Alignment problem, need some ideas.

[Black Knight]

Re: Alignment problem, need some ideas.

IIRC, I can look later, GM spec on your pitman arm is 0, your allowed no movement in any direction. Idler your allowed either a 1/16th or an 1/18th of an inch, not very much. Tie rods should be 0 also.

Ball joints though, there's two types of movement radial and axial and there's differnt specs for either. Were they showing you that the tire moves up and down ( literly straight up and down ) or in and out at the top and bottom of the wheel?

Either way that's f#!king stupid on their part they could have atleast hooked the machine up to tell you what was going on in the rear since everything they told you has nothing to do with fixing your rear axle problem :roll:

 

[Ian Turgeon]

Re: Alignment problem, need some ideas.

Ball joint movement on the fronts was in/out rather then up/down. To mount up the wheel sensors, they figured they be in deep enough to charge me for an alignment, so it wasn't terribly stupid since they didn't charge me anything for driving it on the ramp and wiggling the wheels a bit.

 

[Black Knight]

Re: Alignment problem, need some ideas.

That sucks, sorry you guys get that kind of service to deal with. Maybe it's Florida, but in the states i've worked in they can't charge you for an alignment unless they DO an alignment. Maybe a setup fee, but i've never heard of any shop charging an alignment setup fee. No wonder no one likes taking their vehicals to automotive shops :rant:

 

[KETCH-UP]

Re: Alignment problem, need some ideas.

I wish you luck, really seems like a strange problem. I have a couple ideas. Is it possible you added a rear sway bar with clamps on the axle tube? If you really tighten big "U" bolts alot, the tube could dent. The rear toe could then change.
This probably does not apply but it is possible to put the front center link in backwards. The truck will drive but the toe will change with steering angle. This will really mess with the wear on the front tires. I dont know if the rears would be affected? I have experienced this stupid mistake personally.

 

[SYO237]

Re: Alignment problem, need some ideas.

The problem was occuring well before the sway bar installation.

 

[lavaman]

Re: Alignment problem, need some ideas.

I think you might have bent axle tubes or some play in the axle bearings.

I hope you get the problem solved soon.

Terry