I need a sanity check: alignment

[joneseyyy]

So fellas, I think I might have gotten the world's most wack, BS alignment today. As backstory, I had visually noticed that my front tires looked like they had a tad of positive camber \ /, and I noticed when driving that the steering wheel was slightly off-center.

Went to a local shop that supposedly does performance work, went over my setup with them, told them what I wanted (~4* positive caster, 0* camber, straighten out wheel, and below is the *best* they can do. I am running Icon extended travel front COs-set to Icon factory height (not cranked up) and Camburg Uni-ball UCAs. With my setup I strongly believe my alignment request is achievable, am I wrong???

 

[FERAL 4R]

...am I wrong???

No.

Go to another alignment shop.

 

[joneseyyy]

Going to the dealership tomorrow to give it another shot. My dealer is pretty mod friendly so hopefully I can work with a tech that cares about getting it right. Extra alignments are eating into my new mountain bike fund...ugh.

 

[harper7]

So fellas, I think I might have gotten the world's most wack, BS alignment today. As backstory, I had visually noticed that my front tires looked like they had a tad of positive camber \ /, and I noticed when driving that the steering wheel was slightly off-center.

Went to a local shop that supposedly does performance work, went over my setup with them, told them what I wanted (~4* positive caster, 0* camber, straighten out wheel, and below is the *best* they can do. I am running Icon extended travel front COs-set to Icon factory height (not cranked up) and Camburg Uni-ball UCAs. With my setup I strongly believe my alignment request is achievable, am I wrong???

Looks like they only adjusted the tie rods and didn't touch the eccentrics.

 

[ltdrose]

Going to the dealership tomorrow to give it another shot. My dealer is pretty mod friendly so hopefully I can work with a tech that cares about getting it right. Extra alignments are eating into my new mountain bike fund...ugh.

Goodluck with the dealership mine assured me they'd have no problem if I remember it was close to 3hrs and they conveniently couldn't print or show me my end adjustment results "printer ate it" still looking for a good shop. Steering isn't right, bought 17x9 wheels will try another shop when they show. They also charged me double because of my adjustable uca's that I told them about repeatedly before I left my keys and was assured it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Ducmonsta]

I've got a shop in chantilly that can definitely get you into our specs. Ive got my personal 5th almost done with mods and did it all at my shop.
I haven't done a build/pic thread because I want to get most of the work done before I start it. Anyway, check us out at Auto Repair Chantilly VA | Custom Tires | Wheel Center | Lift Kit
Or pm me for more details.

 

[joneseyyy]

I've got a shop in chantilly that can definitely get you into our specs. Ive got my personal 5th almost done with mods and did it all at my shop.
I haven't done a build/pic thread because I want to get most of the work done before I start it. Anyway, check us out at Auto Repair Chantilly VA | Custom Tires | Wheel Center | Lift Kit
Or pm me for more details.

I was actually thinking about PMing you, so thanks for replying. I have the dealership appt. at 10:15AM today and if I Have doubts (based on the tech I am dealing with) that they can get it right I am not even going to have them put it on the rack and will be calling your shop to get it in there this week.

 

[Ducmonsta]

Cool. If they don't get, let me know. Always looking to help out the "family".

 

[homeyclaus]

I am going to vote for Ducmonsta too - I have seen his shop, and the alignment setup inside. And some of the work he does for the Jeepers and Xterra people that showed up at his open house.

The only alternate is this place up in Rockville called Joe's Garage. He doesn't really do custom stuff, but he and his guys are capable, honest, and don't screw things up, which is usually asking too much.

 

[joneseyyy]

The dealership was able to get the alignment in spec and the truck now handles like it is supposed to. Ducmonsta, thanks for reaching out and I'll be going to your shop for the next alignment and whatever else I need that doesn't fall under warranty work. I also wanted to see if your shop does any car alarm work. I had a Viper 5901 system installed a couple weeks back and I need some follow-up done on it.

