do your own alignment

euclid · 01-26-06, 06:13 PM

Unless you have indications in the handling that the caster is off, then it's not worth paying an alignment shop. Caster is only adjusted by stuffing tapered shims between the axle and the springs, and camber can't be adjusted.

The only other adjustment, and what a shop will charge you $50 to adjust is something you can do in an hour or so in your driveway. Here's how:

Toe in is very important, but easy to set. Measure up from the ground to the middle of the hub, then put a strip of masking tape across the front tires at the same height, front and rear. Then find the middle of the tread, you end up with a big + on the tires. Then just measure the distance between the + signs on the front and rear of the tire, adjust till the front is about 1/8" less than the rear. It really helps to have a second person to hold the other end of the tape steady on the other side of the truck.

euclid · 01-26-06, 06:14 PM

front view

Tinker · 01-26-06, 08:01 PM

There's a post recently where a mudder stated (we're all mudders, no?) had set his toe similar to you, but found out his truck drove better after a professional job.

I think your method would be great to get "close enough" after a suspension rebuild or upgrade. Not trying to diss ya, but do we have a conclusive answer for the best way to get our trucks aligned?

lowtideride · 01-26-06, 08:21 PM

Yulp adjust toe in by myself. After the monkeys at the shop fudged it up...

Cruiserdrew · 01-26-06, 08:29 PM

All 3 of my Cruisers have driveway adjusted toe-in. As you say, it's dead simple.

euclid · 01-26-06, 09:21 PM

I doubted myself the first time I did it. Paid $50 to find out I did it right.

SurfPonto · 01-26-06, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euclid

Unless you have indications in the handling that the caster is off, then it's not worth paying an alignment shop. Caster is only adjusted by stuffing tapered shims between the axle and the springs, and camber can't be adjusted.

Toe in is very important, but easy to set. Measure up from the ground to the middle of the hub, then put a strip of masking tape across the front tires at the same height, front and rear. Then find the middle of the tread, you end up with a big + on the tires. Then just measure the distance between the + signs on the front and rear of the tire, adjust till the front is about 1/8" less than the rear. It really helps to have a second person to hold the other end of the tape steady on the other side of the truck.

OK now I have a weekend project. Looks pretty straightforward.

Bob
1977 FJ40 "MuMu"
1992 FJ80 "Tubbs"

1982 FJ60 FS

Tinker · 01-27-06, 05:12 AM

Measuring across the tires assumes they're perfectly round & straight. How about putting the front axle on jack stands & holding a piece of chalk stationary as close to the center of the tire as you can while turning each wheel, thereby inscribing a circumference line? Then measure around each wheel & mark 2 halfway points. Then use a level to get these marks horizontal & proceed with the measuring & adjustment of the tie rod.

sven · 01-27-06, 06:13 AM

so, all you need is a tape mearsure and some masking tape.....you don't even have to touch a wrench. This is great...I can't believe the shops aren't onto this one. I'll be trying it this weekend.

60wag · 01-27-06, 06:54 AM

You'll need a wrench or two to make an actual adjustment. Finding a good referance point on the tire is easier said than done. I like Tinkers idea of a chalk circle drawn while rotating the tire.

sven · 01-27-06, 07:40 AM

the directions for adjustment...this should be in the factory manual though....haven't looked but need to do some on my unit

nuclearlemon · 01-27-06, 07:54 AM

i've done all mine with no issues.

Clutchee · 01-27-06, 08:13 AM

Great write up Greg!

bustanutley · 01-27-06, 08:53 AM

I pull my wheels on my 40 and use c-clamps to clamp long pieces of angle to my rotors, measure and do the math to make it 1 deg toe-in per FSM. Doesn’t really matter much when your housing is kinda tweaked though.

FJTOYMAN · 01-27-06, 10:02 AM

Great write up.

