Alignment Specs

[Rustbucket350]

Does anybody have a picture or scan of the alignment specs for a first gen Ranger/Bronco II. Even a book that has them would be helpful. My Haynes manual does not and it turns out I need a reputable source (not internet) for the specs to file a case against a certain corporation.

 

[adsm08]

This is a picture that I took of the relevant page of the factory shop manual. The only problem is that the toe spec here is published in inches, while the alignment machine probably has them listed in degrees.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/ac325/geaeri95/20171007_094907_zpsz3oiyzve.jpg

 

[4x4junkie]

Photobucket is dead, gone, history, doesn't work (even C&P'ing the link directly it still shows that stupid 100% crap). I guess you must have to be logged in now or something, I really don't feel like f'ing around with PB after the siht they just pulled on the whole internet community.

I would suggest get a set of factory service manuals for your year truck, the alignment specs are printed in there under Suspension System, General Service (here's a scan of mine but it's for a 2nd-gen (1990), which while technically is exactly the same as yours, might not be from a legal standpoint, I'm not sure).

Those manuals are FAR more useful than just for some alignment info... They will pay for themselves many times over if you do much of your own work on the truck.

 

[adsm08]

Photobucket hotlinks works correctly if you have their browser extension installed.

 

[pjtoledo]

back in the good 'ol days a trip to the public library usually yielded service manuals of various types.


hey Suri: WTF is a library?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Photobucket hotlinks works correctly if you have their browser extension installed.

This. I posted links to the hotlink for both chrome and firefox in the photobucket fix thread;

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173757

 

[4x4junkie]

Photobucket can stick it where the sun don't shine. I'm not installing crap onto my computer just to get around their draconian policy change after what they did to everyone. I think everyone else should do the same.

 

[adsm08]

Photobucket can stick it where the sun don't shine. I'm not installing crap onto my computer just to get around their draconian policy change after what they did to everyone. I think everyone else should do the same.

Lets see. I can be a crotchety MF'er and leave a large portion of my internetting non-functional, and pitch a fit every time their name comes up, or I can download a minor extension for my browser, not pay their $400, AND not have to spend months moving my more than 12000 linked photos and still be able to see them.

That was not a hard choice.

 

[fastpakr]

That's all assuming the fixes continue to work. I understand using the extension to access old content (I use them as well), but why continue to post links to them rather than hosting the images elsewhere?

 

[adsm08]

That's all assuming the fixes continue to work. I understand using the extension to access old content (I use them as well), but why continue to post links to them rather than hosting the images elsewhere?

I will probably find a new site to host my stuff going forward, but my truck build is largely done, my Explorer isn't getting built. The Mustang finds new and interesting ways to piss me off every time I work on it, and the Bronco II is sitting in the yard waiting for me to finish the mustang. Additionally my deadline on the B2 is for when my son gets his license. Driving age in PA is 16, he is 4. I'm not posting tons of photos anywhere right now, so I am not sigining up for a different hosting service, I am waiting to see if other sites follow suit here over the next few months.

That's why I also included the direct link, which should allow viewing the picture at photobucket.

 

[4x4junkie]

Lets see. I can be a crotchety MF'er and leave a large portion of my internetting non-functional, and pitch a fit every time their name comes up, or I can download a minor extension for my browser, not pay their $400, AND not have to spend months moving my more than 12000 linked photos and still be able to see them.

That was not a hard choice.

It's a matter of principle dude.
As I already said, clicking the link does not work either (if it did, the uproar over this would still be present, but likely would be far less great).

Lets get this thread back on track and allow the OP to respond to the alignment spec answers he's got, OK?

The library suggestion is good too, that is, if he has one that is still open near him... In a number of areas they have been closing up due to lack of funds.

 

[Rustbucket350]

The factory service manual specs will do just fine for this. I would like some specs for a lifted truck so I could do it myself but I'm sure if I can't find them I'll be alright. I would go to the library but I've been working 6 days a week and mostly at night so I'd need a 24 hour library.

The issue is that I paid for a lifetime alignment and it turns out they only have the toe specs. The camber was acceptable but the caster was left 4 degrees different from side to side. Oh and I was banned from the store after I had a discrepancy with my service.

 

[4x4junkie]

The issue is that I paid for a lifetime alignment and it turns out they only have the toe specs. The camber was acceptable but the caster was left 4 degrees different from side to side. Oh and I was banned from the store after I had a discrepancy with my service.

Ugh...

That I can pretty much guarantee you that is due to incompetence. I've seen it myself over & over & over & ov....

Alignment guy hasn't figured how to adjust the camber/caster bushings (or is plain lazy) to know that you more often than not have to swap them out with ones of a different degree to get the caster & camber alignment correct.
I suspect it partly comes from a lack of proper training, so it might not be completely entirely the tech's fault, however someone working in such a field should at least have some sense of reasoning and ability to figure things out, which it sounds like the guy you went to may not be too sharp in that department.

IMO, they should definitely at minimum refund you the money you paid if they cannot figure out how to do it.

Most suspension lift companies suggest using the factory alignment specs, so yeah you're probably fine there.


Edit:
If you're thinking of trying it yourself, this page should give you some guidance. The numbers themselves are not too real critical, mostly you're just trying to get both tires parallel with each other (toe) and perpendicular to the road (camber). Caster controls return-to-center, and whatever setting allows the truck to track straight down a level (not cambered) road is generally fine (caster doesn't affect tire wear).

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2008/steering_tech.htm

 

[Rustbucket350]

Yeah... I tried to explain to the manager that I understood this is not your run of the mill suspension and I was fine with not getting a proper alignment as long as I got a refund. He didn't want to hear any of that and insisted I reschedule (I waited 3 hours the first day and was turned away a week later for an appointment I scheduled). He didn't like what I had to say after that. I had every intention of filing small claims but it seems like it's not even worth the effort.

Anyway, I've since bought a Fastrax camber/caster gauage and made some toe plates. I havent had too much time to play with it but I have it pretty much dialed in. I just have to set the toe and see if I need these eccentric radius arm bushings I have for the caster or not based on how it drives.