After having the daystar about 2 months, I finally had it installed today. What can I say, I love it. Nice height and still soft ride. I was doing about 80 on the interstate coming home and it was smooth as glass. I got the 2.5" lift and it is not completely level but just right. I don't haul or tow a lot at all so whenever I would put something in the bed it wouldn't drop too much.

I had some mix up at the shop I took it to for installation. I guess they didn't hear me when I said I wanted it aligned. After install, the guy told me I didn't really need it. I have seen some posts where the only time people had problems with their daystar was because they did not have it aligned. I think I am going to have it aligned anyway, but that means another carpool ride because the shop I took it to outsources there alignments. I guess it was better they didn't align it because if they did some kid would had to have driven it to the alignment shop. Before I got the Daystar there was a slight shimmy in the steering wheel but not all the time, therefore I am thinking it is probably the road, but now that I got the daystar installed it is a little more noticable.

These maybe stupid questions and/or I have already answered them myself but....

How could the guy have known it didn't need an alignment without driving it?

Should I get the alignment done?

Other than the alignment, is there anything else I need adjusted in the front end so that the daystar won't mess anything up?

Is this shimmying a tire balance, alignment or road condition problem?

Thanks for the info guys. Sorry for babbling incoherently. I'll post some pics as soon as the wife gets back in town with the digital camera.

 

Sweet... can't wait to see the pix. So when you say it's not quite level, does that mean the front end still sits a tad lower than the rear?

As for the alignment, I'd get it. Why skimp out now? You can never be to careful!

 

I agree-

You've come this far, why stop now? It only completes the package.

I have the 2.5" Daystar sitting in my garage...been there a while. I am waiting to add tires before I raise it. I'd look kinda funny with the lift and these crappy Generals under me.

I too am hoping by 'almost' level you mean that the front end still sits a little lower than the rear.

Get the alignment.

 

Yes, the front end still sits a little lower. I will take some measurements this weekend. It feels good riding higher. Definitely can see more of the road and over more cars

Hey, Tuff, I was down in your neck of the woods last weekend. Smyrna isn't too far from you, is it? The wife has some friends down there. We Did the tourist thing. Stone mountain is awesome!

 

Definitely get it aligned and take it somewhere that does the laser alignment, it’s the best. I used an Auto Spring Lift Kit and had it aligned afterward. It wasn’t out much, just a little, but when your out of the + 0 – specs you will have abnormal tire wear. I paid $59.95 at a local tire shop that had the laser setup.

 

The place that I had the install done said the 04's were harder to align then older 150's. Is this true? Does the laser alignment make this process easier? I haven't heard of many places that have the laser alignments. I will have to call around.

 

Not far at all! 30 - 45 minutes.

If you came down I-85 you got within 8 miles of my house. Exit 111 if you want to grab a beer next time.

 

Laser alignment been around for a while now. Shops that have it usually don’t charge any more because it actually takes them less time and is easier. As far as the 2004 being harder to align, my guy didn’t say anything to me about that and I haven’t heard anything from the grapevine either.

 

23k miles on the truck, 19k miles on daystar lift with no allignment done. So far no problems. Tires are wearing smoothly.

Philip

 

I also did not get the alignment. I have about 10,000 on my 33 x1250s. The tires do not appear to wearing uneven and the ride is great.

 

Here are the results from my alignment. Can someone help me cipher this? Am I in spec now? I have never got a printout before and just wanted to be safe with the daystar. The guy said the toe was way off, which is what I expected.

Thanks guys

 

Looks like all they had to change was the toe.

I used an Auto Spring lift and my toe was the only thing that fell outside of the specs after the install too.

 

Actual is where you’re at now

Before is as it says, before

Specified Range that’s what you want to be in-between

everything looks OK

 

Dude you and I have the exact same truck except I recently put on a grille guard. I too have had the shimmy in the steering every now and then. Do you reccomend the daystar kit or not?

 

I drove in this morning to work and the vibration in the steering wheel is virtually gone. I guess the alignment took care of that. I would definitely recommend the daystar. Even though there was a barely noticable difference in ride quality when I originally put the kit in, the ride is starting to soften up. I think any leveling kit is going to make the appearance of the truck look better.