Alignment changes after adding skid plate.

Hello Mother Sons and Daughters,
I was wondering how my alignment would change after putting my skid plate back on, a Skid Row 3/8' steal plate. I was hoping it would only change to a more positive camber, one that would reduce outside wear from heavy cornering on mountain roads. I was hoping it would NOT change toe. Maybe because of the geometry of the front end both camber and toe would change.

I am bumping up to the second notch on Bilsteins and adding SpriderTrax 1.25 today. I thought of having it aligned before putting the skid plate back on.

Anyone have any experience or knowledge of the change in alignment after adding weight to the front end?

Does asking an old school alignment guy to give me some positive camber, after everything is bolted back up, seem more reasonable?

Sincerely

 

While the skid plate probably seems heavy, do you worry about alignment changes if you carry a passenger or not?

The skid plate does not require an alignment, but adjusting the preload (spring perches) does change where the truck sits within the IFS geometry, and the alignment should be checked afterwards. I doubt either would change the toe in a significant amount.

 

The extra weight will affect your alignment but it affects both sides equally so usually no alignment is needed. I had a very soft suspension and adding a front skid and trans skid did affect my alignment. It was like 150lbs of extra weight. If it does affect your alignment a little it will toe in and more negative camber.

 

You should get the tiniest bit of negative camber. If it was perfect before (unlikely), like a single notch on your alignment cams of adjustment needed at most. Do you redo your alignment every time you fill your gas tank?

 

Hey Thanks guys! I had the image right, bit positive and negative terms switched.

 

I wouldn’t think the skid plate would change it that much, bumper winch, then yeah, or if it’s a whole under belly skid, but even then the weight isn’t directly on the front of the vehicle.

I would say it’s negligible.

 

Do you sit in the driver’s seat when you get an alignment?