Tire alignment Dealer or Tire shop?

[BIGNASTY]

I vote for Pruetts Precision Alignment in Redlands CA had my 04 into and including the SO CALLED dealer and all said that it was time for anything from complete rebuild to just ball joints, bearings. Took it to Pruetts told them the story the first thing out of his mouth is quit taking it to the dealer. Did a 4 wheel alignment on it. And I have had absolutely no problems from that time 5k ago. Its just my opinion but DEALERS SUCK BIG TIME crooks with a wrench

 

[Cosmo]

As a dealer tech, I resent being called a crook with a wrench.

Your local dealer may very well be a crook, but not all of us are. I've actually been authorized to do about 12 hours of work this week that I turned down because the customers needed to spend their money on tires. Could I have done the work and sent them on their way with potentially dangerous tires? Yeah, but I'd much rather have my customers safe and able to pay for their tires. They can come back when they've got the coin for their preventative maintenance.

 

[bluewingron]

whats the answer to the question ?????? how do they set the caster.

 

[SDrake]

I have never had my truck to an alignment shop I always set the toe myself and unless you really have something messed up or hut something the caster and camber shouldn't change. I never had any steering issues or exessive wear on the tires..... so I cant vote either...

ditto -- pretty easy to do. Even easier when you get the hang of it. Then watch your tires and if you get a excessiive toe in wear pattern turn the tie rod link 1/4 or 1/2 turn in the toe out direction and continue watching. -- or visa versa if you have excessive toe out wear pattern. My front tires wear about as flat as the rears doing this. there is stuff going on as you load the truck the way you use it that affects toe in unless you have t-steering and even then you can dial it in to a better alignment than yo will probably get at an alignment shop because they can't anticipate what you actually do with the truck.

 

[CKESSEL]

Regardless of which shop you use, request and accept ONLY a 4 wheel alignment. Yes, the rear is not adjustable. What you are after is to have the front aligned to the rear so the truck is not going two different directions. You can have the front aligned and have it in spec, but if its not done with laser targets on all four wheels you will have issues. At a shop I was working at, a customer had his 07 4X aligned to spec at a dealer but the wheelbase was off 1" between sides and the front was shifted out 1" to the left. Can't imagine why it was fun to drive and had tire wear issues.