Alignment

[Rpmsurfer]

I replaced my control arm upper/lower , sway bar link. hub bearing On my driver-side, l marked the camber and got it damn close. Drove it to the alignment shop and it drove amazing. Gave them the keys and when I return they tell me all my shocks blown, ball joint are shit on the passenger side and they could only get it close. I drive home and it pulling to the right. There was nothing wrong with the passenger side. Did I just take it to a bad shop? I called them saying wtf and they said to bring it in and they will look at it. They charged me 129 everyone else was 179.

 

[swathdiver]

Probably a den of thieves. I interview the alignment techs and only use a local GMC dealership where the guy doing the alignments has been doing it for 20+ years and knows our trucks like the back of his hand.

 

[noodlesandsam2]

Pulling to the right - check toe ( on both sides ). Make small adustments, drive, and adjust again.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

They are likely full of it. Truth is very few shops know how to a full alignment anymore. Most just do toe if even they do that right. I have a separate post up right now where they messed up my truck up. It drove straight to shop and I could barely drive it afterwards. Took it to a second shop got it mostly correct but didn't center steering wheel. One of my main reasons to go to shop was have new cam bolts installed (mine were bent up). However, they were confused on how those even go on. In the end I had to install cam bolts and do the alignment myself. While time consuming it was easier than messing with shops. When they cannot figure stuff out they just start blaming your vehicle saying parts are broken instead of thinking through where they could have went wrong in process.

Measure your tie rods, if you've never been in a wreck or damaged the frame they will likely be VERY close to same length. Mine were same length down to 1/16 " when I fixed my alignment. If you don't have any way to measure the toe just make note if the tie rods are different lengths. FYI if toed in truck will wander on the highway. If toed out it maybe a bit more stable but chew up tires. You'd need toe plates (or use string method royal PITA IMO).

You can use a level on your phone to get camber angle. Caster is a bit trickier but piece of cake if you buy a caster camber gauge (maybe could be done with phone level??). You'll need a reasonably flat surface to measure those two things. I parked my truck in flattest part of my garage floor (used bubble level and very straight 2x4 to figure out where flattest part is.

If you learn a bit about alignments you can at least check your alignment (caster & camber) in like a couple minutes. It's stupid simple. Toe requires another tool but can be done as well.

One last tip.... get yourself a set of locking alignment cam bolts. It's well worth it https://dirtking.com/blogs/news/alignment-cams