Hi,

I've got about 3" of lift in the front on my truck. I don't want to change my control arms & the truck is driving great. The truck seems to possibly have a little bit of negative caster though where the axle is pointing more towards the front. Is it advisable to try to adjust the caster to center the axle back some using the caster adjustment? Will this really help any or might help some to center it back?

Should I attempt this myself or do I need to take it to a shop to do it?


Thanks,

 

If driving great & not wearing tires, I'd leave it. I bought Firestone's lifetime alignment so I'd have access to a machine for cheap (now free) whenever I wanted it. They don't always get it right but I'm planning on owning the truck for a long time & have my $$ worth.

 

i was just wondering if this was hard on the steering parts like the ball joints if it is angled forward slightly? I know that the tires aren't really centered in the tire well if you have a lot of lift without changing the control arms. I've never messed with the caster adjustment, but was just wondering how complicated it was to adjust.

 

A three inch lift should have pulled your axle rearwards a little and turned the axle downwards at the front.

If it drives good and isn't eating tires I'd leave it.

 

caster is not susposed to have any effect on tire wear. and it would have no effect on ball joint longevity. positive caster is having the upper ball joint more forward of the lower ball joint, and on ower trucks more positive is better.

here is a good link to alignment spec's and general info.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.a...8f247de789d0ef

 

I would recomend a alignment check at a garage that deals with 4wd units. Positive caster is needed to reduce possibility of death wobble and steering return.As you "roll the axle for caster you also change toe in setting.

 

Thanks for the posts. I was just wondering about the caster adjustment because my truck seems to have a small pull to the right. Especially on roads with crown. I've taken my truck to shops that use the electronic alignment systems, but they say it's within specs. It's just a little aggrevating because it still has a pull to the right.

Can a negative toe in cause a pull to the right, or does it mainly just wear the tires weird?

 

try rotating your tires

 

Thanks for the link on caster adjustment. After reading the article I'm starting to think that I must not have the correct cross caster adjustment. My truck seems to pull more than it should to the right when there is a crown in the road. It's not bad, but it didn't used to do this & I'd like to get it back the way it used to drive.

 

It is very difficult to get the monkeys at an alignment to do anything other than set it to what their machine says are "in specs". They seem to think owners know nothing about wrenching. I have had mine on Firestone's machine multiple times since I bought the lifetime alignment. I always give them my preferred specs and ask for a print out of the results. They usually remember the print out (sometimes not). Now that most front end parts are new, it drives ok - not GREAT but acceptable.

There is still too much slop & I may go with a redhead box when the Cardone gets a little worse. (I have a lifetime parts & labor on the Cardone box but may cheat & have the shop install the redhead box using AGR as a core. **** poor design by Dodge. Good engine though.

 

yes, i'm starting to find out how hard it is to get a good alignment at one of these shops that use the electronic alignment equipment. i don't like the chain shops anymore like meineke. i know for sure now that they won't do anything beyond just seeing that it's within factory specs.

i'm wondering if possibly the local dodge dealership might be able to do a better job at an alignment since they should be familiar with these trucks. i know they probably charge a premium for doing it but if they can get it right i would pay the price.

 

I decided to use the lifetime & just put it on the machine everytime I balance the tires or change oil. It doesn't seem as critical as the number of posts would indicate. When all of the parts are good, it steers. I'm going to try redhead or a box. I can always go back to Cardone because I have them on lifetime parts & labor also. The guy at redhead said that Cardone is one of the worst for quality & consistent builds. I just need to let a new box float to the top of the priority list.

 

Another consideration is how "rolling the axle" changes the pinion angle. Get that out far enough and you will have other problems. Ive seen some that were "ok" while sitting on the ground with the weight of the truck on the suspension but hit a mudhole while hunting and get a little air and the yokes bind up and tear the u joints out. Lifts arent for sissys or empty wallets.

 

Do you guys happen to know if it's possible for the camber adjustment to get out of whack on these 4x4 even though it's not adjustable & preset?

Can negative or positive camber cause a pull in steering of the truck?

I don't really see any weird tire wear on the inside our outside of the tires, but i'm just curious if it's possible for camber to get out of adjustment?