DIY Alignment

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have been debating over trying it myself or having it done since I put Explorer coils in the front. Since the local dealer charges $60 to check caster and toe (or something like that) and then $80/hr to do anything after that I figured I might as well get everything broke loose, put the bushings and outer TRE's in and give it a whirl aligning it.

Read the article in the library here: http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2008/steering_tech.htm and I have a few questions.

Using the rods to relieve tension in the suspension makes sense, I have an weighted magnetic angle finder guage that I got for my rear axle swap. There is no floor I have available that is level though... it is pretty close but after 30-40+ years things settle. Is that going to be throwing things off? How do you work around that, shim the whole truck so it is level? (if so level to where, while a nominal brick there isn't much that is really much level to anything)

Is a caster/camber tool worth getting? If so what is a good one for maybe one or two alignments per decade?

 

[brinker88]

You can measure it with a square if you know your trig. Or get online and type in the measurements and they will give you the degree camber bushing you need to get it close enough not to matter.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You can measure it with a square if you know your trig. Or get online and type in the measurements and they will give you the degree camber bushing you need to get it close enough not to matter.

I have adjustable ones coming... I know the camber is quite a bit out of spec.

I am just not sure if you have to just remember the truck is leaning 2 degrees this way (or was it that way?) when you measure things or how that works.

 

[pillen140]

Ive been doing my own for about 2 years now. Probably have done it about 8-10 times after doing tre's ball joints, springs etc. Its not very hard.... make your own set of toe-plates rather than measuring the tire like a lot of people do. I usually just get caster/camber close enough... might take you a couple times to get it right. And then do the toe which is the easiest.

 

[4x4junkie]

There is no floor I have available that is level though... it is pretty close but after 30-40+ years things settle. Is that going to be throwing things off? How do you work around that, shim the whole truck so it is level? (if so level to where, while a nominal brick there isn't much that is really much level to anything)

I guess it would depend how far off level it is...
If it's only an inch or so off level at the wheel, it probably won't make much difference (put the roll plate under the low side tire). If it's a couple or more inches off level though, I'd look for something more level (maybe a friend's garage or driveway, or maybe you could find a vacant parking lot somewhere after you get it somewhat close you can at least drive it).

 

[06RangerXLT]

its $60. dont be so cheap. your gonna spend that much on the tools to do it yourself, and battle drifting and such. an alignment machins is doing decimals of degrees, something you'll never get right.

 

[shane96ranger]

My friends Dad told me he could do mine with some spray paint and nail method he's done for years. But I figure if he got it wrong, I would've been out more than $60 in tires.

I think it would be awesome to be able to do it yourself though.

 

[4x4junkie]

The average home mechanic most likely will already have tools on hand that can be used to do a proper wheel alignment. All one needs is some knowledge of how to do it.

Who's to say your average "professional" guy would even get it right anyway? All bets are off when it comes to the Twin-Beam Ford axles...
Big snazzy high-$$$ alignment machines won't do jack if the schmuck using it doesn't know what to do (yes, been there, seen that, countless times. And is why the article the OP linked to exists).

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

its $60. dont be so cheap. your gonna spend that much on the tools to do it yourself, and battle drifting and such. an alignment machins is doing decimals of degrees, something you'll never get right.

Basically $60 just to check it and $80 per hour (one hour minimum) to do anything after that. I figured I can change the bushings and TRE's (boots are cracked but they are still tight) before I take it anywhere and I might as will give it a swing at aligning it first while I am there.

The average home mechanic most likely will already have tools on hand that can be used to do a proper wheel alignment. All one needs is some knowledge of how to do it.

Who's to say your average "professional" guy would even get it right anyway? All bets are off when it comes to the Twin-Beam Ford axles...
Big snazzy high-$$$ alignment machines won't do jack if the schmuck using it doesn't know what to do (yes, been there, seen that, countless times. And is why the article the OP linked to exists).

If the schmuck doesn't know what he is doing I can beat him up, as his older brother I think that is within my right.

I ain't turning my baby over to just anyone...

I would do it here at work over a weekend. But being an ag repair shop we ain't really set up for doing automotive alignments. I could probably drag my brother over to help but we obviously won't have the machine.

 

[tanbuddy]

Look for another place to check the alignment. Around here they will just check it for around 10 bucks, or one place will check for free with an oil change(21 BUCKS) Get the printout then adjust it as necessary

 

[brinker88]

My friends Dad told me he could do mine with some spray paint and nail method he's done for years. But I figure if he got it wrong, I would've been out more than $60 in tires.

I think it would be awesome to be able to do it yourself though.

That's just for setting toe in/out

You need the square or something to measure the angle of the tire

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Look for another place to check the alignment. Around here they will just check it for around 10 bucks, or one place will check for free with an oil change(21 BUCKS) Get the printout then adjust it as necessary

I am going to have to measure it one way or another anyway. Since I have to be able to tell what I am setting it to, what I start off with should be just as measureable as what I end up with.

That $60 is to check and set caster and toe (I think toe is in there too), not just check it. I forgot about that part. Whatever it is it doesn't do the part I am really concerned with, camber.

 

[pillen140]

.... or you could do the firestone lifetime allignment for like 120 bucks. Have them measure, go buy the bushings, and have them do it again. I have it on our jeep (which is super easy to do it yourself). They redo it as many times as you want.... you just have to make sure the person isn't a first year lube tech. I was gonna get it done to my ranger, but they said it was too big, and some ass-hat manager said they'd have to charge extra (even though its the same amount of work)

 

[kryptonitecb]

.... or you could do the firestone lifetime allignment for like 120 bucks. Have them measure, go buy the bushings, and have them do it again. I have it on our jeep (which is super easy to do it yourself). They redo it as many times as you want.... you just have to make sure the person isn't a first year lube tech. I was gonna get it done to my ranger, but they said it was too big, and some ass-hat manager said they'd have to charge extra (even though its the same amount of work)

I would recommend NTB but those asshats charge extra for lifted/lowered vehicles without exception. After visiting 3 locations and calling others I gave up on finding a tech that knew what a ttb is.

You'll get the best results with a machine but if the tech doesn't understand ttb's then your wasting money.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have no idea where an NTB is at and I have no faith in Firestone doing an alignment.

If anybody is going to do it, it will be my brother. He has done TTB's before and I know he can do it. It is worth the money difference to me to have someone I have known for 25 years and trust with my life to do it rather than some punk I don't know.

Worst case I will save money by fighting the crusty parts by myself, best case I can add it to the long list of things I have done to my truck by myself... which is pretty much everything but the exhaust at this point.