3" and no UCA's

I got a take on that...if the trades prove to become delinquent in their numbers, then they could become a valuable commodity until they are replenished. This can encourage higher pay until individuals choose to accept this possible track of work. Like everything else, high paying opportunities will eventually be taken advantage of until things get satisfied.

Coming from the engineering side of the house, I have many friends who either stayed in my profession or chose to be the more "hands on" trade. To me, many are considering the trades now as a first resort instead of a failure plan as the usefulness and solid technical career can be had. I say this though as my friends tend to be technical oriented and they believe that the days of the poly sci folks and such are becoming over saturated with limited growth in todays market, so my view could be biased.

I think part of the problem that encourages this mentality that you speak of is the old ass fuckers WILL NOT RETIRE. It has hindered any positive growth in many companies and the young kids of today that have to pass qualifications/tests that you or me never had to resort to just make a name for yourself. Kids in high school now are finding it hard to appreciate what they have done because there is no room for the junior guy. I personally have been waiting for the time when the old guys either flat out die at their cube, or finally realize they have been wasting enough of folks time and decide to retire instead of sitting in a cube on their ass with this sense of entitlement without quality work cause they are a "good ol boy."

 

This is all BS. The truck will drive just fine 1-1.5* caster. Everyone thats always saying more is needed is not true. I could not even tell a difference from 1.5 to 3* caster on my 4runner. Not in the city, highway or offroad.

 

I have found the stock UCAs will keep your tire pushed foward giving you more firewall clearance. So rub can actually be less in some situations. I have SPC arms and to clear 33-35" tires at the firewall I ended up setting the SPC's to stock control arm location, maxing LCA's foward and using the SPC's to tune the camber. I ended up with less caster but way more firewall clearance.

My brothers 4th gen 4runner had more clearance offroad with stock control arms. Installed icon uca's and now his tires stuff into the firewall offroad.

 

I wish I could retire right now but that would leave my employer hanging,loyalty and all that,another thing this new generation lacks. I have been with my current employer 10 years and I have yet to see one application for my position and very few tire techs that have the aptitude to take under my wing as an apprentice. Regardless I am done wrenching at 62 (8 more years). Going to get a part time job at Walmart as a door greeter "Welcome to Walmart, the I don't give a shit and go fuck yourself can be found on isle's 4 and 5"

 

Heck of a work ethic ​

Been an my current job nearly 8 years

Previous employer had my services for 5

Most of the younger generation are turning in their wrenches for keyboards

Dont take it so personal ​

 

I saw a guy driving down the road with a missing wheel. The whole damn wheel was gone. He had no idea.

It's painfully obvious to some people.

 

This is a rare thread where I've both actually learned something and gotten to watch people bicker on the internet!

 

I agree with where you are coming from as many companies have created this epidemic where they are not trying to invest in the younger generation as its likely cheaper to just bank on the older folks thinking they will work forever. Many your age don't have a back up plan and with the economy with only having their 401k to combat any possible living after working for a career which obviously isn't as substantial as they would like or else they wouldn't still be working. Not to bash you, but I have seen many old guys say similar shit about "no one is as good as me" and other bs. Not doubting someone like you and your potential, but you are also becoming an at-risk employee with your age as 65 is the technical age where depending on position many get kicked out. Obviously in your case, your company is likely not investing in the future like they should or else they would understand and advertise to get young guys in. The Navy contractor side has similar issues with this crap, but if guys are never given a chance to get in the system, how can they expect to get experience? Free labor is only so good now a days as many take on free internships just to try to show employers they have a credible work ethic. Not blaming you, but companies like yours are the reason why people might not be interested. I know many guys who are technical, yet they are working in malls because the hiring platform for them is practically non existent.

As far as you personally, you have what 20+ years in the profession? I find it a little hard with that time in that you havnt found one person that has the ability to be "trained." Just because they arnt up to certain qualifications, doesnt mean that they dont have potential...considering that you have yet to be successful in finding a successor in 10+ years, maybe your expectations are a little too high? It likely is none of your fault that the right applicants arnt coming to your door, but if your company is one of the more lower bidders, then you get what you pay for. As far as loyalty, that term to some extent is dead. Companies would rather pay the minimum these days and then work you until you either accept that your potential is what it is, or that you simply compete elsewhere for more pay. In the engineering realm, this went from a genius idea to common practice in the civilian sector outside of being a government guy as they have a solidified rank and pay structure so they cant take advantage of folks.

I apologize if this seems like an attack, as it isn't, but I harbor suspicion of what the real stats of your perspective come from.

 

Sorry but you are wrong. If caster didn't matter they wouldn't have it on your alignment machine.

 

That's why Toyota has it in the green at 1.5*. Because it's more than enough. It becomes a problem under 1*.

 

Very true, with more and more automated systems coming on line it helps to eliminate active wrenches in the field. In ways this obviously hinders the employee numbers, but as a society we arnt known for going backwards. With the introduction of more machine to man, we can have higher predictability and consistency. There is an extent obviously to what a machine can do without extensive programming and what not, but yes being technical and competency in computers is becoming the bread and butter of what separates many applicants. Turning a wrench to a degree was a competitive skill, which still is a respected art, but that's not enough now. Many employers expect more functions per working hour out of the average employee than how it was in the 80s and 90s when knowing how to work a pc was a "science."

 

30+ but who's splitting hairs. The few that have shown promise ended up flaking out dependability wise.

 

Of course it is fine, but it isn't ideal. Being that you are adding an aftermarket suspension you should do everything you can to make sure your alignment is the best it can be. No reason to skimp out on alignment because it's 'good enough'.

 

30+ years and NO ONE??? Did they even try to get trained and left after attempting or did they ever get their feet wet? I hope your company has things figured out, if I was a manager there I would have heavy concerns that as a company they may not have the capacity to train people. From what I have seen, if you offer enough money for a hard position, folks will seek it.

Good luck man.

 

Stock uppers do not provide more caster than aftermarket....ever.....
I had low caster and couldn't even turn my wheel without slamming the firewall.

 

1.4°+ camber is also in the green, but your truck is going to look funny and wear tires on the outside edge pretty bad.

.10" positive toe is also in the green but you're going to be dragging your tires down the road all day long and losing mpg along with it.

Being in the "green" isn't as great as it sounds.

 

It will be 10 years in January with current company and zero applicants. All the shops in my area are having the same problem. The guy I replaced was killed in an auto accident and they were without a tech here for 3 months. My previous employer shut down when the economy tanked back in 08.

The boss has a hard enough time keeping tire techs and the few that show promise don't seem to last long. Sadly the best ones seem to be coming from the prison pre release center...lol

 

Yea man...good luck with that.

 

Yep, typing before the caffeine kicked in. It will 'potentially' pull to the side with more camber, not caster. I say potentially because camber can cause pull, but is not as much of a determining factor as castor is. Of course, major camber discrepancy will cause a pull.

My biggest peeve back in the day was when a customer complained of 'pull' when they really just had a crooked steering wheel caused by improper toe settings.