alignment for me?

[trx88]

I recently put new balljoints and tierods on my 96 k1500. It is lifted 9" wearing 35 1250 15 interco thornbirds

My problem now is getting it aligned. I live in the midwest east of the st louis and cant find anyone

that will work on my truck for a decent price. FS or madison service company tried a few times but the guy

said his sensor wouldnt hook up on this interco tire ive got on there but he explained alot to me and

i like that place now. I even considered putting factory size wheels and tires on it and having it aligned than

switching back. So yesterday farm service couldnt do it, so i called this GDS four by four shop. This was a mistake.

The guy answers the phone i asked him how much for an alignment he says "well it starts at 129 then we gotta check for

bad parts, this thing got a lift?" i told him about my balljoints and tierods, and he says well how about your idler and pitman

arm. That was enough for me i couldnt take it anymore. Idler and pitman steering arms are something i do myself.

I think this guy thought i was stupid because thats how he was treating me. I dont think i ever been so pissed over the phone.

Of course it has a lift im calling a "4x4" shop and i had just told him how big my tires were, also i told him i put balljoints and tierods

on my truck what makes this fella think i wouldnt know if my pitman arm was loose?

I am going to put some stock six bolt wheels and tires on it and have it aligned for cheap then put my mud tires back on there.

Theres also an at home way to align your truck with a tire pen and a tape measure and a monkey wrench.

One guy at farm service was real nice he explained how to get it real close from home.

I might wind up posting a write up on this if i go that route.

Anyone know anything about having oversized tires aligned??

 

[Greg]

it costs alot to have oversized rims / tires aligned because the alignment places don't want to deal with the hassle. Do like you plan on doing and just throw some stock six lugs / tires on there and have it aligned. you'll be better off that way.

 

[trx88]

yeah too bad i dont have any of em

there is a way to mark the middle of your tire on front and back and on each front tire

then you measure from left tire to right tire on the front of the wheel under the bumper

and then you measure from the left to right behind the front wheel under the fender,

the measurements are supposed to be the same if you are aligned

then you adjust your tierod adjuster sleeve with a crowsfoot to pull in or push out

you do that until the measurements are the same at the front and back of the tire...

this will get your toe correct so that they arent fighting each other

but you have to set your steering wheel straight before you even begin

a buddy of mine borrowed a jack ive got, and bent it,

i coul dhave probably had this done today, but i cant get the bish up in the air!

i want to try it myself because i dont have stock sized wheels and tires except my dads 03 sierra is 6 bolt but

he would shiht a brick if i left his truck on jackstands

ahahahhahahahahaha

 

[Mike]

Find a guy with a Hunter Laser alignment system. Their website http://www.hunter.com/ allows you to search for the nearest one. They can do your truck perfectly with pretty much any wheels and tires on there.

 

[Crash]

We have that Hunter unit at my work, and we don't charge extra for lifted trucks unless it needs more work than normal. Most of the time it's $79.95.

 

[trx88]

st joe is a bit of a drive from me but where do you work over there

 

[Crash]

I work in a store called Pickup and Race Haven and the shop is part of Collision Repair Specialist.

 

[Excessive]

The shop i work at doesn't seem to have huge issues aligning lifted trucks, as long as the sensor fits on the rim/tire. I also run tsl Thornbirds so i can understand why they cant get the sensor on, those things sit pretty much right on the edge of my rim. I even had a hard time getting wheel weights on. In fact i ended up using stick on ones. Like the others said see if you can get or maybe even borrow a set of stock rims and tires for it just to get it aligned then switch back again or i believe hunter ( i think ) apparently bought out a new sensor where it clamps to the wheel nuts or something?

After i put on my tires that was my first thought was about getting it aligned. Luckily i have some Nito tires on steel rims for winter so i will just throw those back on when it comes around to it.

 

[DWillmont]

I am in O Fallon IL should be right down the road from you I have some stockers off the truck you could borrow for an alignment PM me for details or if I can be of any assistance.

 

[trx88]

i got an alignment at gds 4x4 in maryville il they charged me 100+ just for the alignment

but its done now