2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Alignment Question---who should do it? Dealer v. Private

[PCarbonaro]

What's the consensus? Dodge dealer vs. private shop (chains like NTB tell me my dually won't fit on their lift). If the answer is private shop, anybody have recommendations for southern New Jersey area?

 

[redram]

I've got 155K on my truck and have yet to have to align it.



Why with such a new truck do you need an alignment?



You might want to look for a 'truck' shop that is used to doing heavier vehicles. It's not that the regular shop can not perform the alignment - it's that our training whells do not fit on their racks.

 

[Jetson]

A shop that does frame repair is usually best. Look in the Yellow Pages under Wheels-Aligning, or Wheels-Frame & Axle Service. Their shops, not the dealer and not the tire stores, usually have more competent front end men.

 

[PCarbonaro]

Originally posted by redram

I've got 155K on my truck and have yet to have to align it.



Why with such a new truck do you need an alignment?



You might want to look for a 'truck' shop that is used to doing heavier vehicles. It's not that the regular shop can not perform the alignment - it's that our training whells do not fit on their racks.

I wasn't the original owner, and so I don't know what kind of "pounding" the front end took. I can't stand the steering wheel being off center, plus I'm getting new tires--all in all, a good time to get an alignement. BTW, I do an alignment on my cars about once every year or two.

 

[PCarbonaro]

Originally posted by Jetson

A shop that does frame repair is usually best. Look in the Yellow Pages under Wheels-Aligning, or Wheels-Frame & Axle Service. Their shops, not the dealer and not the tire stores, usually have more competent front end men.

Thanks Jetson, I did just that. Came up with some places that stated they did trucks--now it is going to be pot luck whether they are good or not.



Would you guys show up with alignment specs or just let them look up the specs?

 

[2broke2smoke]

remember ...



amateurs built and commanded the ark



professionals built and commanded the titanic



i would let most of the amateurs on this site work on my ride before i would let an "authorized technician" that i didn't know



go into the shop and talk to the guy who is doing the job, not the owner or manager ...



everyone tends to do a little better if they know that you are aware of who is responsible for the job ...



point is that either can do a fine job, depends more on the quality of the individual, not his title



good luck

 

[rrausch]

A lot can be done on these trucks by us owners and by good amateurs, but

aligning these Dodge Truck front ends is not a job for beginners I. M. O.



It takes a special rack, tools and a LOT of knowledge to get it right the first time.

If you need your front end aligned take it to an Alignment shop which does a lot of TRUCKS. The worst place is a tire shop where minimum wage morons align Hondas all day long.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Call some of the local 4wd shops and see if they have any recommendations for the alignment shop.



Brian

 

[Jetson]

You can print the alignment specs from Dave Fritz's site and take them with you for reference or discussion with the tech. Find them here: http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/specs/00_steer_specs.html



I had a pull to the right when I took my truck in and my truck was already close to those those specs. I discussed it with the tech and he reduced the caster on the left front more than those specs to reduce the pull(countering the crown of the road).



The moral of the story is talk to them and let them know what the truck is doing, the specs can be bumped a little if needed.

 

[mediccummin]

I would also have them check the rear axle and make sure it is square. The dealer that attempted to do mine screwed it up. They tried 6 times but the problem was in the rear end it was 5/16 off. It was causing my truck to dog track. The only reason I went to the dealer at the time was because the truck had less than 1000 miles on it. I finally went to a guy that does 4x4 all day long and he squared it up nice and straight. No problems since even after suspension changes.



I would stay away from the dealers like the plague. They don't seem to care much. Good luck.

 

[OTRPU]

My Rams been stretched. . . would the original spec still be what I should have it set to? Doubt stretching would change anything, but I really don't know. Getting some different wear on the front right compared to the left, and steering wheel is off-center a tad. About to replace steers, think it wise to have the front end looked at and alligned.

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Cheers,

Steve J

 

[Jetson]

Stretching it shouldn't change the specs you need, but they need to know if you usually have weight in the rear so they can compensate. Actually, it would be best if you could find a place that can do the alignment with your trailer attached(or however most of your miles are put on it). Most truck alignment shops can do that.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Originally posted by Jetson

... he reduced the caster on the left front more than those specs to reduce the pull(countering the crown of the road).

2WD, correct?



Brian

 

[Jetson]

2WD, correct?

Yes, 2WD.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

If you want it done right - do it yourself! - at least that is my motto



Yes, I do alignments myself - but not for other people.



Just remember you can only do relative alignments, not absolute.



So, you adjust the setup based upon tire wear and if it is pulling or not.



You do need a flat surface, a caster/camber gauge and a stick to measure toe in.



IF you have a big problem/change, then it would be best to get a shop with a 4wheel rack to do a thrust angle alignment on it - that takes care of the dog track problem.



There are a lot of web sites that sell good and cheap alignment tools . Eastwood company is a place to start:

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=549&itemType=CATEGORY&iMainCat=545&iSubCat=549&page=1



I got all my alignment stuff from a shop going out of business - snap-on and bear equipment - for $400.



Good luck!

Dan

 

[bighammer]

I know of at least 2 dealerships I dealt with sent the trucks out. (so taking it to the dealer is having a private shop doing it anyway)



I would check to see if the dealer does it or who they use. Also 4wd clubs or stores.

 

[OTRPU]

Took OTRPU to Bear Frame & Axle, they spotted bad upper ball joints. Had Reliance Truck & Auto replace them. Back to Bear for the alignment. Then Performanc Wheel & Tire for new steers. Under load from Bristol, IN to Kaysville, UT again, feels like a different truck. There goes half the stack money. Guess it's better to have things right in the front end though.



Cheers,

Steve J