead straight I have someone sit in the car and hold it there) then adjust the drivers side tie rod until the drivers side wheel is straight ahead, then adjust the passenger side tie rod until the wheel is straight ahead; that aligns the steering wheel so it will stay straight as long as you achieve your desired toe in by an equal turn on each side.
If you align the wheel first and get the toe close even a crappy shop won't mess that up.
If it wanders you probably have to little toe or the caster is out of whack.
If you align the wheel first and get the toe close even a crappy shop won't mess that up.
If it wanders you probably have to little toe or the caster is out of whack.
Similar threads
