STOOPID alignment.

[importmaster1300]

Ok, thhis is the only way I can explain this. I have to pull my wheel to the left to get my truck to drive straight. Can I align this by the tie rod on the pass side?
I would love to get some help tonight. Thanks.

[blazen]

you have to adjust both sides equaly or your alignment will be off. is the truck pulling while driving or is the steering wheel just crooked

[JROD©™®]

got the same problem...i figure i just need an alignment...

[blazen]

yeah your best bet would be to send it out. if you havent done it in a while i would be a good thing anyways

[Sparky2263]

Toe adjustment (tie rods) will not solve a pull. Radial lead in the tire can cause a pull so you might try rotating them. Rear end may also be cocked to one side causing a thrust pull. A tight string would reveal that.

A pull to the left would be greater camber or less caster than the rh side as far as alignment goes.

[importmaster1300]

Ok I adjusted my pass. tie rod. Now when I let go of the wheel and it pulls to the right but the wheels go a little to the left!

I think if Even out the tie rods it will be solved. I got new tires and an alignment before I dropped it. Before I dropped it it did the same thing. Firestone did a normal alignment and they said it would still pull to the right unless I paid $80 extra for them to adjust some more linkage.

[ZR1-S10]

Well If you dropped it and have new tires then go in and have them do a full 4 wheel alignment.

[importmaster1300]

Yeah I think I will get them to do one. I have free lifetime alignments @ Firestone.

[Sparky2263]

The "more linkage" they wanted to adjust is the caster and camber settings.

[bvr775]

Firestone did a normal alignment and they said it would still pull to the right unless I paid $80 extra for them to adjust some more linkage

there's your problem. Firestone sux. Do you really thinck a qualifyed tech is going to settle for 9bux an hour flag time. Your truck is lowered right? Don't give them the 80bux they'er just going have a new excuse every time. A complete 4 wheel alignment shouldn't cost more 60 on an s-10.

you take it to a chain store they'er going to use the stock specs. You need to find someone that can align a custom setup. If i remeber right you used spings to lower it right? this means you tie rods are angled wrong now(they'er too long now in outher words)you need some bumpsteer elimnators. this will drop the tierod ends about an 1"1/2 and regain the proper angle. I use the ones baer offers, but I'm sure there are outher company that offer them.

[importmaster1300]

I am getting it aligned now. I saw the notes from the first one and they said I need ned "slugs" for the control arm. Has anyone ever done this? I dropped my truck myself so I know the front suspension well. I will get it aligned again after.

[bvr775]

I think they'er talking abbout the upper alignment shims. Those will adjust your camber. they should come with the alignment.

[importmaster1300]

No they were talkin about the upper control arm bushings. How hard is it to completly remove the upper control arm, after you take off the spindle? All they do for the alignment is adjust the control arms.

[bvr775]

it's easy if you have smallhands. i don't so I use the power of air.

I've never heard a bushing called a slug before. Let me look this up.

[importmaster1300]

Ok cool.

[bvr775]

i've look through every tech book i've got, there is nothing called a slug on any GM supension part. if it is your bushing they should not have done the alignment. That is firestones policy. I bushing is easy to diagnose the entire control arm will move back and forth when you shake the wheel side to side. You'll usaly be able to hear a muffled bump in your front end when take off after backing up.

i really thinck you need a second opinion.

[importmaster1300]

I am just gonna change out the bushings anyway. I bet their pretty wore down. There only $20 a set. Then I will make firestone re-align it! LMAO

[Sparky2263]

The "slugs" they are referring to exist because GM only drilled a hole through the camber/caster eccentrics. The upper control arm bolts and eccentrics have to be removed in order to remove the "slugs" and make the slot usable. Obviously, this only has to be done once then the truck will align normally.

They make a special tool to do this but if you've ever removed the slugs from electrical junction boxes and such, you get the idea. Just a lot harder.

[importmaster1300]

do you think this will correct the s-lean?

[T Man]

no it wont correct the lean, alignment just makes you track straight. The lean has to do with your springs.

[stepside2k1s10]

Have you tried using spring isolator bushings for the lean? apparently, belltech makes one for the driver's side, it costs only $20. On what MrFrosty was talking about, I'm not sure.

[importmaster1300]

No I havent tried the bushing but I do have brand spankin new springs. It cant be the springs. Is it just that much heavier on that side?

[Sparky2263]

Import, didja' get a printout with that last alignment? Don't get another if they won't give you a before and after printout. All the Hunter equipment built since the late 80's will print before and after. Request setback measurements (have to hit another key on the keyboard to get that). If he doesn't know what you're talking about, run, not walk, to a guy that knows what he's doing.

As far as the lean, ehhh......Bent frame, screwed up lower control arm, wrong spring, spring out of spec. ad nauseum. Again, find a guy that knows what he's doing. As stated before, top notch alignment techs ain't working for the mass merchandisers. Find one. Maybe an alignment only shop?

[importmaster1300]

I got it done and it pulls slightly (less than before) to the right. The guy on the phone said he had to use some shims it took em 3 1/2 hours!

[Sparky2263]

Try swapping the tires?

Did it get a thrust (4-wheel) alignment?

[importmaster1300]

Nope no 4 wheel. It did this before I got my new tires.

[Sparky2263]

What's the difference between a "pull" and a "drift" as it relates to alignment?

Pull- let go of the steering wheel and it physically moves to a different position.

Drift- steering wheel doesn't move but vehicle gradually moves to one side

[bvr775]

all 2nd gen s-series pickups lean. you just don't notice it till lower them. It has to do with the the gas tank and a narrow frame and the GM engineers unwillingness to corect the problem. belltech make a 1 - 1 1/2 coil spacer to correct this or if you have natural coils you can trim a half coil off the top of one(don't do this with variable rate coils).