Alignment Help

[fng]

Does anyone have or know where to find the Caster, camber, and toe in specs for our frontends?

[brute4c]

Yes.

The toe is the only one you can really change without major surgery...if the camber or caster is off, somethings probably wrong...the manual says these cant be changed, but if one were to put a wedge on the axle spring pad, there would be a change...also, as mentioned in the manual:

caster and camber angles may be affected by damaged springs, frame distortion, loose bearings, bent steering linkage or a damaged axle housing.

The relavent manual section is linked here:

http://www.m715zone.com/vb/view.php?pg=20chap2-22

[george walker]

Although it isnt mentioned I always assumed that the purpose of the drag link being adjustable was to get the steering wheel centered to the wheels. I held the wheel straight in the cab then sighted down the front tires while turning the drag link sleeve until the tires were going straight ahead then did toe.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

that isnt accurite enough. take it to a alignment shop and have it done right. if you dont your pay a higher price in tire wear and lower mpg.

[brute4c]

I did mine in 96 ad am still runnig the same tires with no abnormal wear...its pretty easy to set the toe.

[FSJGuy]

I had my local shop do mine and he even knew how to adjust the shims and did that for me, too. All for the regular alignment price. I was happy.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

what shims , the king pin shims ? those clearences are set from the factory and never wear out. toe in & out you just turn the tie rod & drag link.

[sermis]

Put a nail through a 2 X 4. Jack up the front tires. Spin the tire and place the nail to the tread and score a line around each tire. You can spray pint the tread and then mark it to see it better. Let the truck down. Find some blocks that are the same height of mark the front and back of the tire at the same height from the ground. Get someone to help you and use a tape measure and measure between the marks on front and back of tire. I think the front needs to be 1/16” closer together than the rear of the tire.
I did mine when I did the truck, About 7 to 8 thousand miles back and no odd tire wear.

[fisherman]

A straight rule is the best for measuring this. Get one of the long fold up kind. Much more accurate than a tape measure. That's what I've been using. On other trucks. Works well. Good luck.

[FSJGuy]

what shims , the king pin shims ? those clearences are set from the factory and never wear out. toe in & out you just turn the tie rod & drag link.

IIRC, the shims that are used to control preload for the knuckle. I've never had the axle apart, so I could be talking out my *ss. <g> Whatever he did, it worked.