I just installed more lift on my truck and I need to adjust the toe in on my 02 2500 so I can at least drive it to the alignment shop without ruining my new tires. Can someone please give me a quick rundown on how to do this as far as what adjusters to adjust on the tie rod and drag link? Also, I need to recenter my steering wheel. What adjusters do I adjust to do this? I see a threaded sleeve on both the drag link and tie rod.<br><br>There are threads going into each side of the sleeves. Exactly what side of the sleeve should I be adjusting when setting toe and recentering my steering wheel?<br><br>Do I need to detach the draglink from the pitman arm and the tie rod from the knuckle to make the adjustments?<br><br>Thanks for the help!<br><br>http://www.cardomain.com/id/rattlindodge

 

Turn the threaded sleeve on the tie rod to adjust toe-in.<br>Turn the sleeve on the drag link to adjust steering wheel center.<br>Turning the sleeve will either pull both sides in, or push them out<br>just like a turnbuckle works. When I adjust toe-in, I measure at the<br>front and back of the tires using the same groove, for example the outer<br>most groove, with a tape measure. I usually adjust for 1/8 to 1/4 inch<br>difference between the front measurement and the back one. Smaller<br>measurement in the front. That should get you to an alignment shop<br>with out any trouble.<br><br>Hope that helps.

 

[quote author=mechanic link=board=5;threadid=15019;start=0#140989 date=1053622141]<br>Turn the threaded sleeve on the tie rod to adjust toe-in.<br>Turn the sleeve on the drag link to adjust steering wheel center.<br>Turning the sleeve will either pull both sides in, or push them out<br>just like a turnbuckle works. When I adjust toe-in, I measure at the<br>front and back of the tires using the same groove, for example the outer<br>most groove, with a tape measure. I usually adjust for 1/8 to 1/4 inch<br>difference between the front measurement and the back one. Smaller<br>measurement in the front. That should get you to an alignment shop<br>with out any trouble.<br><br>Hope that helps.<br>[/quote]<br><br>That helps a lot. After I installed my lift, It seems that my Drivers side tire is toed &quot;in&quot; more than the passengers side. Is this possible? If so, How do I &quot;equalize both sides? Do I need to take the driver side tie rod off the knuckle?<br><br>I assume I can make these adjustments by just jacking up the truck at the axle right?<br><br>So basically, there is no need to pop off the drag link from the pitman arm to adjust steering center? You just turn that sleeve?<br><br>Do I adjust the toe first and center the steering wheel second?<br><br>Thanks a ton!

 

DH:<br><br> Play like NACAR. Pull a string down the side of the tires. That should show what amount is needed.<br><br>When I adjusted my steering wheel center, I found if I would run the engine the steering wheel would turn and not the tires. If you don't the tires will always try to move. I did tnis after the alignment.<br><br>..Preston..

 

[quote author=Dieselhead link=board=5;threadid=15019;start=0#141006 date=1053626105]<br><br>After I installed my lift, It seems that my Drivers side tire is toed &quot;in&quot; more than the passengers side. Is this possible? If so, How do I &quot;equalize both sides? Do I need to take the driver side tie rod off the knuckle?<br>[/quote]<br><br>Thats funny, not funny HAHA, but funny peculiar.<br>It seems my truck is not even on both sides, toe-wise.<br>According the the place that aligned it, it is dead on perfect?<br><br>Standing in front of the truck, it sure looks like the passenger side tire is not quite pointing straight ahead when the driver side is.<br><br>I would think you would disconnect the offending side's tie rod from the knuckle, and just turn that side in the sleeve one or two revolutions then reconnect and set the toe for both.<br><br>If I remember high school auto shop correctly (last time I used an alignment machine) you set the alignment, then recenter the steering wheel.<br><br><br>phox

 

phox: If you have a correct toe in the front wheels will look at each other- just like eyes when you focus your finger. If you move your finge straight to the tip of your nose both eyes will turn inwards the same amount. The only way one eye will be straight is when you move your finger towards this eye (asymmetrically instead of symmetrically). So when one tire is looking straight forward your truck won't drive straight. It will drive straight when both wheels look inward the same amount. <br><br>Just 2c<br><br>AlpineRAM

 

As said before, turning the threaded sleeve on the tie rod will adjust toe-in. No need to pull a tie rod end off to do this.<br><br>Turning the sleeve on the drag link will center the steering wheel. Don't pull a tie rod off to center the wheel, use the threaded sleeve on the drag link, that's what it's there for.<br><br>You may need to soak the threads on the sleeves with penetrating oil before attempting to turn them. They get pretty rusty.<br><br>If one tire looks like it's pointed in and the other isn't, you probably didn't pull in exactly straight.