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WTF?!? (alignment)

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by colinb17, Jan 17, 2010.

  1. Jan 17, 2010 at 12:32 PM
    #1
    colinb17

    colinb17 [OP] If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    kind of frustrated right now due to an unforeseen issue. just lifted the front of the truck (07 dc 4x4) 2.5 inches. the install went fine, so i went to the alignment shop. they told me that they couldn't align my vehicle becasue it had been altered, and their new machine can only work with factory suspension.
    they are using the infrared sensor kind of machine. this was at firestone....i know that some members on here do not like firestone, but i also know that some have the lifetime alignment with them and are quite pleased. and some of thes members must have lifts right?

    so i brought it to a different shop and they told me the same thing. they said i needed to "find an offroad shop or 4x4 shop, that's the only place that will be able to do it."

    so i figure there are three scenarios here...

    1) these guys don't know what the hell they're talking about

    2) I'm being fed a load of S*@# because they are too lazy to work on it

    3) what they are telling me is correct and i am actually going to have to drive 30 miles away to the nearest 4x4 shop.


    i'm not sure where to go from this point. what do you guys think?:help:
     
  2. Jan 17, 2010 at 12:35 PM
    #2
    PatHLC128

    PatHLC128 College.

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    i had the same problem. i think theyre just stupid and lazy and they dont want to mess with it. i had to find a "specialty" alignment shop and get ripped off.
     
  3. Jan 17, 2010 at 12:40 PM
    #3
    1337Taco

    1337Taco Well-Known Member

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    :notsure:I've never had this problem.
     
  4. Jan 17, 2010 at 12:54 PM
    #4
    lextech

    lextech Member

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    they probably dont want to have to stand behind their work, knowing that they will not be able to get it back to factory specs with you lift.
     
  5. Jan 17, 2010 at 12:54 PM
    #5
    kilgoja

    kilgoja Well-Known Member

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    what is a 4x4 shop?....i think every shop around here is used to working on 4x4s since there are so many around
     
  6. Jan 17, 2010 at 1:03 PM
    #6
    colinb17

    colinb17 [OP] If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    it's only 2.5 in though, they should at least be able to get it close shouldn't they?




    i know what you mean, but unfortunately i live right next to washington dc, where people seem to think a mercedes suv is a real 4x4. if i were in florida where i go to school, it would not be a problem.
     
  7. Jan 17, 2010 at 1:18 PM
    #7
    badguybuster

    badguybuster Well-Known Member

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    Take it to your dealer and get it done. You'll pay a little more but at least it will be done by people familiar with your vehicle.
     
  8. Jan 17, 2010 at 1:18 PM
    #8
    colinb17

    colinb17 [OP] If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    don't know if it helps, but here is the alignment sheet from firestone.

    SCAN0082.jpg
     
  9. Jan 17, 2010 at 1:37 PM
    #9
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    FlimFlubberJAM
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    You wont get the Caster in the Good range without different UCA's.
     
  10. Jan 17, 2010 at 3:50 PM
    #10
    TacoSupreem

    TacoSupreem Dirty Trucker

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    I had the same Problem bro, those types of places are affraid to mess with it because there is a possibility that they cannot get it back into factory specs! and by looking at your printout i can tell that ur caster is still off. i only had mine lifted two inches at that time and had it to several places with no luck! after spending several hundred dollars and even had it aligned by the dealer with no luck! i became a tw member and found out the problem!!! i needed some new uca's, so i ordered a set read silver06trd's thread on how to install and put them on myself. after that had it aligned at 3 inches of lift with no problems. truck rides awesome now!

    btw firestone around here will try to rip u off royally! they wouldn't align my truck either! and i went there once to see about getting my tires rotated and they told me it would cost me $100! i told them to c.m.a.! went to sears and had it done for $15!
     
  11. Jan 17, 2010 at 5:11 PM
    #11
    colinb17

    colinb17 [OP] If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    it sounds like i wasn't clear on one part. firestone did adjust my toe for free. the caster hasn't been touched though, so i'm assuming that it can at least get closer to spec. unless i'm reading the sheet wrong, it looks like my camber is good, but when i look at the truck head on, it looks like the tires are tilted like this a little \ / it may just be my eyes fooling me. either that or they did in fact set up the machine wrong. is there a way to test this.

    i'll be calling some shops tomorrow to see if there is anyone willing to give it a good shot.
     
  12. Jan 17, 2010 at 5:22 PM
    #12
    TacoSupreem

    TacoSupreem Dirty Trucker

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    i wouldn't waste alot of money taking it to different shops, cause u r gonna need some uca's to get the caster dialed in! they may get it close but u will still probably experience some wandering and maybe even nasty bump steer!
     
  13. Jan 17, 2010 at 5:33 PM
    #13
    dysfunctnlretard

    dysfunctnlretard Hi

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    Your eyes aren't foolng you, your tires really are like that. I tried to tell myself my alignment was fine and it wAs just my eyes bc I didn't wanna drop another $650 on ucas but it was definitely the issue. My truck wandered and after only 1k miles on my KM2s, I could see uneven wear. Get some ucas and quit blowng money by trying to get it aligned. Light Racing offers cheaper ball joint UCAS that will still correct that issue.
     
  14. Jan 17, 2010 at 5:40 PM
    #14
    colinb17

    colinb17 [OP] If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    I actually haven't spent a dime on it yet. i'm just looking for a place to do it once and get the specs a little closer. if the caster's out a little, i won't mind, i'm just worried about wearing out my tires.

    even though it says that the camber is good. isn't .9 a little high?

    what exactly should i be looking for? 0 camber 0 toe and 2.4ish caster?
     
  15. Jan 17, 2010 at 5:47 PM
    #15
    Brunes

    Brunes abides.

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    They can do it at Firestone (Because that's who does mine). They may not want to be held responsible for the work tho....
     
  16. Jan 17, 2010 at 5:53 PM
    #16
    colinb17

    colinb17 [OP] If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    did they give you crap at first about your lift?
     
  17. Jan 17, 2010 at 5:56 PM
    #17
    TacoSupreem

    TacoSupreem Dirty Trucker

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    yeah they can do it, but the gave me crap about my lift then it was my wheels! they kept saying they're not gonna be responsible for damage to my wheels!
     
  18. Jan 17, 2010 at 6:00 PM
    #18
    TacoSupreem

    TacoSupreem Dirty Trucker

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    0,0,2.4 is cool
     
  19. Jan 17, 2010 at 6:03 PM
    #19
    Brunes

    Brunes abides.

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    Not a word about it. I told them that it was lifted and that I knew what the specs were that I wanted to see. They put it on the rack and said they'd try it.
    Got it right the first time with no issues.
     
  20. Jan 17, 2010 at 6:24 PM
    #20
    colinb17

    colinb17 [OP] If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    i could barely get the guys i took it to to put it on the rack. they said that their "refference points" for the sensors were off due to the lift.
     

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