Caddy walking. Please help.

Supa711 · January 8, 2016

I have a 2008 chevrolet silverado 1500 that I took in for an alignment and after leaving and glancing at the spec sheet I have a positive thrust angle of 0.17 degrees on the rear axle. Front camber, caster, and toe are within specs on the front. Back to the rear specs left rear has a camber of -0.4 and toe of 0.24. Right rear has a camber of -0.2 and toe of -0.10. Now I have no idea of where to begin. Is my axle bent or shifted or what this could easily add up quick.

dkjbama · January 8, 2016

Not a suspension expert here, just adding my two cents. Unless you're showing abnormal tire wear, I'm not sure I'd sweat it too much. The only thing that could bend an axle housing would be jumping the truck (going airborne, not jump starting) or severely overloading it. For comparison's sake, here's a pic of the alignment I had on my 2008 CC 4x4 truck last April when I bought new tires. My numbers aren't that far off from yours and I KNOW my truck's never been put in a situation that could bend the axle housing.

dkjbama · January 10, 2016

How many miles on the truck? I suppose worn leaf spring bushings could cause the toe and thrust angle problems you're seeing.

Supa711 · January 10, 2016

Thank you for your spec sheet. Your right the numbers are not far from mine just the other way around. Giving you a negative thrust angle which I'd be ok with. With the numbers being so.e what the same makes me think the axle house is not bent but the only way to truly see if that is it I'd have to disassemble it. The truck only has around 50k and I bought it used soo I have no idea where to start. I did get underneath and do a little measuring and it looks like it's a 1/4 inch closer on drivers side. Leaving me to believe it's hit a curb or big pot hole to shift it. I do worry about it as it is our trip truck and with three boys in the back when it is raining and I hit a pothole it takes off to whatever side it wants to. It's all over the place hard to drive.

Supa711 · January 10, 2016

Tell me if I'm wrong or not on this idea that wont cost a thing. What if I switch my leaf springs factory blocks and u bolts to the other side. Everything should be universal under there. In theory that MAY make the numbers opposite. Then my thrust angle could be negative. OR I could just u bolt use Jacks to jack driver side back, passengers side foreward then reblot. I am sorry for my speech may not be politically correct. I'm not proof reading.

Supa711 · January 10, 2016

Some words maybe changed by good ol spell check so if something is odd let me know and I'll explain it more. Spell check sucks.

Supa711 · January 10, 2016

Carfax was good too. And there is no evidence of a crash although things can get by carfax. Just want to rule that out.

dkjbama · January 11, 2016

What did the alignment shop have to say?

Honestly, if the truck tracks straight on the highway and you aren't having any abnormal tire wear, I'd just leave it alone.

Supa711 · January 11, 2016

The alignment shop said they would not chase the problem down or the tech said. The manager has a chevy and said that be hasn't seen one dog track in awhile. The tires are wearing out quickly and it doesn't track straight. A thrust plate alignment kit is available for this. If u look it up on u tube it's a simple solution just when it comes to small measurements I suck. It'd be so much easier if I had an alignment rack. Anyway I did some measuring today and the leaf springs are spot on. The axle on the other hand is 3/16 forward on drivers side and 1/4 back on passenger side. And that's why I am going down the road crocked. Racers use the same thing to their advantage move the passenger rear forward to make the car tighter. I'm not racing but I don't want the person behind me looking in my drivers side door from behind me.

dkjbama · January 11, 2016

Well, sounds like you've got a firm grasp on your problem and solution, and it certainly sounds like it needs to be fixed. If you don't have the tools to accomplish the job, take it to a pro. If the pro you have doesn't want to do it, find someone else that can. You'll spend more on multiple alignment checks doing it yourself by trial and error than you would paying someone with an alignment rack to do it right the first time.

Supa711 · January 11, 2016

Is there a better forum for chevys. I don't know how really to work this one. Or one with more people for more feedback

dkjbama · January 12, 2016

One thing you could check. Is the gap between the bed and cab the same on both sides of the truck??

Supa711 · January 12, 2016

Yes whole body square. Leaf springs and bushing spot on. But where I get the shift is when I measure the axle itself. Bolt in leaf spring good. It's 1/4 inch back on passenger rear 3/16 forward on the driverror rear. I think that I could unbolt the passenger shock back off the u boltz enough to jack the rear around some or it may go back to its original position. I'm going to try this one day after work but it's kind of hard to measure small 1/16 of inches in the dark. I think if it's the u bolts when I take it off one at a time it should show bent

Supa711 · January 12, 2016

I found a place that will do it. But I got to try myself first. I've already paid for an alignment one place and can go back for checks for 6 months. If I go to the guy hell charge another alignment plus whatever parts it may need to correct it. But he does have an alignment rack plus thrust plate alignment kits in stock. It can't hurt to try myself. It's just a lot of measurements.

Supa711 · January 13, 2016

Well I did it. Or did what I could. Disconnected shocks, backed of my u bolts, jacked it around with 2 hoists one on each side, tapped it, jacked pumpkin up and down, cross torqued it all back to 75. I have not drove it yet but we shall see. And it was free.