This should be added to the FAQ.

euclid · 01-27-06, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sven

the directions for adjustment...this should be in the factory manual though....haven't looked but need to do some on my unit

Yeah, step one of every project is go get your FSM and read what it says.

daner · 01-27-06, 11:32 AM

You must have been reading my mind when when you did this write up-Thanks for sharing!

mmw68 · 01-30-06, 07:35 AM

Greg,
That was great, now please do a write up of the power steering box, that is next weeks project.

-mark

euclid · 01-30-06, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmw68

Greg,
That was great, now please do a write up of the power steering box, that is next weeks project.

-mark

Ok, here it is:
Take the box off. Send it to West Texas Off Road. When it gets back put it back on. Done.

HTH

LoneRanger · 01-30-06, 06:22 PM

Is it the same for 60s as for 62's?

Cruiserdrew · 01-30-06, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps40-2

Is it the same for 60s as for 62's?

Yes, and 80's and 40's as well.

WSUCruiser · 01-30-06, 07:39 PM

What are you guys using to turn the bars. Mine are stuck. Tried a pipe wrench, but i was concerned that i'd rip off a tie-rod end.

It's soaking in PBBlaster right now. Any other clues?

-Dave-

euclid · 01-30-06, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCruiser

What are you guys using to turn the bars. Mine are stuck. Tried a pipe wrench, but i was concerned that i'd rip off a tie-rod end.

It's soaking in PBBlaster right now. Any other clues?

-Dave-

Try heating them if PB doesn't work.

mudpaws · 05-04-07, 12:31 AM

Someone mentioned earlier about raising the truck on stands: For any front end aligning, you definitely need to have the truck on the ground, "loaded" suspension---meaning truck's weight on springs/front end. HTH

cody c · 05-04-07, 07:17 AM

did mine kinda like that, brought it to a mechanic i trust, and found it to be within less than 1 degree of where it should be.

Crashly · 05-04-07, 09:36 AM

I like the way you did the measuring, But what about getting the front wheels in line with the rear wheels?

John McVicker · 05-04-07, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUCruiser

What are you guys using to turn the bars. Mine are stuck. Tried a pipe wrench, but i was concerned that i'd rip off a tie-rod end.

It's soaking in PBBlaster right now. Any other clues?

-Dave-

You can't really hurt the bar with a pipe wrench. If it's stuck use a big wrench..REALLY big if necessary.

Mine was so stuck one time, took it to a shop, put it on a lift & we both hung off the wrench & still no movement. Shop owner gave up. Took it back home & got the biggest pipe wrench I had, handle was probally 15-18 in long, got my really small $19 Harbor Freight floor jack to the handle. And it poped right loose. Once loose, then you can move the bar either way for proper adjustment. Like I said, you can't hurt that bar with a wrench.

Good write up Greg.

John

Mace · 05-04-07, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudpaws

Someone mentioned earlier about raising the truck on stands: For any front end aligning, you definitely need to have the truck on the ground, "loaded" suspension---meaning truck's weight on springs/front end. HTH

With a vehicle that has IFS you are absolutely correct, but a truck with a straight axle, even on jackstands the truck has the weight on the axle. Toe in does not change with suspension travel..

I opersonally use a nail or something allong those lines kinda like Tinker does. MUCH easier than figuring out the center of your tire with some tape

01-26-06, 06:13 PM	#1
euclid IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Jackson, MS TLCA# 13014 Posts: 2,987	do your own alignment Unless you have indications in the handling that the caster is off, then it's not worth paying an alignment shop. Caster is only adjusted by stuffing tapered shims between the axle and the springs, and camber can't be adjusted. The only other adjustment, and what a shop will charge you $50 to adjust is something you can do in an hour or so in your driveway. Here's how: Toe in is very important, but easy to set. Measure up from the ground to the middle of the hub, then put a strip of masking tape across the front tires at the same height, front and rear. Then find the middle of the tread, you end up with a big + on the tires. Then just measure the distance between the + signs on the front and rear of the tire, adjust till the front is about 1/8" less than the rear. It really helps to have a second person to hold the other end of the tape steady on the other side of the truck. Attached Images __________________ Greg Thompson CottonLand Cruisers 00 Camry: Stock 5SFE - 27 MPG 89 FJ62: OME 2.5, 2" BL, Superior shackles, F250 towers, 315 BFG KM2's on zj80 wheels, Extreme A440, FF,4:88,RDB,longs,ARB front,Lockright rear,Warn XD9K in Rover AL bumper, Kaymar, Wildernes Roofrack, Marlin Sliders, SROR 1/4 sliders. Last edited by euclid; 05-26-06 at 02:53 PM.

