Front End Allignment
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Joined: Nov 2006
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Front End Allignment
I just put some M/T Atzs on my truck, and im worried my truck is out of alignment because my old mud grapplers were wearing uneven and cupping. Is there a easy way to check this without going to spend the 70$ to get it done?
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 55
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From: Houston
Actually, what I do is pretty easy, free and works well for me, though your results may vary and I'm not responsible for it. You need the track width of your truck front and back, 2 jack stands, some string, a tape measure, something flat to lay across the front wheel lip to lip (inside the lip) and a longer piece to go on top of that to clear the tire (straight 2x4's are cheap and work well to make this tool). In stock form the track width is the same front and back, lifted spindles change that and the width info is available from the manufacturer.
Park the truck on a level surface with the wheels straight. Doing one side at a time, place 2 jack stands beside the truck, 1 in front of the front wheel and 1 behind the rear wheel. Tie the string to each jack stand making sure its final contact with the stand is in the same place on both stands. Measure the distance from the frame to the string and adjust the stands until the distance is uniform front to back; for easy math make the distance to an even inch measurement. Strap your tool you made to the front wheel and take a measurement from the tool to the string at the front and also the back of the tire. If these measurements are the same then your tires are straight or close to it, if not then you need to make adjustments to the control arm under the truck to toe the tires in or out. There are ways to do these adjustments at home but you will have to research them because I'm not typing all of that on here. Repeat for other side.
If you have a level you can use the same tool vertically on the wheel to check camber, but adjusting camber will require installation of a set of camber bolts.
I hope this makes sense to you and helps you out.
Park the truck on a level surface with the wheels straight. Doing one side at a time, place 2 jack stands beside the truck, 1 in front of the front wheel and 1 behind the rear wheel. Tie the string to each jack stand making sure its final contact with the stand is in the same place on both stands. Measure the distance from the frame to the string and adjust the stands until the distance is uniform front to back; for easy math make the distance to an even inch measurement. Strap your tool you made to the front wheel and take a measurement from the tool to the string at the front and also the back of the tire. If these measurements are the same then your tires are straight or close to it, if not then you need to make adjustments to the control arm under the truck to toe the tires in or out. There are ways to do these adjustments at home but you will have to research them because I'm not typing all of that on here. Repeat for other side.
If you have a level you can use the same tool vertically on the wheel to check camber, but adjusting camber will require installation of a set of camber bolts.
I hope this makes sense to you and helps you out.
