Post Level Kit Alignment

[RyanbabZ71]

Just curious what you guys feel as a safe time frame to drive around before an alignment?

 

Thanks!

[Stevens03]

I never did and don't have a problem. I've been checking for abnormal wear and don't have any.

[Zak_LScrew]

I heard someone on here state to "keep it under 300 miles". I put about 35 miles on mine and just had the alignment done yesterday because I couldn't stand to see the steering wheel crooked. Rides alot better once aligned...

[ChevyTech77]

Until the tires start to wear?

 

I'd just have it done asap.

[Stevens03]

Until the tires start to wear?

 

I'd just have it done asap.

 

Maybe mine was out from the start. The steering wheel is straight and I installed the RC lift blocks at like 20 miles. I'm at just over 6100 now. No wear on the tires that I can see. I'll have it checked/done when I install the new 305's

 

Also had the RC kit installed on my 07 for 12,000-15,000 miles without issue

[Matt_]

Steven, your toe is out of spec. Generally the steer ahead is not effected because both tires are toe-in the same amount.

 

The amount of tire wear will depend on how far out of spec It is and how often you rotate the tires.

 

Also, a toe-in condition reduces handling and often causes what feels like "bump steer" (but isn't) when driving over bumps. What actually happens is the toe-in tires start to fight each other.

 

An alignment after a leveling kit is 100% required. Sooner or later the effects will materialize.... On some trucks the camber/caster are put out of spec as well, though they're not affected nearly as much as the toe.

 

Recommending that someone not get an alignment is no better than telling someone to adjust their tie rods 3 full rotations in a random direction just for fun and not to worry about it. I doubt anyone here would condone that.

[Stevens03]

oh... not condoning it.. and I believe you. I rotate my tires about every 5000 miles and maybe why I've not "seen" bad tire wear.. Again, for me... when the new tires are installed, an alignment will be done

[Matt_]

305/55 and a 3" bl? ?????

 

And I coulda swore you had the dealer swap out the RC kit and align your truck when you got it....

[Stevens03]

305/55 and a 3" bl? ?????

 

And I coulda swore you had the dealer swap out the RC kit and align your truck when you got it....

 

305/50r20's

 

And I did the RC kit 5 minutes after it was home from the dealer.

[rgv]

Assuming a brand new truck is correctly aligned for, say, 265/70/17 tires out of the box, and you lift it 2" (t-bars on a 800 or spacers on a 900), what alignment parameters would you expect to change with the A-arm geometry on a GM IFS?

 

thanks

[Matt_]

You use the stock alignment specs.

 

For GMT800 trucks you ignore the Z ride height adjustment.

[Superperv23]

I did mine two days after, I could really notice the steering was different and they said the caster was way out of spec which would make sense why it felt so strange to drive, perfect now though.

[stlavsa]

When I had a level kit installed I didnt align it because i knew i was installing a suspension after the winter was over, ended up with like 5k miles on the level kit and OEM wheels tires and they had started to wear funny because of it.

[ChevyTech77]

Assuming a brand new truck is correctly aligned for, say, 265/70/17 tires out of the box, and you lift it 2" (t-bars on a 800 or spacers on a 900), what alignment parameters would you expect to change with the A-arm geometry on a GM IFS?

 

thanks

 

 

Everything. Camber, caster and toe.

[ChevyTech77]

Steven, your toe is out of spec. Generally the steer ahead is not effected because both tires are toe-in the same amount.

 

The amount of tire wear will depend on how far out of spec It is and how often you rotate the tires.

 

Also, a toe-in condition reduces handling and often causes what feels like "bump steer" (but isn't) when driving over bumps. What actually happens is the toe-in tires start to fight each other.

 

An alignment after a leveling kit is 100% required. Sooner or later the effects will materialize.... On some trucks the camber/caster are put out of spec as well, though they're not affected nearly as much as the toe.

 

Recommending that someone not get an alignment is no better than telling someone to adjust their tie rods 3 full rotations in a random direction just for fun and not to worry about it. I doubt anyone here would condone that.

What is steer ahead?

 

And, how can the steering wheel be off center of both side toe settings were changed equally by adding the leveling kit?