Any front end/alignment members here?

[MGibbons]

Gentlemen, if your dealer says no caster adjustment find another dealer. The 4x4 does have a caster adjustment. Look under your truck and you will see 4 arms extending from your front drive axle towards the rear of the truck. At the front of the lower arm on each side you will see a cam eccentric. The arm is black. The cam eccentric is silver. This is your caster adjusment. My shop is located in Lawrenceville, GA. Stop by and I will be glad to show you.

 

[DPKetchum]

I was under mine earlier today before I read this and noticed them. Thanks for the heads up. P. M. or post were you shop is in L'ville. Can you accommodate a dually. I'm near Athens.

 

[MGibbons]

Our shop is at hwy 316 and collins hill road... NTB... We do have a rack for duallies. 770-339-1000. . mark

 

[DPKetchum]

Know were you are. I will cal and make a appintment and we can check specs and go from there. Thanks.

 

[Summit]

DPKetchum, have you paid MGibbons a visit yet?



took mine to les schwab and they told me that my truck is within spec. but they're software hasnt been updated since 2001!!!.



are the 04 spec's the same as 2nd gen?(01) i know they didn't change much but. and of course they told me no fix.

 

[DPKetchum]

No I haven't. Can't imagine specs from a 01/02 are the same as a 03. Different platform,different truck.

 

[Summit]

schwab guy said they only update alignment software every 3years? guess i'll try to get the specs from dealer and bring to schwab.

 

[DPKetchum]

Every three YEARS! New models come out every year and some have specs change midyear etc. The shops I've worked in got updates quarterly!

 

[Summit]

went to dealer, got spec's. , off to schwab,, recheck , adjusted tow in some but made no diff. it's within dodge spec's now?



now what??



i have the readings if it can help(MGibbons), anyone,,,hello,,,:{

 

[MGibbons]

Mr. Summit,



The toe in adjustment is for proper tire wear. It will not help any pull problems. The caster angle needs to be adjusted to correct pull problems. As stated above you can offset the caster lower on the left side if vehicle is pulling to right... . always criss cross your front tires first to make sure pull is not tire related. Factory specs do not always work in every case. I align cars and trucks for a local Dodge dealer when they cannot fix the problem at hand.

 

[MGibbons]

Mr. Summit,



Please post your alignment readings... . thanks

 

[Summit]

hope this makes sense?

left front right front



before / after before / after



caster; 5. 07 / 5. 06 4. 92 / 4. 82



camber 0. 29 / 0. 18 0. 47 / 0. 33



toe 0. 10 / 0. 07 0. 23 / 0. 09



sai 12. 96 13. 96



included 13. 16 14. 25

angle



left rear right rear



camber -0. 33 / -0. 37 -0. 12 / -0. 08



toe 0. 04 / 0. 05 -0. 34 / -0. 37



alignment values



front rear



total toe 0. 16 -0. 32



set back -0. 06 -----



thrust angle ----- 0. 21



camber diff. -0. 15 -0. 29



caster diff. 0. 24 -----



this is how my report looks. good luck.

my guy says cant adjust just one caster bolt becuase it wont twist the axle?? what??



thanks Al

 

[Summit]

sorry i didnt hit preview. thats not how i typed it





let me know if it don't make sense.

 

[MGibbons]

Both caster bolts must be adjusted to twist the axle. The caster is lower on the right. This is your pull or drift to the right. . Adjust the caster to have . 75 degrees lower on the left side. Are your toe reading in inches or degrees? Did you criss cross the front tires to make sure you do not have a tire pull?

 

[DPKetchum]

From the readings does left caster need to go lower/back and right caster needs to come higher/forward?

 

[Summit]

last week they switched front tires, no fix.

toe is degrees.

 

[MGibbons]

Yes, left caster lower back and right caster higher forwards. If the toe angle is in degrees I would adjust to . 03 left and . 03 right. This equals 1/32 inch total toe in. This will give you the best tire wear.

 

[Summit]

MGibbons, thank you for your help. i will bring it back to schwab thursday am. sure hope this is the cure. i WILL let you all know.

 

[RAMINSPEED]

I also had a clunk problem after installing the 2" level kit. I re tightened the track bar and it seems to help. If memory serves me right it should have been torqued to around 200 pounds. The steering tracked fine until I got it realigned after the lift. now it wanders and pulls some. I am also seeing what I feel is excessive tire wear around the outside of the front tires. I know they didn't use specs for an 03, I think it was for an 01. I'm bringing in the the truck for some warranty work next week, maybe I'll just have the dealer re align it.

 

[MGibbons]

Raminspeed,



When you lifted the front 2 inches this may introduce more wandering or sway. You now have more air under the truck. The 4x4's wander more than the 2wd anyway. It would be nice if Dodge would build the 4x4 with a rack&pinion steering like the 2wd models. This would improve the steering.