Getting an alignment

[flyboyron]

When I take my truck in for an oil change, they have this alignment machine at the drive up where they check your alignment, and of course recommend you have it done. They told me something wasn't right and I know a lot about cars but not much about alignments.

I have always refused since the truck isn't that old and of course now is at 49,000 miles. I figured at 50,000 or when I get new tires should be about the right time.

A month ago, I got in an accident and the insurance co as a precaution paid for an alignment and this is what was found.

 

The right side camber specs go from min -.9 to +.6 max and mine was at its minimum limits at -.9 but after adjustment is -.8. I don't think that is much of an adjustment.

The left toe was -.20 where specs go from -.05 min to .15. now that is at .05.

The right toe was -.10 where now it is .05.

 

So it looks like the left and right toe was out quite a bit so that is correct now.

 

I am wondering how the right camber specs work? Is that something if adjusted would effect another specification? I would think they would want the right camber somewhere around the middle...say -.1 or -.2?

 

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

Ideally yes you want it in the middle of the specs. Also adjuating caster and camber will affect each other, as well as toe( toe is set last).

[DanMan_S]

For the cost of an alignment ($130 ish), I typically try to do them every 2 years, even if I don't have odd tire wear. The cambolts for the camber easily slip over time, and your toe in can drift depending on how well the tie rods were tightened last time or how often you hit curbs. If you end up with an alignment issue, you usually don't find out until you've already taken the corners off your front tires.