Alignment questions - can't get it 100% right

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:42 pm

So the alignment shops can't get one side of my alignment right. I thought I'd post here to see if people had ideas. I'm wondering if something is a tiny bit bent or if this is just the nature of the lift.

I can email you printouts of the alignment, but when I posted it on my web site, it was tiny.

keep in mind, I have Rusty's full suspension 2.5" lift, plus 3/8" of Clevis, and Al's Gen 4.5 A arms newly installed. After installation, I got the following alignment readings and am at the end of one of the adjustment travel:

Front Left
=======After===Before===Range
Camber===.2=== -.2===== -.8 to 0
Caster== 3.4=== 2.8==== 3.4 to 4.4
Toe=== .11=== .02====== .004 to .16

Front Right
========After === Before === Range
Camber ===.0 === -.5 ==== -.8 to 0
Caster === 2.4 === 2.0==== 3.4 to 4.4
Toe ===== .14 === .04 ==== .004 to .16

As you can see, it's the right side caster that's way out. Also, if it helps, here's the Cross Caster numbers:

After 1.0. Range is -.5 to .5

Any thoughts?

USPLibby · **Joined:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:29 am **Posts:** 377

Is that written on somewhere the receipt? I just got 4 new tires and an alignment, and it's running true as far as I can tell. I also have Al's upper A-arms but more like 3.5 " of lift with the OME HD springs and 1/4" spacers.

If the tires are worn out, that can effect the alignment numbers.

trailman · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:31 pm

After my freshly installed Frankenlift, I worked my suspension out pretty good then brought it to have it aligned. It was the same case with me. My caster was a little backwards from what it should have been. The alignment guy suggested that I contact Jeep for a caster kit are cut notches of my own. The funny thing is, that my jeep drove straight as an arrow when I left the shop. So I'm not really worried about it.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:39 pm

There is no "caster kits" for the KJ and doing a alignment on a KJ is not easy either.Sure it's only 4 bolts but those 4 bolts control 2 different measurements(caster and camber).The alignment guy most likely got fustrated after a hour(when he started losing money) and said it was good enough.Then again you shouldn't be doing any highspeed racing or highspeed cornering so as long as the caster is close it's not that big of a deal,camber and toe are the important ones.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:46 pm

Quote:

as long as the caster is close it's not that big of a deal,camber and toe are the important ones.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Caster is placement front to rear within the wheel well, right? So it being off won't affect tire wear, right?

Oh, and I've got 5 brand new tires. FWIW.

(And the truck will drive straight as long as Toe is in, which is why most shops to a "toe and go" alignment.)

I've had this issue before andfound one guy good enough to get it JUST barely in spec.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:37 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

Quote:

as long as the caster is close it's not that big of a deal,camber and toe are the important ones.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Caster is placement front to rear within the wheel well, right? So it being off won't affect tire wear, right?

Oh, and I've got 5 brand new tires. FWIW.

(And the truck will drive straight as long as Toe is in, which is why most shops to a "toe and go" alignment.)

I've had this issue before andfound one guy good enough to get it JUST barely in spec.

Caster is,well just think of a shopping cart,the front wheels have positive caster which helps the cart track strait,same goes for a vehicle.Not enough caster and your KJ will just be a little squirly at high speeds.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 5:28 pm

I had some shops flat out refuse to do an alignment on my Jeep. The only place that never seemed to be afraid of doing it was Larry Miller Jeep in Sandy, UT.......I miss those guys.

pokefan · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:10 pm

I just got mine aligned this weekend and had the exact same problem. I don't have the #'s but he said that the caster was off on one side as well. It tracks straighter then it did and he said that it wouldn't wear any tires so until I get new A arms I guess I'll have to live with it.

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

You guys in Salt Lake City, UT area need to visit Russ Alignment for your needs. They are the best in the state. I have used for years, they do excellent work. Just visited them the other day after installation of the new JBA 4.5 UCA's

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:57 pm

Since I used to do alignments and front end/brake work in a former life I guess it helps to know the questions to ask, but its hard to find a good alignment person. I went to 3 different places when I moved to Toledo and talked to the techs before I found one that I trusted. He has now aligned mine 4 times and 2 of my customers and had no problems with any of them.
With stock arms you are going to be able to get the specs within range ( upper end of the range but close) but will not give you any problems. With the JBA 4.5s mine is almost dead center in the range they provide and not one problem.
Most places if it takes over 1/2 hours they want to make excuses and send you on your way. If you go back there and give them more money , then who's the fool???

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:28 pm

I bought the lifetime alignment with Firestone years ago. I know they're not always the most skilled techs but I make them work on it until it's right at no cost to me. some shops are better than others. thanks for the info.

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:24 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

I bought the lifetime alignment with Firestone years ago. I know they're not always the most skilled techs but I make them work on it until it's right at no cost to me. some shops are better than others. thanks for the info.

Yeah that's the same one i bought and after the lift settled i took it back and they gave me a bunch of doo doo. They said i changed something and were not going to realign it for free. Then they said the lifetime alignment only covered setting toe. I got in an argument with the store mang because he was telling me my susp was worn out? That's funny because everything was new. :twisted:

Eventually they did do it for free but I almost had to have a fit for them to do it. I've been meaning to complain to firestone corporate but never got around to it.

oh and btw they could not get my 100% in spec. either

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:00 pm

I have a lifetime alignment with Firestone. Took mine in last week and after 90+ minutes, they gave up and said they can't get it straight and that they set it up to give the least amount of wear on the tires. It pulls to the right quite a bit. INFO: 4" JBA lift and 32" Maxxis Bighorns.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:18 pm

I never had an issue with them rejecting the work and I've used at least 3 different stores. I would assume they get some money for doing the job like warranty work. albeit not as much as a cash deal.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:29 pm

BTW, Tokyojoe, how is that 4" lift? Big difference over the 2.5" versions out there?

Alignment questions - can't get it 100% right

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