Re: 1972 C10 Steering Problems
You could do a preliminary alignment check yourself. I did this when I installed my 4/6 ECE drop kit, (drop spindles). After I put the truck on the ground the front tires were towed way in.
This method is good for checking toe.
You'll need: Jack, 2 jack stands, a length of string, tape measure and wrenches to fit tie rod ends.
Center your steering wheel. The truck is setting on a level flat surface. Your tires are aired up properly, etc.
Take a chock line (string, or fishing line, long enough to go from bumper to bumper.) and tie each end to the top of each jack stand, raise the stands up so the string is about center of the back wheel and front wheel. Put one jack stand at the back of the truck beyond the back wheel, by the back bumper. Place the other jack stand at the front near the front bumper. Move the stands out away from each other to make the string tight like a long guitar string. Move the front and back jack stands side to side so the string is just kissing the REAR tire, front and back. Take a tape measure and measure the gap between the string and the front tire, front and back. Now adjust your tie rod end to square the measurement so the gap between the string and the front tire are the same each side of the front tire. What you are doing here is squaring your rear wheel/tire to the front wheel/tire. Now repeat this same procedure on the other side of the truck. You'll have to jack up the front wheel of course for each time you make a tie rod end movement, lower it back down and readjust your jack stands, recheck. This will adjust your toe so its straight up. If you need to space out the string from the back tire to gain more of a gap at the front wheel/tire to measure, you can duct tape two spacers on the rear tire at the center each side of the rear tire. When we did this on our race car we used to use two beer cans, LOL. As long as your spacers are the same diameter.
On the race car we were always getting the wheels knocked of it.(Bad driver) We used to square the right rear with the right front then use toe boards to adjust the left front to get 1/8" toe. I believe the spec. is 1/8" toe in for or trucks too.
Your alignment guy will be amazed on how close you can get it this way. I hope the helps a little and I've explained this well enough to make sense. Craftsmen
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1970 C10 SWB
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