Tires, wear and alignment

[AWay]

The factory Gen Ams had 47K on them and were down to the wear lines. Fronts looked worse even though I had rotated religously. Broke down and paid the price to put Michelins on. When they checked the alignment it was so far out the computer rejected a couple of readings. Poor guys worked for 3 hours and finally got all settings to spec. They found a cambor bolt that wouldn't stay tight, as soon as they drove it, would loosen up, replace that and all is well.



I had this work done at a independant shop. The dealer has aligned this truck twice in the past 2 years and has said each time "Oh it was a little out and we adjusted it". I've never really believed them. Since the day that it was new, it has always had a slight pull to the left. Now you can turn loose of the wheel and she will truck right down the road, no pull either way.



Dealer has stole my last dime, will never let them touch my truck agin.

 

[rbattelle]

They found a cambor bolt that wouldn't stay tight, as soon as they drove it, would loosen up, replace that and all is well.

Camber bolt? Where are the camber bolts? I had no idea camber was adjustable on these trucks.

Did they change things after 2006? The manuals I have up to 2006 confirm that camber is not adjustable.

How in the world do you adjust camber on a vehicle with non-adjustable ball joints and fixed geometry axle yokes? Shims?

Ryan

 

[SierraRam]

I think he was talking about the Caster Cam bolt.

 

[AWay]

I believe that the camber is adjustable on this truck in factory form. Not sure when they made the change.

 

[rbattelle]

I think he was talking about the Caster Cam bolt.

I can't imagine mixing up caster and camber, so my inclination is to take AWay at his word.

Having said that, I can't find any reference in any of the service manuals about anything even remotely resembling a camber bolt. And all the manuals state clearly that "camber is not adjustable" (at least on the 4wd axles... the 2wd is more vague).

And like I said, I can't picture a way to adjust camber with fixed axle yokes and ball joints unless you use shims. And then, if you use a shim you're quite limited by the fit between the boss on the bearing and the knuckle.

Is this a 2wd front end? <---Just read your signature. 2wd front end! Okay, I'm not familiar with that arrangement, but it makes sense that one would have adjustable camber. Sorry for the confusion.

Ryan

 

[FTotts]

Hey Ryan

I was gonna say the same thing til I read the Signature line and see he is driving a 2wd. I think they are way different than ours. It is good tha the got the problem taken care of.

Fred

 

[wneubauer]

Yea, they are different. They don't chew up ball joints like ours do... :-laf