The Be All End All to Your Alignment (3rd Gen Edition)!

I don’t think there will be any issues or anything with the extra treads. Maybe add a note about the socket needed for the bigger bolt/nut. If I didn’t have SPC UCAs I wouldn’t have had the right socket. It’s the same size for the ball joint but.
Me either. The nut for that bolt had not been removed either so I’m have no clue, unless the last alignment place over torqued the crap out of it… but I’ve seen a lot of over torqued bolts and nothing like that.

 

Finally got my octagon washer/bolt kit. Looks good. Just need to hit them with some steel it and they’ll be ready.

With that said, it my alignment person can’t or won’t install these has anyone had luck swapping out bolts without jacking up the alignment?

 

…. shit, I didn’t treat the steel octo-cams didn’t even think about it…

Guess I know what I’ll be doing before I can an alignment… or I’ll just keep them sprayed with Woolwax…

 

Bare metal in my area rusts overnight so it was my first thought. Gotta paint tonight and hope they are dry tomorrow for the alignment.

 

I even know better and have all the things to treat them. Got self etching primer and black corrosion inhibitor paint… I’m in MD, so rusting is a thing here too… I think even after an alignment, taking one out at a time to treat would be ok since having it locked to a flat shouldn’t change anything once it’s back. Nothing else should be impacted by it.

 

I hope you can successfully swap after an alignment. Just in case my shop won’t do it.

 

You guys wouldn't believe how many people install them completly raw...

 

If you mark your factory alignment and try to match it as close as possible you should be totally fine! Our YouTube install video goes over marking it:
https://youtu.be/JLO97EgVMsE

 

I even know better lol. I was just staring at them for a week and it didn’t even cross my mind…
Relatively easy fix, just will take a little time. I have two jacks so I can take one bolt out from each side treat then take care of the other side…

 

Ha. I watched that before but must have spaced that part. Easy enough. Just mark the fattest part of round boy and match up fattest part of octo boy to mark. Hopefully the alignment place will do it. I’m sick of taking my truck apart at this point.

 

Exactly! It might be slightly off but I'm sure it'll be within factory spec regardless. Worse case have the alignment shop mark it for you to adjust at home. We've had some customers do this and it usually comes out pretty good.

 

Ha. Shop couldn’t get them installed. To hard to align since they don’t rotate. Looks like I’ll be installing them afterwards. Fingers crossed I don’t completely hose the alignment.

Also not that this is a big deal because it was only a couple minutes of work but two of my washers weren’t perfectly cut by the laser etcher and the bolts wouldn’t fit without first filing the holes. Just a heads up before painting - check the bolts first.

Edit scratch that. They got them installed but obviously couldn’t adjust it as well as stock. Will report back on how the actual alignment is.

 

Well that’s not fun. I’d say just try and guess where the cams are and try your best to match it. For me, with 255/85r16, -10 offset, I opted to start mine with front at 1/1 with them pulling wheels in and then rears 1/1 pushing wheel forward to clear the cab mount.

 

They got it but the alignment was 4x the normal price.


Definitely not an easy alignment.

 

Good news is you won't need one again. 4x the price is crazy! The guy we usually use only charges $40 more.

 

The washers had an issue or the octagons?

 

You mentioned cutting the bolt. What would you recommend to threat the exposed portion? Just a spray of rust converter/inhibitor? When I treat the tabs I might cut those bolts so the socket sits on the nut all the way when torquing.

 

We usually paint them with a few coats using a paint maker. So far we haven't had any issues with rust.
We're looking on to getting them re zinc coated but finding a place to do it for us is proving to be quite difficult haha.

 

Octogons. Should have worded that better. Most were perfectly cut except the two. Looks like where the laser started maybe.

 

Are you guys going to cut those 5/8" bolts down moving forward? I may wait installing mine if you are, don't like the idea of being locked into a tall socket if I have to mess with the bolts in the future plus looks kinda odd with all that excess thread.