Real time help with front end alignment

onelesssblues · 10-29-09, 05:23 PM

***Sorry for the other thread under a different name, I needed to include real time help in the title.***

Im in the middle of doing a front end alignment via the post in FAQ. I loosened the tie rod clamps but there is a steering stabilizer mounted to the tie rod and the axle by a U-bolt preventing me from turning the tie rod to set the toe in. According to my fsm and this image from SOR this stabilizer shouldnt be there. Let me know what you guys think and what I should do. The more I look at it the more scared I am to remove it I dont even want to know how this thing is going to handle. Looks like a half assed fix to a wobble or something. My steering the way it is right now has some funky wander sometimes it feels like it wants to steer itself.

land crusher · 10-29-09, 05:43 PM

Ain't never seen a riggin like that. Does the rest of the set-up appear to be stock?

NocalFJ60 · 10-29-09, 06:00 PM

Mine had a steering stabilizer (shock) on it when I got it years ago. I took it off and just use the #31 in the picture above.

If you want to keep it, just loosen it and do the alignment and then tighten it down on the same place and check and make sure steering lock to lock the stabilzer has adequate travel.

Tighten up your drag link if you have not done that. Also if those are the original tie rod ends then they are probably not in great shape and you might look into replacing them all while you are aligning it.

Kurtis · 10-29-09, 07:16 PM

I bet someone installed that after the shackles. When you put on lift shackles it throws your castor off and your truck tends to wander. I'm sure it was just a quick fix for that. It doesn't really fix it though, the best fix for that would be to measure castor and throw in some shims to get it back to stock. With my spring over I'm running 4 degrees and it feels good truck doesn't wander or "drive it self". When I had longer shackles I put in 2.5 degreee shims to correct it. Personally I'd keep the steering stablizer anyway I don't see how it would hurt. If you get the castor and aligment right though on the road I had no ill effects at all without a steering stabalizer. Even now I haven't put it back on and 80 mph down the freeway with 35s no wobble or wander.

onelesssblues · 10-30-09, 10:42 AM

just loosened it and put it back on. strange setup right? Some interesting little things done here and there by the PO