front axle not centered?
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,403
Likes: 4,214
From: Clayton MI
I don't think front and rear are the same track width. (one or the other is wider) so, they line up, after a fashion. Thrust angle though is exactly that, the direction the truck ACTUALLY wants to go when you accelerate. It isn't in a straight line, unfortunately. Just a little off to one side. It might give you a bit of a pull, but, if the rest of the front is set correctly, shouldn't do anything to tire wear.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,403
Likes: 4,214
From: Clayton MI
I always thought thrust angle was a product of the drivetrain, and not something that was exactly 'adjustable'...... Who knows..... I fail to see how moving the front axle over a half inch or so should make that much difference..... Think I would be tempted to take it to another shop, and have the alignment checked/adjusted..... I seriously doubt any shop is going to move the front axle side to side to set the alignment....
Your front axle and rear axle have to track together. Meaning all your wheels should be square when pointing straight ahead.
Your rear axle is effectively fixed. If it bolted properly it should. be fine. You said the u bolts lines didn't match up after the lift? How is that? A leaf spring can't go sideways. The perches are fixed? Your add a leaf had a centering hole right? Me thinks you did not properly center the leaf pack. Idk tho. I have not seen any pictures. I just can't think of another reason you could have shifted anything back there.
On a stock ride you adjust the tires with the tre sleeve adjuster. This brings the toe in and out. And you get it square with the back tires. This is all an alignment does for these trucks. Well you can adjust caster with the cam bolts in the lower control arm but that's not relavent to This.
The track bar is fixed. You can't adjust it anyway. But when you lift the track bar goes up with the frame and pulls the axle to the driver side so you need a longer or adjustable one to let it go back to the passenger side.
You have an ore which came from the factory with a 2 in lift. You have a 3 in lift kit correct? So you only netted 1 in of lift. Generally all the stock stuff will still work with a 3in lift ( to a degree).
I'm no master mechanic or engineer but it seems to me that for everything to be in alignment the wheel mounting surfaces for the front and rear axle have to be square. At least from what I have seen and done with my truck.
I still think something is wrong with your leaf packs or installation of the add a leaf.
Your rear axle is effectively fixed. If it bolted properly it should. be fine. You said the u bolts lines didn't match up after the lift? How is that? A leaf spring can't go sideways. The perches are fixed? Your add a leaf had a centering hole right? Me thinks you did not properly center the leaf pack. Idk tho. I have not seen any pictures. I just can't think of another reason you could have shifted anything back there.
On a stock ride you adjust the tires with the tre sleeve adjuster. This brings the toe in and out. And you get it square with the back tires. This is all an alignment does for these trucks. Well you can adjust caster with the cam bolts in the lower control arm but that's not relavent to This.
The track bar is fixed. You can't adjust it anyway. But when you lift the track bar goes up with the frame and pulls the axle to the driver side so you need a longer or adjustable one to let it go back to the passenger side.
You have an ore which came from the factory with a 2 in lift. You have a 3 in lift kit correct? So you only netted 1 in of lift. Generally all the stock stuff will still work with a 3in lift ( to a degree).
I'm no master mechanic or engineer but it seems to me that for everything to be in alignment the wheel mounting surfaces for the front and rear axle have to be square. At least from what I have seen and done with my truck.
I still think something is wrong with your leaf packs or installation of the add a leaf.
Champion
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 8
From: NorCal
Spot on HB.
Juvenator -- what are you doing to this poor ORE???? You should have like 1 or 2 alignment sheets (before/after). Are you will to share them? While the sway bar links can help identify an issue, at the same time don't make them a critical part of assessing the system altogether. You have a tape measure where you can do some basic checks.
For example for the rear, measure outside of frame to center pin. Use some straight edges. Same for both sides?
For the front, you can look from the front and at least see if the bump stops are inline (generally) with the pads on the axle. Measure similarly with the frame. This gives you a ball park. I wouldn't go by the tires as an absolute.
Look at your lower control arms at the axle. Are the bolts in the same location in the slot for both sides?
These are some starter things for you to check out on your own.
Juvenator -- what are you doing to this poor ORE???? You should have like 1 or 2 alignment sheets (before/after). Are you will to share them? While the sway bar links can help identify an issue, at the same time don't make them a critical part of assessing the system altogether. You have a tape measure where you can do some basic checks.
For example for the rear, measure outside of frame to center pin. Use some straight edges. Same for both sides?
For the front, you can look from the front and at least see if the bump stops are inline (generally) with the pads on the axle. Measure similarly with the frame. This gives you a ball park. I wouldn't go by the tires as an absolute.
Look at your lower control arms at the axle. Are the bolts in the same location in the slot for both sides?
These are some starter things for you to check out on your own.
Thread Starter
|
Professional
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Salem, OR
I always thought thrust angle was a product of the drivetrain, and not something that was exactly 'adjustable'...... Who knows..... I fail to see how moving the front axle over a half inch or so should make that much difference..... Think I would be tempted to take it to another shop, and have the alignment checked/adjusted..... I seriously doubt any shop is going to move the front axle side to side to set the alignment....
Thread Starter
|
Professional
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Salem, OR
Your front axle and rear axle have to track together. Meaning all your wheels should be square when pointing straight ahead.
Your rear axle is effectively fixed. If it bolted properly it should. be fine. You said the u bolts lines didn't match up after the lift? How is that? A leaf spring can't go sideways. The perches are fixed? Your add a leaf had a centering hole right? Me thinks you did not properly center the leaf pack. Idk tho. I have not seen any pictures. I just can't think of another reason you could have shifted anything back there.
On a stock ride you adjust the tires with the tre sleeve adjuster. This brings the toe in and out. And you get it square with the back tires. This is all an alignment does for these trucks. Well you can adjust caster with the cam bolts in the lower control arm but that's not relavent to This.
The track bar is fixed. You can't adjust it anyway. But when you lift the track bar goes up with the frame and pulls the axle to the driver side so you need a longer or adjustable one to let it go back to the passenger side.
You have an ore which came from the factory with a 2 in lift. You have a 3 in lift kit correct? So you only netted 1 in of lift. Generally all the stock stuff will still work with a 3in lift ( to a degree).
I'm no master mechanic or engineer but it seems to me that for everything to be in alignment the wheel mounting surfaces for the front and rear axle have to be square. At least from what I have seen and done with my truck.
I still think something is wrong with your leaf packs or installation of the add a leaf.
Your rear axle is effectively fixed. If it bolted properly it should. be fine. You said the u bolts lines didn't match up after the lift? How is that? A leaf spring can't go sideways. The perches are fixed? Your add a leaf had a centering hole right? Me thinks you did not properly center the leaf pack. Idk tho. I have not seen any pictures. I just can't think of another reason you could have shifted anything back there.
On a stock ride you adjust the tires with the tre sleeve adjuster. This brings the toe in and out. And you get it square with the back tires. This is all an alignment does for these trucks. Well you can adjust caster with the cam bolts in the lower control arm but that's not relavent to This.
The track bar is fixed. You can't adjust it anyway. But when you lift the track bar goes up with the frame and pulls the axle to the driver side so you need a longer or adjustable one to let it go back to the passenger side.
You have an ore which came from the factory with a 2 in lift. You have a 3 in lift kit correct? So you only netted 1 in of lift. Generally all the stock stuff will still work with a 3in lift ( to a degree).
I'm no master mechanic or engineer but it seems to me that for everything to be in alignment the wheel mounting surfaces for the front and rear axle have to be square. At least from what I have seen and done with my truck.
I still think something is wrong with your leaf packs or installation of the add a leaf.
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