 

[Ducmonsta]

No prob. Glad to hear they got it done.

We don't do any stereo or alarm installs. But if there's anything else I can do, let me know. I actually thought about doing a t4r special but couldn't think of something good. Maybe 10% off lifetime for all services if you have a t4r sticker? Free programming (factory options changed) with oil services? we already do the 10% discounts to our local Jeep Forum (Nova Jeepers) if they are a member.

 

[Off_Gridder]

Another Sanity check

Figured I would throw mine in here for some opinions as well. Just did this alignment after putting in 5100s on a 2010 LTD last saturday. I did it with my buddy who is a service manager at a local shop. This is definately the highest we could get the caster with stock UCAs.

Still a bit odd to me that there is such a difference between the sides, although I know for a fact there is nothing more we could do. Rides awesome so far, no highway wander.

5100 fronts set to 2.5" with stock springs
1.5 Daystart rear spacer with stock springs
Stock UCAs

How do these numbers look to you guys?

 

[3wbdriver]

Figured I would throw mine in here for some opinions as well. Just did this alignment after putting in 5100s on a 2010 LTD last saturday. I did it with my buddy who is a service manager at a local shop. This is definately the highest we could get the caster with stock UCAs.

Still a bit odd to me that there is such a difference between the sides, although I know for a fact there is nothing more we could do. Rides awesome so far, no highway wander.

5100 fronts set to 2.5" with stock springs
1.5 Daystart rear spacer with stock springs
Stock UCAs

How do these numbers look to you guys?

Looks better than mine, but I think they could have given you just a tic of toe in.

 

[wfo9]

Figured I would throw mine in here for some opinions as well. Just did this alignment after putting in 5100s on a 2010 LTD last saturday. I did it with my buddy who is a service manager at a local shop. This is definately the highest we could get the caster with stock UCAs.

Still a bit odd to me that there is such a difference between the sides, although I know for a fact there is nothing more we could do. Rides awesome so far, no highway wander.

5100 fronts set to 2.5" with stock springs
1.5 Daystart rear spacer with stock springs
Stock UCAs

How do these numbers look to you guys?

You should have given up some caster on the drivers side to get them to match. Having the caster that far off from side to side can create some odd behavior. It might be good enough...

 

[Off_Gridder]

Thanks for the input!
[MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION]

You should have given up some caster on the drivers side to get them to match. Having the caster that far off from side to side can create some odd behavior. It might be good enough...

[MENTION=105481]3wbdriver[/MENTION]

Looks better than mine, but I think they could have given you just a tic of toe in.

What would be the ideal toe-in amount for our trucks with lift?

Went with max forward caster because I was trying to avoid doing a BMC if possible, mostly due to time constraints of 1 day in the shop. Once we got in there, looked like I would have a ton more cutting to do to get to the point where it would be worth it to do a BMC on a LTD. The forward fender liner mod was so easy and gave an extra 1.5" at least.

After driving around with it for a while now and testing it on a few concrete inclines, seems like rubbing on the BM is not going to be an issue at all. I'll have to check it out at max stuffage in reverse when I get the chance. I added white out to the BM to see if it rubs off.

I'll have an other go at the alignment to add a bit of tow in and reduce the caster a bit to match both sides when I get to see what kind of room I have to work whith when I get it flexed a bit. Just gotta start stacking up enough "favors point" with my buddy...

Here are a few pics of what I cut / removed, besides doing the fender liner mod, to fit the 275/60/20 on a LTD:

 

[3wbdriver]

What would be the ideal toe-in amount for our trucks with lift?

Just drive it for a week or so and see how it feels. @2" of lift, 1 degree of caster, and maybe a total of .2 degrees of toe in mine rides fine but it is a little drifty at highway speeds. If yours seems darty or drifts any ask them to put a tenth or so of toe back in. For all I know your increased caster over mine may offset that zero toe in you have. I'm just used to seeing some toe in on RWD vehicles to increase straight line stability. Yours being AWD maybe that is normal.