What is the best way to check alignment?
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rjewkes
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What is the best way to check alignment?
On my 72 f100 4x2 ranger xlt. The question is how without fancy equip Can I tell the alignment? or is it better to just replace all three steering linkage parts.And have a local tire shop test alignment they have the equip and only charge 30 bucks plus what ever parts needed. It pulls to the left if i don't keep it to the right and left front tire outside edge is wearing faster.
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt." - Mark Twain
'70 f250 4x4 Crew cab 460/C6 '72 F100 390/C6 9.8 MPG AVG. '89 Mercury Cougar LS Dual Exh. V6 . 18.9 MPG AVG. In Town.
I don't want to give em a heart-attack. That is what would happen if I answered the door in the buff. Heck it almost scares me to death when I step out of the shower and look in the mirror.~Mancar1~
fuelly.com
'70 f250 4x4 Crew cab 460/C6 '72 F100 390/C6 9.8 MPG AVG. '89 Mercury Cougar LS Dual Exh. V6 . 18.9 MPG AVG. In Town.
I don't want to give em a heart-attack. That is what would happen if I answered the door in the buff. Heck it almost scares me to death when I step out of the shower and look in the mirror.~Mancar1~
fuelly.com
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Pro-Street/StateTk
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re: What is the best way to check alignment?
You may want to take a look at the tech articles there is a very good one
there! Have you checked your king pins and bushings? Or your tire ware,
and tie rods, and steering box.
there! Have you checked your king pins and bushings? Or your tire ware,
and tie rods, and steering box.
Cut ( FOUR ) pieces of an old ford truck frame that has been junked, fit them to the inside of your good frame, add weld and bolts, the leafs are now inboard, time for the (big WIDE tires)!
Oh yeah (Tubbs)
Oh yeah (Tubbs)
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rjewkes
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re: What is the best way to check alignment?
as iyt turns out the rag joint was not put back on straight when i swapped out my collum thanks.
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt." - Mark Twain
'70 f250 4x4 Crew cab 460/C6 '72 F100 390/C6 9.8 MPG AVG. '89 Mercury Cougar LS Dual Exh. V6 . 18.9 MPG AVG. In Town.
I don't want to give em a heart-attack. That is what would happen if I answered the door in the buff. Heck it almost scares me to death when I step out of the shower and look in the mirror.~Mancar1~
fuelly.com
'70 f250 4x4 Crew cab 460/C6 '72 F100 390/C6 9.8 MPG AVG. '89 Mercury Cougar LS Dual Exh. V6 . 18.9 MPG AVG. In Town.
I don't want to give em a heart-attack. That is what would happen if I answered the door in the buff. Heck it almost scares me to death when I step out of the shower and look in the mirror.~Mancar1~
fuelly.com
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NM5K
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- Location: Texas, Houston
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You can set the toe by measuring the fronts/backs
of the tires. But....I've found it's easier said than done.
I tried doing it, and it wasn't very close...
But, that was just to get to a shop. About all you can set
on an old ford truck is the toe. Other than that, you gotta bend axles, and it's rare to need to do that.
If the guy says it's outa whack as far as caster, camber,
it's probably got wore out parts. Replace the parts, and
it will be ok. This assumes no damage from whacking
cement barriers, etc...
Many shops can just set the toe. But I take mine to
a frame shop, being I'm pretty close to one. He gets
it right on the money, and he can bend axles if need
be. Mine didn't need it though. You may have had a
rag joint problem, but if you are wearing tires, your
front end is wearing out, or you need a real alignment. Your kingpins are probably getting some
play. Steering linkage won't have much if any effect
on tire wear. Just makes steering sloppy.
When I rebuilt the front end on the 68, I did *everything* at once. Didn't wanna have to go back and mess with it again later. And the truck drives like new nearly. It's been I think maybe 3 years since I did that, at least two, and my tires still look like new nearly. Almost no tread wear at all. Amazing the difference, considering it used to eat tires like crazy.
I wore out a nearly new set in two years before the work. MK
of the tires. But....I've found it's easier said than done.
I tried doing it, and it wasn't very close...
But, that was just to get to a shop. About all you can set
on an old ford truck is the toe. Other than that, you gotta bend axles, and it's rare to need to do that.
If the guy says it's outa whack as far as caster, camber,
it's probably got wore out parts. Replace the parts, and
it will be ok. This assumes no damage from whacking
cement barriers, etc...
Many shops can just set the toe. But I take mine to
a frame shop, being I'm pretty close to one. He gets
it right on the money, and he can bend axles if need
be. Mine didn't need it though. You may have had a
rag joint problem, but if you are wearing tires, your
front end is wearing out, or you need a real alignment. Your kingpins are probably getting some
play. Steering linkage won't have much if any effect
on tire wear. Just makes steering sloppy.
When I rebuilt the front end on the 68, I did *everything* at once. Didn't wanna have to go back and mess with it again later. And the truck drives like new nearly. It's been I think maybe 3 years since I did that, at least two, and my tires still look like new nearly. Almost no tread wear at all. Amazing the difference, considering it used to eat tires like crazy.
I wore out a nearly new set in two years before the work. MK
1968 F-250 / 300 six / T-18
Dana 60 - 4.10 Limited Slip
Dana 60 - 4.10 Limited Slip