Alignment

[the_dingman]

I've got some strange tire wear on my front tires (outside edge seems to alternate between bald and good tread), and my tires are old. I'm going to be spending a few hundred dollars on BFG All Terrains, and I don't want them to go to crap. I'm also planning on having an alignment done, in case the wear is due to improper alignment.

I've been told my lower ball joints on both sides are bad, is this something I should fix before replacing my tires, or can I get by with replacing them later?

 

[ovrrdrive]

If any front end parts are bad at all, including upper and lower ball joints, tie rods, idler arm and pitman arm, you won't be able to stop the uneven tire wear even if they are able to do a good alignment on it. Ball joints really aren't that hard to change out. I suggest doing a front end rebuild before getting the new tires and then an alignment. Do the alignment with the new tires already on the truck.

I got a front end rebuild kit off ebay for about $250 shipped. Even if the parts aren't as high quality as OEM is I needed everything and the kit is still working fine for me and I saved about $400 over OEM. I'm very happy with the fit and quality of the kit.

This is the kit I used:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ball...ryZ33580QQihZ014QQitemZ330035354798QQtcZphoto

 

[Morania]

Front end guide

Man, it would be great if someone whose done that job before could make a page about doing the whole front-end. Pitfalls, tools needed, and etc.
I wonder who could do something like that?

 

[ovrrdrive]

The only special tools you need are a pickle fork and a ball joint/tie rod/pitman arm puller set that I borrowed from Autozone for the job for free. You can use the pickle fork for all of it if you have to, but I find the correct puller not only easier to use but less catastophic to the surrounding parts that aren't coming out. The pitman arm is on there so tight you have to use the correct puller for it or you'll never get it off.

As for installation, it's really just a one piece at a time replace what you see job. Doing a rough alignment is a little tricky but once you figure out what moves what even that isn't too bad. Having a buddy that's done it before makes it easier, but once you dive in you'll understand better what's going on in there.


I didn't take enough pictures to make a guide out of it.

 

[the_dingman]

If I go this route, and replace everything, obviously it'll throw my alignment off. I'm planning on replacing my tires right after replacing these parts, will a front end alignment from Sears cover all the adjustments that would be effected by my meddling down there?

Hopefully that made sense.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Hopefully a front end alignment from anyone would actually set the front end right. As long as it's a computerized alignment I'd feel pretty safe with it...

The alignment is all you'll change down there and Sears shouldn't have any problem at all realigning it for you.

And be sure to have the new tires on when you go in. Believe it or not, different tires can actually throw off an alignment.