Alignment

Does off roading cause your alignment to go out? I had it aligned in September and just had 2 new tires put on. They said it’s out of alignment. How can that be

 

1) The original alignment wasnt done properly
2) The original alignment shop tech didnt tighten down the lower A-arm bolts (they gotta be REAL tight)
3) There may be play in bushings / bearings / ball joints

 

Might just be me but I always get alignment checked with new tires.

Couple times adjustments were needed but not major. Not only on the 4R.

 

I agree. I’m going to ask for their print out. If it’s off .01 that’s minor. When I got it aligned they said they got it within .01 of spec.

 

Post up some pics of the results indicating before and after. Mainly they usually "Set the toe and let her go"

 

Shouldn’t be a problem unless you drive like the Dukes of Hazzard.

 

Here are the results Any advice would be appreciated. The caster bolts are seized so I knew that would be red but the other readings shouldn’t be that

 

Just posted them.

 

Whats you alignment number from Sept.

Should compare it.

 

I don’t have it. I’m in Florida and live in Illinois. But I remember all the boxes being green except caster.

 

offroading shouldn't affect alignment unless you hit a rock on high speed. But normally high speed and offroading don't go together : )

 

I agree and we didn’t hit anything big but the wife and I did a one month off roading excursion out west that included Moab. We had fun. I just thought how it’s weird just two months ago it was aligned and now it isn’t.

 

Might just be me but it seemed like I had to get an alignment after every wheeling trip.
Got tired of that so I did a lot of reinforcing stuff and upgraded tie rods. Now it seems to hold up!

Happy wheeling!

 

Ah yes, the Peoples Republic of Illinois, I live there too.

 

Yes offroading can knock out your alignment

 

Thank you. We did it probably 6 hours a day for a month. Arizona, Colorado and Moab. Damn that was fun. I guess the worst part after all that was knocking it out of alignment. I’ll take that. Plus the alignment I got is covered by a 12,000 mile warranty. I’m taking it back and let them do another alignment.

 

Where at? I’m in Homer Glen. It’s by Joliet.

 

11 miles southeast of St. Louis. I know the area, my son played travel hockey, you're not too far from Arctic Ice Arena. I will be in Florida next week.

 

High speed offroading is why I own a toyota.

 

I was coming up the burr switchbacks earlier this year, couldn’t have been doing more than 10mph. Came around a turn and someone was sitting on my side of the trail. I turned in a little tighter to get around them and dropped a tire into a hole I didn’t see. Knocked the alignment out and bent my lower control arm. Initially I was upset, but then told myself if I’m going to go off-road things like this are going to happen.

Last week I was in Death Valley. On the trail coming back from Racetrack. Driving faster than I probably should have been. Alignment still feels fine. Ran a stick through the sidewall of a tire that was only 2 months old. Oh well at least I made it out before it went flat and I paid for replacement certificates.

 

Amen brother. It’s the price of having fun. We all know what we signed up for. As long as we are safe, the rig can always be repaired

 

Yeah brother. Arctic Ice is in Orlando Park. That’s about 5 miles from me

 

Are you planning to deal with the seized bolts prior to having another alignment done?

 

Weird. The voice of reason...

 

What tie rods you go with?

 

Nope. That’s caster. I’m focusing on camber and toe. Those will make your tires wear unevenly. I will deal with caster when I return home from Florida and can work on it in the garage. Caster is just the position of the tire. Camber and toe are the ones that will mess up a brand new tire.

 

Apex Chassis tie rods. Also have total chaos cam tab and spindle gussets.

Alignment seems to hold up now.

 

Yes, the LCA cams are round and can shift with high forces encountered off road. Since the front cams are directly below the steering rack, any movement of the cams has the same effect on toe as adjusting your tie rods. I.e. 2mm shift in the cams has the same effect as lengthening or shortening the tie rod by 2mm. That's why your steering wheel can go off-center after a wheeling trip.

 

Thank you so much. I thought maybe it caused it. I literally had it aligned before we went to Moab. From Moab we came to Florida and I needed a tire. The shop checked the alignment and said the toe and camber were off.