2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission ALignment

[RClark]

Somewhere ther was a post on revised alignment specs for the 2d gen trucks.

Anyone remember it or have the new one for a 2002 3500?

 

[Dave M]

I don't know about "Revised Spec's" but this is what I did on my 97 2 1/2 years ago:

The alignment shop said the trucks camber was in spec (barely) but that the spec is so wide it could still cause problems. Everything in the front end was tight according to them. They removed a offset cylinder thing on the right front knuckle and replaced it to change and make the camber more negative to compenstae for the tire wear. This adjustment required replacement of the offset sleeve (cylinder) which changes both the caster and the camber so it takes longer to get all the specs set. After 4 months it appears to have corrected my problem. I requested they keep the caster between +3. 5 - +4. 5 deg, as recommend on this site, to correct for "death wobble".



Here are the alignment spec's the shop took before and after the camber change:



Before:

Camber:... Left= +0. 0 deg..... Right=+0. 2 deg

Caster... Left= +3. 5... ... Right=+4. 2

Toe:... . Left=+1/16"... ... Right=+2/16"



After:

Camber:... ... ... . Left=+0. 0 deg... Right= -0. 5 deg

Caster: Left= ... ... . +3. 5... ... . Right=+4. 1

Toe: Left=... ... +0/16" ... ... Right=+0/16"

You bacially want as much positive caster as you can get (3. 5-4. 5 degrees) and zero toe difference left to right and zero camber. These can be adjusted for problems with your truck.



Keep in mind the trucks specs are so wide that "In Spec" is not necessarily going to fix your particular problem.





Here are "Brents Specs" that have been around for some time:



FYI - alt. autos. dodge. trucks | Google Groups



This is his basic recommendation that I used as a guide but I found lots of folks recommending +3. 5-+4. 5 degree caster and zero toe:

Just because the alignment shop says "it's in specifications", that

does not mean it is set up for proper performance and handling!!!!!!!!!



Specifications (my personal settings for every Ram I align): all specs

below are in degrees.



... ... ... ... Left... ... ... ... ... Right

Caster... ... ... . 3. 2... ... ... ... ... ..... 3. 5

Cross Caster... ..... -. 3



Camber:..... -. 10... ... ... ... ... ... -10

Cross Camber... ... ... ..... 0. 0



Toe - standard specs, (maybe a little out if you tow a lot, they will

pull in as the front end lifts up).



Brent

ASE Certified

Gold Certified Chrysler tech

Also I found this revised list of Brents Specs which agree more with my suggestion of higher caster:



Ram steering specs

Specifications (my personal settings for every Ram I align):

Setting:... ... Left Wheel... . ... Right Wheel

Caster:... ... ... ... . 3. 2°... ... ... ... ... ... 3. 5°

Camber:... ... ... . -0. 10°... ... ..... -0. 10°

Cross Caster... ... ... . -0. 3°

Cross Camber... ... ... . 0. 0°

Toe Standard specs, (maybe a little out if you tow a lot, they will pull in as the front end lifts up).

Dave

 

[RClark]

Good specs, however when I connectmy 5th wheel the front end drops a bit. What should be done to the toe-in then?