01-26-06, 06:14 PM	#2
euclid IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Jackson, MS TLCA# 13014 Posts: 2,987	front view Attached Images __________________ Greg Thompson CottonLand Cruisers 00 Camry: Stock 5SFE - 27 MPG 89 FJ62: OME 2.5, 2" BL, Superior shackles, F250 towers, 315 BFG KM2's on zj80 wheels, Extreme A440, FF,4:88,RDB,longs,ARB front,Lockright rear,Warn XD9K in Rover AL bumper, Kaymar, Wildernes Roofrack, Marlin Sliders, SROR 1/4 sliders.

01-26-06, 08:21 PM	#4
lowtideride Ride On... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Florida TLCA# 14891 Posts: 6,974	Yulp adjust toe in by myself. After the monkeys at the shop fudged it up... __________________ www.NFCruiserheads.org 1983 SR5 Hilux... has had no peers for 50 years...

01-26-06, 08:29 PM	#5
Cruiserdrew KI6MIE Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA TLCA# 11734 Posts: 6,990	All 3 of my Cruisers have driveway adjusted toe-in. As you say, it's dead simple. __________________ Andrew 1971 FJ-40 Rubicon tested, 2F powered, some mods 1976 FJ40 Rusting slowly in the back yard 1984 FJ-60 H55f, 4.11, OME, Daily Driver 1989 FJ-62 117k-son's driver for now-low and slow 1997 FZJ-80 Driveway queen

01-26-06, 09:21 PM	#6
euclid IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Jackson, MS TLCA# 13014 Posts: 2,987	I doubted myself the first time I did it. Paid $50 to find out I did it right. __________________ Greg Thompson CottonLand Cruisers 00 Camry: Stock 5SFE - 27 MPG 89 FJ62: OME 2.5, 2" BL, Superior shackles, F250 towers, 315 BFG KM2's on zj80 wheels, Extreme A440, FF,4:88,RDB,longs,ARB front,Lockright rear,Warn XD9K in Rover AL bumper, Kaymar, Wildernes Roofrack, Marlin Sliders, SROR 1/4 sliders.

01-26-06, 08:01 PM	#3
Tinker IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Larkspur, CO Posts: 2,205	There's a post recently where a mudder stated (we're all mudders, no?) had set his toe similar to you, but found out his truck drove better after a professional job. I think your method would be great to get "close enough" after a suspension rebuild or upgrade. Not trying to diss ya, but do we have a conclusive answer for the best way to get our trucks aligned?

01-27-06, 05:12 AM	#8
Tinker IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Larkspur, CO Posts: 2,205	Measuring across the tires assumes they're perfectly round & straight. How about putting the front axle on jack stands & holding a piece of chalk stationary as close to the center of the tire as you can while turning each wheel, thereby inscribing a circumference line? Then measure around each wheel & mark 2 halfway points. Then use a level to get these marks horizontal & proceed with the measuring & adjustment of the tie rod.

01-27-06, 06:13 AM	#9
sven IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Asheville Posts: 63	too easy so, all you need is a tape mearsure and some masking tape.....you don't even have to touch a wrench. This is great...I can't believe the shops aren't onto this one. I'll be trying it this weekend.

