Alignment Question

[CHinton]

Can the front-end be adjusted with a bit of negative camber as a solution for the outside shoulders wearing down smooth in less than 16,000 miles?

The wear was much more pronounced on the passenger side but it continues wear faster than I expect even after what I expect is a 'normal' alignment. The tires were rotated along with the alignment.

If I recall properly, adding some negative camber was the solution for my mustang a decade, or two, back.

 

[EDankievitch]

There is No Camber adjustment on our trucks. Only caster and Toe in. Too much toe in will wear the outsides of the tires as your rig is showing. Our trucks do not need as much as the factory is setting them at.

 

[jhenderson]

Adjustment can be made via offset upper ball joints.

 

[AEdelheit]

If you need an adjustable ball joint then something else is wrong, chances are your alignment is off. Ive found 0.00-0.05 toe in and 3.7-4.5 deg of castor works well.

 

[MLee]

This seems to be a problem with the new trucks. The shops say they are in spec, and maybe they are to them, but its wrong, and your getting tire wear any way so something is wrong with this picture. My son has this same thing going on and his14, the shop told him this same thing. I told him its wrong, he won't beleive me.

 

[Bob4x4]

If you watch a new radius arm truck make a tight u turn you will see how much the tires scrub the shoulders

 

[shorthorn]

Yep.... my 14 is the same way... dealer says alignment is in spec

 

[Slow Six]

I started having wear and steering problems after the tie rod recall. Talked to the dumb *** service department and all they could say it is in spec. Took it to an experienced alignment shop where they told me the factory specs don't work. They set the toe in to a setting that works for them. So far it has been good and steers a lot better. An experienced alignment technician knows what works.

 

[EDankievitch]

Ya have to ask does the shop doing the alignment make money selling tires? Anything they can do to sell more tires will be their business plan. In spec is close enough but can shave many miles off the life of your tires.

 

[Cummins12V98]

You have TOO much toe in. Spec is up to 1/4", set to 1/32" and you will be good to go. Some will have a different was to describe the setting.

Yes all RAM's are set to the upper limits so they track straight down the road!

 

[tommyturbo]

I wonder if the preferred alignment specs shown in the TDR issue 67, page 109 would apply to Gen 4.
It shows a very small toe in spec. Since that article, I have asked the tire shop to try these specs but
they refused to deviate from the factory. After each alignment, I would get some drifting left or
right and had to realign over again. It seemed like a crap shoot. One time I just bought new tires
and alignment the evening before we headed out for a 1000 mi RV tow trip. I noticed extreme
radius scrub and outer front treads severely worn. Came back to the shop to show it and
they were shocked at the wear. Had them swap tires front to back and insisted to try the small
toe in specks. After that, steering was the best ever. Front tread wear was also even and less.
I wonder.

 

[shorthorn]

I wonder if the preferred alignment specs shown in the TDR issue 67, page 109 would apply to Gen 4.
It shows a very small toe in spec. Since that article, I have asked the tire shop to try these specs but
they refused to deviate from the factory. After each alignment, I would get some drifting left or
right and had to realign over again. It seemed like a crap shoot. One time I just bought new tires
and alignment the evening before we headed out for a 1000 mi RV tow trip. I noticed extreme
radius scrub and outer front treads severely worn. Came back to the shop to show it and
they were shocked at the wear. Had them swap tires front to back and insisted to try the small
toe in specks. After that, steering was the best ever. Front tread wear was also even and less.
I wonder.

hmmm... curious what others think of this... otherwise I am gonna try 12v's toe spec and try to get a local shop to fix me up

 

[jhenderson]

For what it's worth I set my 3rd gen between 1/16-1/32 degree toe in and the tires wore evenly.

 

[CHinton]

Thanks all. I'll see see about getting the toe in adjusted and get the before/after figures as well. they've just been telling me it's 'in spec'.

 

[CHinton]

I got a PM reminding me I hadn't closed the loop on this.

I took the truck to an independent shop and asked for the 1/32" alignment. They said the 1/32" wasn't too far off from what their machine wanted to do and wanted to start with their machine specs. I told them I'd be back and ****** if it chewed up the tires I just bought from them and as far as I was concerned I knew who'd be responsible.

So far they look like they're running ok.

They did say it wasn't uncommon to have folks pull out of the local dealers and be out of alignment.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

CHinton:I just PM you thanks for the info.

 

[Bob4x4]

Once again just for the l of it I will say again the factory spec is nit 1/4 incnh-but .25 degree Max

 

[jhenderson]

Do you agree that a 1/4 degree is too much toe? My trucks seem to like 1/16 -1/8 degree max.

 

[Bob4x4]

Do you agree that a 1/4 degree is too much toe? My trucks seem to like 1/16 -1/8 degree max.

As long as all the parts are fresh and tight less toe is fine,with this new style(for us)there are some interesting things that can happen.I had a truck come in Friday that had some brand new 35's on new wheels complain of a 2' diference in ride height side to side and no tpms..Of course he would not admit one of those aftermarket alignment shops had just FIXED his truck 3 days ago.The extreme cross caster adjustment gave an actual 1' diff in height and they installed incompatible sensors-what I deal with,lol and of course he was ranting about warranty NEEDS to fix it

 

[Eagle6.7L]

Bob 4x4,thanks so much for the reply.Tis sweet to have tech's on this website,well all service has been done,tire rotation fluid checks,and tire wear is good no concern from the aligment tech.He look at the settings done at 1026 miles and I have 11,950 miles now and said when you hit your next tire rotation ,and we are offering a special bring it in just to check the aligment just to make sure all is good.I and going on a long trip some 4-5000 miles of towing our 5th wheel,and have received the blessing of my the service dept.