Alignment on 71 C20

[Daron65]

Im having a hard time finding anyone that will align my 71 C20.
The one place that will do it, want $189 to just look at it.And cant look at it until late March.
Is it possible that i can get it close at home with the old string method?
The truck wundors all over the road. Steering box seems fine. No slop. Truck even feels like it turns sharper to left, than to right.
Any suggestions would be helpful.

[notsolo]

I think so, I Layed out 2 parrell lines, edge of rear tires forward, center steering wheel adjust each tie rod about 1/8 - 3/16 in from the line in front....Hope that makes sense.

[Daron65]

Thank you. It does make sense. Is 1/8 toe in a good measurement to start with?

[sick472]

I'm not familiar with the "parallel lines from the back wheels" method so I am not knocking it, but I have had good luck with measuring from the front edge of the front wheel across to the other and comparing it to the measurement from the back edge of the front wheels and adjusting accordingly...making them about as equal as can be done while laying in the gravel, in the dark, while raining...Just kidding. A little toe in makes good sense. While your there check your tie rods, pitman arm, and ball joints for excessive slop. They, too, can cause "all over the road".

I'm not sure about your 71, but my 72 C10 has a narrower track width at the rear than it does in the front by an inch or more (hub face to hub face). I know this because I just measured to figure out new wheels and tires. According to web opinion, it was like that from the factory. This would make me question using the back wheels for alignment guides.

[dz1087]

1/8th is good to go for most alignments.

You can also use a tape measure.

Pick a spot of tread on each front tire and make a small chalk mark on it. Rotate the tire so the chalk mark on each front tire faces to the rear. Measure the distance between the two marks. Then rotate the marks to the front and repeat. Adjust the toe so the difference in the front measurement is 1/8th or so less than the rear.

Might take a few tries, but it worked great on my Jeeps through the years. Make sure the chalk marks are as close to parallel with the ground as you can get, meaning when it faces the rear you could draw a line from the mark through the center of the wheel and that line would go through the center cap and be parallel with the ground. Same for the front measurement. Also helps to have the tires off the ground, but on jack stands so the front suspension is still holding all the weight it would normally hold so it is at its normal orientation.

[notsolo]

I have also used just the tires to do basic alignment. For me Longer lines the length of the truck was more accurate, and you can get a center line.... You would have to compensate for a narrow track in the rear...A carpenters square or strait edge on the side of tire front and rear mark the floor/pavement measure and adjust.

[Daron65]

I appreciate all the help. I am not sure of what method i will use, but I will be doing it this weekend.