Alignment.. Drop

[54Caddy]

I need some drop spindels for my truck. Just went to go get it aligned and it didnt even work all they did was make it worst will take it back tomorrow and settle this with them. so there saying my studs dont have enough room on them but why in the hell would them adding shims make it worst?? so im thinking of getting some drop spindles. what are some good ones i can pick up

[54Caddy]

okay in know people are looking haha, i have another question. Before i took it to get aligned it was pulling to the right, now after the shop said they aligned it the best they could it is pulling to the right harder than before. What could be the problem all the suspension is new, recently put new wheel bearings iners and outers, also put new pitman arm and idler arm. Could tie rod ends make it pull or an unbalanced wheel??

[Pyrotechnic]

Sounds like a bad alignment shop. Provided nothing is seriously wrong with the suspension, you can do an alignment with a tape measure and have it work out decently.

If there is a major problem with the suspension (something bent) that's keeping it from being properly aligned, they should be able to find the issue.

[54Caddy]

the only thing different on my truck is that it is lowered. cut coils. but we never had this problem on the truck before now all of a sudden its acting strange.

[N2TRUX]

Check your frame to see if it has any cracks around the steering box. As far as spindles go, I like DJM. It's pretty hard to beat Summit Racing for price.

[54Caddy]

oh ****. thats right my frame is cracked. I cant afford the plate so i put some plates of my own that basically sandwhich the frame. I drilled small holes at the end of each crack. Maybe i need to tighten up the steering box. or did it crack more hope not. would the cracking make it pull to the right though? when it first cracked i just didnt have the full turning radius.

[Raised On Chevy!]

All you adjust with a tape measure is the toe of the front wheels that dosen't make it pull, that is your camber and caster angles which are set with gauges and on these truck is all with the shims in the upper control arms that were already described. As for the cracked frame around the steering box it could make it pull but I don't think it would be all the time, may if you hit a bump ar a good dip in the road to make it flex but not just everyday driving.

[54Caddy]

it pulls constantly, let go of the wheel and it will do a lane change no problem. I know this is set by the shims. But before i redid all the work on the truck it just barely pulled and now its pulling a lot harder and the shop said theres no more room for shims on the right hand side a arm, there are like 3 threads left. Why would it get worse if i put all new bushings and components? just dont understand it, it sucks believe me.

[63chevyll]

that shop sounds like a bunch of dummies,

try a professional shop

[78swest]

not to thread jack but where do i get thoses said shims?

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

it pulls constantly, let go of the wheel and it will do a lane change no problem. I know this is set by the shims. But before i redid all the work on the truck it just barely pulled and now its pulling a lot harder and the shop said theres no more room for shims on the right hand side a arm, there are like 3 threads left. Why would it get worse if i put all new bushings and components? just dont understand it, it sucks believe me.

Originally Posted by 63chevyll

that shop sounds like a bunch of dummies,

try a professional shop

Have you ever thought they aligned the left side 100% correctly and they just ran out of room to correctly finish the right side. Damn, dont be so quick to bash.

There could be a few reasons.
1) bad tire?
2) they did align the left side correctly and the right isnt done yet causing that huge pull.
3) your cracked frame might have something to do with it, but idk for sure.

I would just get what they need to fix the right side, then have that done. I have a feeling #2 is your issue.

[54Caddy]

What shims? I called them up today but they didn't have any room left i set an appointment for 3 o'clock tomorrow. They said they will put it back on the alignment rack and see what is going on. As far as the frame cracked when it first happened it didn't mess with my alignment it just messed up my turning radius. How could a bad tire cause it to pull so hard, i mean if i barely let go im in the right lane next too me its that bad.

[datguysaL]

could be something as simple as low air pressure on that tire. check that.

[54Caddy]

just reaired up all tires last week. will double check though

[1LowToy]

Did the alignment shop give you the resulting alignment specs? I.e. castor and camber settings?

[63chevyll]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Have you ever thought they aligned the left side 100% correctly and they just ran out of room to correctly finish the right side. Damn, dont be so quick to bash.

There could be a few reasons.
1) bad tire?
2) they did align the left side correctly and the right isnt done yet causing that huge pull.
3) your cracked frame might have something to do with it, but idk for sure.

I would just get what they need to fix the right side, then have that done. I have a feeling #2 is your issue.

all im saying is just because a a guy can turn a machine on doesnt mean he is good at alignments, I bet more than half the people turning alignment machines on dont fully understand all the proper angles and effects on front suspensions.

Hope this guy gets his truck dialed in, without getting the run around fron a bunch on idiots

[78swest]

the a arm shims i need some alignments are easy 53 inch tires are even easier

[lolife99]

Got any pics of your suspension?
Like some of the a-arms and tie rod ends?
That would help.

[54Caddy]

its all stock a arms and tie rods. i can get some pictures tomorrow if weather is good. there might even be some in my build thread, take a look.

[Stitch]

Originally Posted by 78swest

the a arm shims i need some alignments are easy 53 inch tires are even easier

huh?...punctuation...

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

its all stock a arms and tie rods. i can get some pictures tomorrow if weather is good. there might even be some in my build thread, take a look.

You would be suprised what tires can do. I have had a few cars in here over the years that you let go of the wheel and it yanks hard. Cross rotate the tires and it pulls the other way. ahah..

If your frame is cracked bad enough to cause steering issues, then i would look into that also.

[grinch4om]

tires will cause a huge pull..cutting a coil will not cause a pull typically...a good shop can align, make both sides the same and it will not pull, may wear tires but a pull is easy to take out. a copy of the alignment measurments they got would be helpfull.. where is the frame cracked? if it is cracked around the steering box they should not have even touched the truck until that was fixed.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by grinch4om

tires will cause a huge pull..cutting a coil will not cause a pull typically...a good shop can align, make both sides the same and it will not pull, may wear tires but a pull is easy to take out. a copy of the alignment measurments they got would be helpfull.. where is the frame cracked? if it is cracked around the steering box they should not have even touched the truck until that was fixed.

Agreed.

[nlped]

Okay, the pull would typically be due to one of three factors.

#1. Bad tire: cross the front tires and see if the pull goes the other way. If not, it isn't the tires.

#2. Split caster more than 1.5 degrees to the left. i.e. Picture an imaginary line running perpendicular to the frame from the right center hub line "line" across to the left center hub line, this also falls under the Thrust Angle. If the left side is sitting further back, or the right is further forward this would cause a dramatic pull to the left.

#3. Camber/Toe can cause a pull, but not usually dramatic unless they are very far out of spec.

If you will list the Thrust Angle, Caster (left and right), Camber (left and right), and finally the toe (left and right) we can give you a much better idea about your issue. If they didn't provide you with a print out of the specs, get one. They should have it, if they are a reputable shop.

[thehitchmaster]

I know this sounds stupid but ive seen people with different size tires on the front and cant figure out why its pulling.