All balls and TRE

[croatankid]

no

 

[Dirtman]

Go get an alignment...

 

[Dirtman]

Not sarcasm... I do the alignment myself on my 65 stang because it's old and simple. You can't trust old school tricks on a modern vehicle. You need to get it on an alignment rack plane and simple. Everything could be perfectly fine... well your tires obviously aren't anymore.

 

[4x4junkie]

Not if it's got bad bushings...
Yes, worn bushings most certainly can cause a loss of wheel alignment (not to mention may also damage suspension parts because of metal-on-metal contact).


I've used the method described in that article to align vehicles 1948-2018. Some newer vehicles might need things like stability or AEB systems recalibrated afterward, but that's nothing to do with the actual mechanics of aligning the wheels. Machines are mostly there to take guesswork out of the job, which saves time (labor costs) for the shop.

 

[croatankid]

I checked my alignment and found that both tires were just a little toe out. I adjusted to a little toe in. Using the string method, I allowed about 1/8 inch clearance between string and the front side of each tire. None the less, I will get a so called professional alignment too. I will report what they find.

 

[Dirtman]

You can't align anything post 1942 with string!!! Lazers and shit exist! Computers even!! While I admire your "give em hell I'll do it myself" attitude... I'm afraid it doesn't work in this situation.

Keep the string for your duesenberg and put your ranger on an alignment rack.

 

[4x4junkie]

I'm not quite sure of this "string method" myself... I've always used a tape measure.

 

[croatankid]

I wanted to use a tape measure but I can't get a line between the two tires because of stuff in the way. about those rubber bushings. which one(s) should I look at and what would a worn out one look like?

 

[Josh B]

There will always be errors in using a plumb bob, not in the gravitational, but in the translational areas.

A simple sample of this is why a framer makes a single rafter to use in marking the other 40, because every time you make a mark it tends to move.

Some auto manufacturer manuals to this day recommend a plum bob in initial inspection for frame alignment, fact is in most construction the initial mark is placed using a plumb bob, which they use to set up their lasers, haha, ironic huh

Most of the city elevations used on maps today were made in the 1800s, by railroad surveyors using relatively primitive equipment, but today's front ends are considerably more complicated.

I would however use a carpenters rule (with the end slider for making accurate inside measurements), in measuring for simple toe in, but as was already stated, there is often too much in the way to get a good measurement front and rear.

90s yard sale special

 

[4x4junkie]

I wanted to use a tape measure but I can't get a line between the two tires because of stuff in the way. about those rubber bushings. which one(s) should I look at and what would a worn out one look like?

It's not necessary to measure from exactly the 9 and 3 o' clock positions at the wheels... If you can get the tape measure at say, 8 o clock and 4 o' clock, you can still get an accurate toe measurement (and is how I do it on sedans).

There are four bushings on the coil spring Ford Twin-Beam suspension. Two axlebeam pivot bushings + two radius arm bushings. Usually the first to go is the passengerside radius arm bushing due to it's proximity to the catalytic converter, but at this point in the truck's lifetime, I'd suggest replace all of them if they are original. Look for the bushing disintegrating, allowing the suspension part to flop around inside it's hole and/or gaps between the bushing and the parts it's supporting. Pry up and down on them looking for looseness or excess movement.

 

[croatankid]

I have a folding ruler with the slider. I will use it to check my toe in/out. Since I adjusted it the steering is better. It was wondering and I had to constantly work the steering wheel. It's better now. I want to look at those bushings. As old as this truck is, they must be worn pretty well out. Thanks for all your help.