Post front-end refresh alignment hell

This... I had problems with my rack shifting around while offroad... thought labs were bending or other things were... ends up its the rack not being centered.

are the tie rods at an equal length? is one all the way in and one all the way out?

 

Kinda seems that way

 

Just did a turn test (late in the game i know)

Nearly 2 full rotations locked left

1 and a half rotation locked right

That *has* to be rack off center... right?

 

Going over to the dudes house fri morning to try and sort it

Jesus I wish I'd tried that turn test sooner But the alignment shop not even attempting that either blows my minds.

Sometimes the smallest things man.....

 

I've replaced dozens of steering racks. I always do the turn test, before connecting the outer tie rods. Any competent mechanic should know that.

Not trying to talk bad about your mechanic, but hopefully they learn from this. 100% the person who installed the rack needs to correct this. They also need to get you close to center for toe before you drive away. Hopefully you don't have to pay for 2 alignments now.

 

Having a similar problem after replacing UCAs and LCAs with Moog and lifting the front 1.5" with OME 885s over Bilstein 5100s. The shop said they can't get the steering wheel straight while getting the LH caster in spec. Very frustrating. I'm inclined to believe it's the shop and not the truck unless someone else has heard of a similar issue.

 

I wonder if the rack install allows for any centering like the rack I replaced on my last car…

basically you put it on a bench and center it before install per repair manual.

Theres an access port you look through, for a divot in the rack that shows in the hole when its centered. And lets you fit a little bolt inside the hole to lock it in center position while you’re installing it, then take the bolt out.

Theres probably workarounds if that’s not possible, after it’s on the truck. Like disconnect the tie rods, center the rack by turning steering wheel, counting rotations, getting it locked straight ahead
Then connecting the tie rods at a 0 toe setting.

or, because that doesn’t account for the column to rack connection that unfortunately may be a universal spline rather than one way lock, possibly disconnecting that and forcing the rack by hand into a center position at the same time. Measuring with a ruler the ends of the rack both sticking out the same amount.

 

Alright. He centered the rack as good as can be w/o removing it.

Disconnected the outers, intermediate rack after he spun until we hit an even distance w/ turns and got some thread back for the toe.

New thing popped up, the dern trac control light- i guess the truck thought the alignment was way too jacked. He scanned it and no codes (none which was a plus)

At the alignment shop now.

0.0 cam
4.5 cas
0.4 toe

Hope they can hit it

Salt over the shoulder, sacrificed a goat, prayed to tom cruises god.... I'm gonna lose my damn mind otherwise

 

4.5 caster sounds odd.

I think for my setup they recommend 0 camber 1+ caster 0 toe, which is near what I’m at…

 

Another TW success story. Thx to those contributing, tips & personal experiences.

Got her dialed. Tight as a drum (except for the vsc light now on which never came on before with past work done...)

 

Try a Zero Pont Calibration for the vsc light.