How to align truck after lowering

[RedRam1]

I need some advise from the experts. Here's the deal:



I am lowering the back of my truck using some home made spacer blocks designed by Jumbo Jet - ref topic in Towing and Hauling entitled "truck too tall in rear". I know the truck will have to be realigned after I get the blocks installed, and I' m wondering how to have it set up.

My truck steers very well, with no appreciable wander, or other undesirable traits (I've driven others that wander, I guess I really got lucky on mine, it drives the best of any 4x4 CTD I have ever driven, and I've driven several).



Should I have the truck realigned to factory specs, or the specs recommended by several guys here on the boards? I know, from reading old posts on steering wander, that the non-factory specs seem to help guys with steering problems, but so far (18K miles), my truck still steers fine, the tires are wearing very evenly as well. I seem to remember reading that the new specs help wander, but increase tire wear slightly. What should I do? All I want is to have the truck steer as well as it does now. Also, does anyone have the "TDR" alignment specs handy? I'm sure with a little searching I can find them, but I'll bet you all can save me some time. Thanks for any advise.



Jim

 

[WyoJim]

RedRam1... I don't think lowering the rear of the truck a couple of inches will affect the front end alighnment one bit.



I bought my truck new in '98, loaded my camper on it and drove its first 2000 miles to PA. It was so far out of line that it wore the tires bald on the outside edges. I had a friend in PA line it up to the factory specs and it has been perfect ever since. It don't seem to care whether the camper is on and pushing the rear down about 3 inches or not. The truck drives great and the tires wear even.

If I have to have it lined up again it will be to the factory specs and if that don't work I will redo it to the forum specs.

 

[Un-Hemi]

I agree with WyoJim. Don't touch it. Leave it alone. Let sleeping dogs lie. ..... get the picture?



Tom

 

[RedRam1]

Thanks, guys. I think I'm going to install my shorter blocks, and, if the truck still drives ok, just keep an eye out for abnormal tire wear. If it steers good, and the tires continue to wear ok, I'll save the alignment for when I replace the tires.