01-27-06, 06:54 AM	#10
60wag IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 1,646	You'll need a wrench or two to make an actual adjustment. Finding a good referance point on the tire is easier said than done. I like Tinkers idea of a chalk circle drawn while rotating the tire. __________________ '96 FZJ80 Member Rising Sun Chapter TLCA KC0ZAC

01-27-06, 07:40 AM	#11
sven IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Asheville Posts: 63	just trying to make the point to include all the directions for adjustment...this should be in the factory manual though....haven't looked but need to do some on my unit

01-27-06, 07:54 AM	#12
nuclearlemon IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: meh-ico, colorado TLCA# 1431 Posts: 8,018	i've done all mine with no issues. __________________ seven cruisers and 3 of em run and four are for sale

01-27-06, 08:13 AM	#13
Clutchee IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TN TLCA# 13383 Posts: 1,889	Great write up Greg! __________________ You can't fix Stupid ---CottonLand Cruisers----- ---White Trash of the Elwood Chapter---- ---STLCA---- ------------------------------------------------ We've been this close to death before, we were just too drunk to know it Guess the price of being sobers being scared out of your mind -Drive by Truckers- -----------------------------------------------

01-27-06, 08:53 AM	#14
bustanutley IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: CrAwLoRaDo Posts: 1,532	I pull my wheels on my 40 and use c-clamps to clamp long pieces of angle to my rotors, measure and do the math to make it 1 deg toe-in per FSM. Doesn’t really matter much when your housing is kinda tweaked though. __________________ FJ-40 on FO-DEEs just a lil guy HOMEGROWN

01-27-06, 10:02 AM	#15
FJTOYMAN IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 219	Great write up. This should be added to the FAQ. __________________ 1987 FJ60 2F, H55f, 4.11 difs, ARB rear, OME Dakar, 33 x 12.50 and Tuffy console.

01-27-06, 11:32 AM	#17
daner IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 64	You must have been reading my mind when when you did this write up-Thanks for sharing!

05-04-07, 07:17 AM	#25
cody c IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: calgary Posts: 1,564	did mine kinda like that, brought it to a mechanic i trust, and found it to be within less than 1 degree of where it should be. __________________ 83BJ60,Merkur turbo+intercooled,SOA,aussie locker Custom bumpers,,4.88's, longs and poly rears.RDB's +4runner calipers, parabolics in front, 39.5 IROK's on DC-1's 92FJ80 stock with the damage multiplied. 350 now in, and getting the bugs out.

01-30-06, 07:35 AM	#18
mmw68 Can I open your beer? Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Austin, Texas TLCA# 14710 Posts: 1,502	Greg, That was great, now please do a write up of the power steering box, that is next weeks project. -mark __________________ FZJ80, 3FE40, rtcustoms.net powered FJ62 Austin, Texas Lone Star Land Cruiser - Austin Chapter Cool crap for your cruiser! http://www.cruisercrap.com TLCA #14710

01-30-06, 06:22 PM	#20
LoneRanger IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: outside the box TLCA# 14668 Posts: 1,598	Is it the same for 60s as for 62's? __________________ Barry Hause shunpiker parts vulture Homegrown '82 fj60--managed entropy eclectic mods and second hand parts

01-30-06, 07:39 PM	#22
WSUCruiser IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle/Pullman Posts: 112	What are you guys using to turn the bars. Mine are stuck. Tried a pipe wrench, but i was concerned that i'd rip off a tie-rod end. It's soaking in PBBlaster right now. Any other clues? -Dave- __________________ 87 FJ60, 84 Jetta (Gas Saver)

05-04-07, 12:31 AM	#24
mudpaws IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Long Island, NY TLCA# 3123 Posts: 112	Someone mentioned earlier about raising the truck on stands: For any front end aligning, you definitely need to have the truck on the ground, "loaded" suspension---meaning truck's weight on springs/front end. HTH __________________ Ralph Long Island, NY 1975 FJ40 1986 FJ60 stock

05-04-07, 09:36 AM	#26
Crashly IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 50	I like the way you did the measuring, But what about getting the front wheels in line with the rear wheels?