After front alignment

[rono]

I just replaced all the tie rods. Took truck to get front aligned and was told that ball joints were to bad to align front end. Had all 4 replaced. Now the truck will not straighten itself up after turns.



What's up?



Ron

 

[rscurtis]

I would say you have a tight ball joint. Alternately disconnect each tie rod end and turn the wheels back and forth by hand to find the tight one.

 

[S.Morris]

With the weight off the front end, smack the knuckle at side of ball joint with a 2 or 3lb hammer to relieve stress on the joint/knuckle from being pressed in.

Had to do this with a set of prosteers. Been perfect ever since.

 

[EDankievitch]

Who's ball joints did you use? we've had issues with Moog not being up to the task of the Diesel engine weight and they bind.

 

[jelag]

Years ago, I was taught that Caster (more positive) would help the wheel come back to straight ahead after a turn...

Caster is not a tire wearing angle... its what is the called the forward and rearward tilt of the king pin at the top... forward is negative and rearward is positive... of course now there are ball joints. . I'm going to guess that the spec calls for maybe a 1/4-3/4 of a degree positive and most alignment shops won't alter factory settings...

I used to take my trucks when we'd done front end work to an old guy across the street... he'd been doing it for 30 years. . he's ask a few questions and than would go to work. . I leaned after 20 years of owning a lot of trucks that your front end guy can save you money in tire wear if hes uses his knowledge of front ends and might move from the middle of the spec to one side or exceed it to solve the problem...

One last thought... Caster is what makes a shopping cart go straight ahead when you push it and let it go... without caster the wheels would let the cart go any direction...

 

[rono]

Thanks for the replies. The work was done at a NAPA service center so I assume they used their parts. Prior to this work, I never had a problem with the truck, easy steering, always returned to center etc... I'll check on the stress suggestions. I've had to smack u-joints to loosen them up after pressing them in. I'll see what happens.

Thanks, again.
Ron

 

[cerberusiam]

Factory setting on caster is 3 to 3. 5 degrees IIRC, but, that won't make it so the wheel will not center. Usually that is something binding. If they did not adjust the steering box then it is likely the ball joints.

The Moogs are good for this memory steer until they wear in. Not a good choice for these trucks along with a lot of others. Even the NAPA gold stuf leaves a lot to be desired on these trucks.

 

[Bob4x4]

Problems with short life and poor quality ball joints... ... ... ..... the reason Carli started building his own so we could actually continue to enjoy our trucks in the dirt for more than 20-30k at a time