Alignment w/Frankenlift

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:37 pm

I never got an alignment directly after installing my Frankenlift, since I was going to get new tires soon. I got the new tires with a lifetime-alignment but they didn't have time to align it since "it was so out of whack, it is going to take some time to align properly" (started at 2, closed at 6, took forever! :roll:

). They said they could align one thing, which would make it drive straight, and I should be good to go, but advised me to get a full alignment ASAP, and I would see increased tire wear until then. I then called the same store but at a closer location to schedule an alignment and told them of my situation, at which they said they aren't able to do anything about the camber and caster.
Can someone look at my cardomain pictures post-lift and tell me what needs to be re-aligned? After my lift, my front wheels and tires were slanted outwards towards the bottom (look at pix), and I think this is the adjustment I need that the original store said would take so long.
Someone tell me that this dude at the second store is crazy and an alignment should be easy but possibly time-consuming...?

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:05 pm

I think you need to go to another shop. Mine is not fully within spec, but the dealer nor any other place I have been to ever said anything was too bad to align.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:22 pm

The guy at the Firestone store in Colorado Springs (the store I got my tires from) said he could do it (called it a "project alignment"), but it was going to take at least an hour but the store closed in 20 minutes. He said I need to bring it back in later or take it to another store and get it fully aligned. It sounds like this guy I talked to at the closer Firestone store in Parker didn't fully understand what I was talking about and therefor said he might not be able to do certain things. Based on my cardomain pictures, am I so out of alignment that I can't get back to normal or even close? I hope this is not the case and that a proper alignment technician (not the dude on the phone) can set it right...any help or comments appreciated. Thanks in advance!

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:41 pm

That can easily be adjusted. Personally I would just pony up the excessive dough and take it to a good Jeep shop that is pro lift (Faricy Boys here in the springs is.)

I do not know how the ones up in caste rock are, I know Lithia is not lift freindly. Faricy has done me well since I have moved to the springs.

nails023 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 12, 2005 4:46 am

If you want to get a little closer to your tires being straight up ang down you could loosen do a slight adjustment yourself. There is a threaded rod in front of your swat bar. Mark the location on the threads at the bottom so you know how much you have turned it. Loosen the jam nut at the top. It is backwards so turn it to the right to loosen. Then on the drivers side using a pipe wrench turn the whole rod one revolution towrds the back of the KJ. Then on the passenger side do the some thing only turn it towrds the front of the KJ. Then tighten up the Jam nut and you are done. This made my toe a lot better and should get you by until you can get a complete alignment.

Wasatch15 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:52 am **Posts:** 242

After my lift, my front wheels and tires were slanted outwards towards the bottom

This means you need to get the Camber adjusted. After I installed the Frankenlift I had the front end aligned at an alignment shop that specializes in 4x4s with lifts. They were able to get the Liberty back to specification, but the mechanic said the drivers side was at the end of its adjustment travel.
On a Liberty, the camber is adjusted by the frame alignment bolts. The Toe is adjusted with the Tie-rod threads. You won't be able to do anything about the caster as the lift permenantly changes it.
Toe= The front of both tires either point inward, toward each other or away from each other.
Camber= The top of each tire tilts inward, toward each other or outward, away from each other.
Caster= No sense describing this since you cannot do anything about the change, but you will feel the change in the way your steering doesn't straighten out after a turn as sure as before the lift was installed.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

RespectMyLibertay wrote:

The guy at the Firestone store in Colorado Springs (the store I got my tires from) said he could do it (called it a "project alignment"), but it was going to take at least an hour but the store closed in 20 minutes. He said I need to bring it back in later or take it to another store and get it fully aligned. It sounds like this guy I talked to at the closer Firestone store in Parker didn't fully understand what I was talking about and therefor said he might not be able to do certain things. Based on my cardomain pictures, am I so out of alignment that I can't get back to normal or even close? I hope this is not the case and that a proper alignment technician (not the dude on the phone) can set it right...any help or comments appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hey man, just take it over to the Parker shop. Don't mention its lifted or anything. Tell them you have a lifetime alignment (show them the little brochure) and you're good to go. They aligned mine a few weeks ago no questions asked.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:41 am

I just want to get my alignment back to normal so my tires don't wear badly. I think the alignment guy will have no problems, but the phone guys just don't get it. My Dad told me I'm giving them too much information, that's why they're telling me all this stuff about the possibility of difficulties. I will just schedule an appointment and talk to the alignment guy myself.

skrracing · **Posted:** Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:06 am

That's funny. cause I use a tape measure to do my alignment when I lifted my 4 days after I picked up my jeep and I now have over 40000 miles in less than a year and the tires sttill look great. Shops are funny huh. later...Clint

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:19 pm

Surprised you waited 4 days. Or did it just take that long to get all the cool stuff off the old Sammy?

dirtykj · **Posted:** Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:48 pm

CaKJFreedom wrote:

Surprised you waited 4 days. Or did it just take that long to get all the cool stuff off the old Sammy?

Seems I pick up a new toy every 3000 miles

Every time I show up at the dealer I have something new on my jeep.

Alignment w/Frankenlift

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