Matthew Jeschke
Full Access Member
Is there an experienced alignment tech on here? My current measurements are at bottom of this thread. I've been installing cam locking bolts hoping to get it back into alignment with my caster camber gauge and avoid the dreaded search for an alignment tech again. After driving with this setup here it feels like the truck likes to search the road a bit and is biased a touch driver side / left.
MY ALIGNMENT (third in sequence):
My measurements (technique at bottom of thread).
Driver Camber +0.3 Caster +4.2 (haven't modified since aligned)
Passenger Camber +0.6 Caster +4.9 (installed locking cam bolts)
Didn't change anything with toe after the shop did that (+0.1 driver, -0.1 passenger per last alignment).
Specs Factory 2001 Tahoe:
Caster:
L: 3.50° ± 1.00°
R: 4.50° ± 1.00°
Cross Caster (L-R): -1.00° ± 0.50°
Camber: +0.25° ± 0.50°
Cross Camber (L-R): 0.00° ± 0.50°
Total Toe: +0.10° ± 0.20°
Steering Wheel Angle: -1.0° ± 3.5°
NOTE I have 285/70/R17 tires (factory was 265/70/R16) all else is factory dimension.
Rambling....
FIRST ALIGNMENT:
Truck drove straight as an arrow and no searching on the road before I went to the first alignment shop. Only to measurements I had were from my janky camber gauge four months prior of +1.5, passenger +0.5 driver. Then the first shop did this... I told them to stop when I saw they were adjusting things w/o putting it on the rack. As you could imagine I could BARELY drive the truck afterwards.
SECOND ALIGNMENT:
Second shop had two techs work on it. First tech said I needed all new tie rods, and pitman arm. I spent a hole two afternoons going over that stuff with a fine tooth comb and a big prybar, nothing is loose NOTHING. Even the steering gearbox is solid as a rock. Slightest touch of wheel and tires turn.
They put a second tech on it and he got it in spec... Driving it home though I felt the truck liked to search the road more than I like and if I had to say a touch biased to driver side. I have my theory as to why but would like to know what an experienced tech might have to say first...
BACKSTORY: I could write a novel on the backstory here. What a mess. I have aligned a vehicle before w/ scales, turn plates, and caster camber gauge but was 20+ years ago and ROYAL PITA. However, I bought and took a refresher course on alignments and started accumulating at home tools; specifically a Longacre camber gauge. Despite this felt best to have a shop do it but little did I know good alignment techs aren't everywhere alignment racks are found. Took at least 4 of them to align my Tahoe and in the end they told me to buy a bunch of parts which upon further inspection had no issue (I think when they get confused there is a tendency to blame the vehicle instead of trouble shooting underlying issue). The last tech did get it aligned however, part of my goal was to have them install locking cam bolts I bought. Unfortunately, both shops backed out of installing them after I committed to alignments. . I digress... When I went home I installed the locking cam bolts on the passenger side then used my caster camber gauge to get it as close as possible to their alignment.
NOTES on my camber / caster measurement technique: I marked my locking cam bolts and installed them same as the ones were I took off (or as close as I could get). Then test drove, the alignment was off. Pulled hard left. So I used my caster camber gauge to adjust the caster better (and camber started to fall in line ~ makes since). That said I don't have a PERFECTLY level surface NOR turn plates. I used motor oil under plywood and parked front tires on that. Then I proceeded to move truck around in garage as well as take measurements about 20 times each. My technique is repeatable. Garage floor was level to within 1/8" driver to passenger side. If anything I assume my caster measurement is a bit higher as I don't have a great way to measure exactly 20*. Eyeballing it one full turn left followed by one full turn right looks close for which I obtained 100% repeatable measurements, even when I moved the vehicle in the garage after going for a test drives.
MY ALIGNMENT (third in sequence):
My measurements (technique at bottom of thread).
Driver Camber +0.3 Caster +4.2 (haven't modified since aligned)
Passenger Camber +0.6 Caster +4.9 (installed locking cam bolts)
Didn't change anything with toe after the shop did that (+0.1 driver, -0.1 passenger per last alignment).
Specs Factory 2001 Tahoe:
Caster:
L: 3.50° ± 1.00°
R: 4.50° ± 1.00°
Cross Caster (L-R): -1.00° ± 0.50°
Camber: +0.25° ± 0.50°
Cross Camber (L-R): 0.00° ± 0.50°
Total Toe: +0.10° ± 0.20°
Steering Wheel Angle: -1.0° ± 3.5°
NOTE I have 285/70/R17 tires (factory was 265/70/R16) all else is factory dimension.
Rambling....
FIRST ALIGNMENT:
Truck drove straight as an arrow and no searching on the road before I went to the first alignment shop. Only to measurements I had were from my janky camber gauge four months prior of +1.5, passenger +0.5 driver. Then the first shop did this... I told them to stop when I saw they were adjusting things w/o putting it on the rack. As you could imagine I could BARELY drive the truck afterwards.
SECOND ALIGNMENT:
Second shop had two techs work on it. First tech said I needed all new tie rods, and pitman arm. I spent a hole two afternoons going over that stuff with a fine tooth comb and a big prybar, nothing is loose NOTHING. Even the steering gearbox is solid as a rock. Slightest touch of wheel and tires turn.
They put a second tech on it and he got it in spec... Driving it home though I felt the truck liked to search the road more than I like and if I had to say a touch biased to driver side. I have my theory as to why but would like to know what an experienced tech might have to say first...
BACKSTORY: I could write a novel on the backstory here. What a mess. I have aligned a vehicle before w/ scales, turn plates, and caster camber gauge but was 20+ years ago and ROYAL PITA. However, I bought and took a refresher course on alignments and started accumulating at home tools; specifically a Longacre camber gauge. Despite this felt best to have a shop do it but little did I know good alignment techs aren't everywhere alignment racks are found. Took at least 4 of them to align my Tahoe and in the end they told me to buy a bunch of parts which upon further inspection had no issue (I think when they get confused there is a tendency to blame the vehicle instead of trouble shooting underlying issue). The last tech did get it aligned however, part of my goal was to have them install locking cam bolts I bought. Unfortunately, both shops backed out of installing them after I committed to alignments. . I digress... When I went home I installed the locking cam bolts on the passenger side then used my caster camber gauge to get it as close as possible to their alignment.
NOTES on my camber / caster measurement technique: I marked my locking cam bolts and installed them same as the ones were I took off (or as close as I could get). Then test drove, the alignment was off. Pulled hard left. So I used my caster camber gauge to adjust the caster better (and camber started to fall in line ~ makes since). That said I don't have a PERFECTLY level surface NOR turn plates. I used motor oil under plywood and parked front tires on that. Then I proceeded to move truck around in garage as well as take measurements about 20 times each. My technique is repeatable. Garage floor was level to within 1/8" driver to passenger side. If anything I assume my caster measurement is a bit higher as I don't have a great way to measure exactly 20*. Eyeballing it one full turn left followed by one full turn right looks close for which I obtained 100% repeatable measurements, even when I moved the vehicle in the garage after going for a test drives.
