Tire, Wheel & Suspension Discussions Based on Tire, Wheel & Suspension Set Ups Including Lift Kits , Lowering , Rims , Tires , Offsets and More

How to do Alignment at home

Old Mar 17, 2012 | 08:32 PM
  #1  
oct6454's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Diesel Fan
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Gig Harbor WA
Default How to do Alignment at home

Hey, just replaced my tie rods today and now my alignment is way out of wack. Looking for some tips on how to re align it enough to be fairly driveable.


Thanks, Oliver
 
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2012 | 08:37 PM
  #2  
2500HeavyDuty's Avatar
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,872
Likes: 764
From: Houston, Tx
Default

if you just did the tie rods you can adjust the toe and use a tape measure to measure the distance between a reference point in the tread on the front of the steer tires and the back of the steer tires, a little tow in is ok. but not so much and eyeball it straight helps too.
 
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2012 | 08:58 PM
  #3  
oct6454's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Diesel Fan
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Gig Harbor WA
Default

Okay thats what i had in mind. Thanks for your advice!
 
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2012 | 09:39 PM
  #4  
Eddiebuntain's Avatar
Diesel Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 427
Likes: 38
From: G.I. Nebraska
Default

You'll want about 1/32"-1/16" toe in, measured as close to halfway up the front and rear of the tire as possible. Front wheel drives might require slight toe out to allow the tires to straighten out under power.
 
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2012 | 10:18 PM
  #5  
Truno223's Avatar
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: CT
Default

A trick I use to find a center point on the tires is to put the front end in the air on jackstands, then spin the tires and hit them with chalk to get a nice round line.
 
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2012 | 09:43 AM
  #6  
1AMatt's Avatar
Site Sponsor - 1aauto
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 68
From: Pepperell, MA
Default

Yup, a tape measure will do the trick. As stated above toe it in just a tad
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2012 | 01:35 PM
  #7  
s10driver85's Avatar
Diesel Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 271
Likes: 11
From: Everett, WA
Default

i just did all my tie rods, got pretty close. on the alignment rack i was only .45 degrees off. felt good about that. measured the tires front and back, marked measure points, then measured center to center on rod ends and duplicate with new hard ware. don't be cheap spend the 100 bucks to save your tires. go to your local alignment shop
 
Reply
Old Apr 9, 2012 | 02:50 PM
  #8  
1AMatt's Avatar
Site Sponsor - 1aauto
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 68
From: Pepperell, MA
Default

Originally Posted by s10driver85
go to your local alignment shop
Yep that would be your best bet! They will get it exact
 
Reply
Old Apr 9, 2012 | 02:56 PM
  #9  
A/Ox4's Avatar
Diesel Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 126
Likes: 8
From: Ventura, CA
Default

Many shops offer free alignment cheeky. I get mine checked every 6 months. Then it's only $50 to correct if I want to.


Sent from my iPhone
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
autostroker
Ford Powerstroke 94-98 7.3L
1
Jul 4, 2015 10:39 AM
ramrunner01
24 Valve 2nd Gen Dodge Cummins 98.5-02
6
Apr 27, 2015 12:01 PM
gunman41mag
The Sportsmen's Lounge
0
Mar 16, 2015 07:43 PM
ajwright64
Ford Powerstroke 99-03 7.3L
0
Feb 17, 2015 10:08 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:14 AM.