Alignment Advice (1 Viewer)

[aptos]

Here is my alignment done at Slee. I would call this ideal for a lifted truck, but if your caster is a half degree lower and your camber is 1/4 degree higher or a tenth or so lower I don’t think it will have a huge impact on handling.

Your issue sounds like a loose balljoint, given my experience. When they are worn your handling will be squirrelly. Swap them and get a new alignment

View attachment 3465792

Yeah those are numbers more like what I was hoping for, a little higher caster and less to no positive camber. Thanks for sharing your alignment.

Sounds like a solid plan, you’re probably right

 

[vipergrhd]

Thanks for the advice, but I think in this case it's better to not waste anymore time with them. Service writer seemed to genuinely think that caster was only for tire clearance. Toe had moved out of spec after I removed a shock for maintenance and they fixed that, so they did not just take my money. I was just hoping to get the alignment dialed in better when they were fixing that issue for me, but they are a toe and go shop apparently. Won't be back for future service, but I will probably call to speak with a manager tomorrow to ask why they didn't attempt to raise the caster or decrease the positive camber like I asked.

View attachment 3465475

Here is my alignment done at Slee. I would call this ideal for a lifted truck, but if your caster is a half degree lower and your camber is 1/4 degree higher or a tenth or so lower I don’t think it will have a huge impact on handling.

Your issue sounds like a loose balljoint, given my experience. When they are worn your handling will be squirrelly. Swap them and get a new alignment

View attachment 3465792

I just noticed something on @aptos ride, the rear readings seem to be a bit excessive in comparison to @linuxgod rear axle readings. Look at the total Thrust angle reading.

 

[linuxgod]

I just noticed something on @aptos ride, the rear readings seem to be a bit excessive in comparison to @linuxgod rear axle readings. Look at the total Thrust angle reading.

@aptos has an adjustable rear panhard. I don’t. I would think his being adjustable would get him closer to 0 but I’m not an expert on suspension geometry, I just pretend to be when someone asks.

Rear being slightly off will result in a bit of butt wiggling as the suspension cycles over bumps, but if the steering feels loose and poorly controlled over bumps I’m still pretty sure it’s the ball joints, unless you’re hitting those 25mph speed bumps at 55. As I said that precisely how my truck was feeling on the highway before I did upper joints. It was noticeable enough my 15 year old who is learning to drive noticed how it had changed over a few months.

 

[aptos]

Circling back after I finally got those new LBJs in. During the black Friday parts sale I picked up new LCAs, KDSS links, and sway bar D bushings. On Monday, I took the LC to Stellar Built and they installed the new parts along with a Total Chaos cam tab gusset kit. The truck is driving great, and it feels much more settled over bumps. I’m very happy with Stellar Built as well; they were done ahead of schedule, were very accommodating, and they did a better alignment than two 4x4 shops local to me in Santa Cruz. They are 3 hours away from me, but it was worth the trip and I will probably go to them for future jobs. I am very happy with how it turned out, thanks to everyone for their input.