need help... pic of alignment printout.

[Texan4Life]

Went and got my 05 ram 1500 QC SB w/ 55,200 miles aligned and they said they couldn't align it all the way. Said I needed a new inner tie rod end on the passenger side. cool told them to do the best, since I was getting the lifetime and I could come back.

I didn't notice until I got home that one of the adjustments was maxed according to them. On the recommended work (lol $2,100 worth) I need a caster/cam adjuster kit installed? what is that and can I buy and put it on myself? or since it is maxed is that a symptom that something else is out of whack/worn? They never mentioned that to me when I was there.

I'm a total n00b when it comes to alignments. I can fix what ever is wrong, just need to hone in on it. So I'm hoping some of you fine folks could comment on the print out:

http://i54.tinypic.com/9sgvpl.jpg

Hi res: http://i55.tinypic.com/195zxc.jpg

Edit: forgot to mention the driver side front blew a tire @70mph a week ago. maybe that fed something up? everything looks normal. I have yet to put it in the air and start wiggling on stuff though. still drifts to the left, but not as bad.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I don't see why they say you need a new inner tie rod end. Your toe is within tolerance. Your caster is out of adjustment, but not by a wide margin.

It looks okay overall to me. No something I'd pay to correct.

 

[Billbert]

It actually looks OK. AS far as the pull to the left, try rotating your tires and see if it goes away.

 

[Texan4Life]

Originally Posted By: Billbert
It actually looks OK. AS far as the pull to the left, try rotating your tires and see if it goes away.


yeah forgot to mention. It use to pull to the right. then I had my rears balanced and moved to the front. And then I got two new rears. now it drifts to the left. so thats why I went in for an alignment.

 

[229]

If it needs a tie-rod replace it and set the toe-in again.

 

[Texan4Life]

thanks for the replies so far. What about the caster? what would effect that?

If I can I want to get it all back in spec since I plan on keeping this vehicle for a long time.

 

[mechtech2]

I don't like the rear camber difference.
That'll turn the car, for sure!

 

[RH+G]

It pulls to the left cause u have over about a degree of caster difference between ur left and right side. That wont wear ur tires but will cause a pull to the left.

 

[RH+G]

If I remember correctly does not ur truck have an eccentric in the LCA?

 

[bigmike]

Is there movement or play in the wheel when you shake it left/right while it is on a lift? I'd check that first and if there is, I'd also check the rack for any other problems before moving on to anything else.

 

[TooManyWheels]

The caster/camber kit is composed of eccentric bushings for the upper A-arms that allow more in/out movement, and therefore a wider range of caster/camber adjustment.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I don't see why they say you need a new inner tie rod end. Your toe is within tolerance.


The new inner tie rod would be because it is worn, which has nothing to do with wheather it can be statically adjusted to a spec. The question is whether it would hold that spec in use, which it would not if it were worn.

 

[Hokiefyd]

TooManyWheels:

Originally Posted By: Texan4Life
Went and got my 05 ram 1500 QC SB w/ 55,200 miles aligned and they said they couldn't align it all the way. Said I needed a new inner tie rod end on the passenger side.


The way the OP described it, it sounded like the shop said they couldn't align it because the inner tie rod end was bad.

My question is how can a solid live (rear) axle have the type of camber that's showing up on the sheet?

 

[mechtech2]

Hokie -
It could be 'tilted'.
Shims cam fix this.

 

[Texan4Life]

just got done inspecting it myself. All ball joints were tight and quiet with no wiggle. I thought I felt some on the passenger side, but I had a helper watch the steering shaft and it would twitch along with my light wiggles. So either they were BSing me on the tie rod or it was an honest mistake.

The bushings looked good and I didn't notice any play.

Found the adjuster kit on rockauto, should I put the kit on the offending side or both sides?

 

[mechtech2]

Tex -
With the car on the ground, have a friend wiggle the steering wheel back and forth rapidly 2 inches.
You will see/feel loose tie rod parts easily.

 

[Texan4Life]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Tex -
With the car on the ground, have a friend wiggle the steering wheel back and forth rapidly 2 inches.
You will see/feel loose tie rod parts easily.


thanks for the tip. I looked a second time using that method and it was the same. no visible movement other than the wheels.

what about the caster adjustment kits? should I do 1 or both sides on the vehicle? I assume do just the side that is maxed out since the kits are not sold in pairs?

 

[TooManyWheels]

Yes, you only need to do the side that is maxed out.

 

[Merkava_4]

If you think you're mechanically inclined, then I'd suggest installing the caster/camber kit and inner tie rod
end yourself. Call Moog up on the phone and ask them if they have the instructions and what tools you need.

Here's a link to the caster/camber kit.

Give it about 5 seconds to load:

Click on this link