2wheel or 4 wheel alignments?

[shelby987]

I will be buying my first set of 'new shoes' for my first 4x4 this weekend, and at almost $900 all told, I would like them to last as long as possible.....for a truck (in particular a 4wd) is a 4wheel alignment required, or is a 2wheel all I really need?

[Yukon Jack]

I've been told there isn't really anything that can be done to adjust the rear axle so not to worry about it. I haven't had either of my trucks aligned and they seem to track real well and I don't see any alignment wear issues.

[Eichorst69]

The only thing you can adjust on an old
4x4 is the toe on the front end.

Rob

[Blue_71]

you can actually adjust camber also, but it takes a special sleeve and socket, and lots of time. usually though, camber will not be out unless something is worn out anyway

there is nothing you can do at all on the rear. 4-wheel alignment only applies to IRS and FWD ussually

[wibilly]

i didn't know there was such a thing as a 2 wheel alignment. what do they line them up with? i would not bother to spend the money on anything but a 5 wheel alignment

[jrdv]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but the question does apply to this topic.
Does anyone align their own frontends? JC Whitney sells a tool that looks like a large yardstick. Has anyone used it?

john

[Blue_71]

2 wheel alignment is basicly the same thing-- you still have to hook up all 4 sensors, but the alignment machine doesnt show any measurements for the rear. the alignment machine we have at work decides automatically if the vehicle can be aligned in the rear, and decides weither or not to show the specs. for example, on chevy trucks, the specs will be greyed out and not accesable for the rear, and say a 2000 oldsmobile alero, will have the specs accesable for the rear to be adjusted

[1969K10]

Originally Posted by jrdv

Not trying to hijack the thread, but the question does apply to this topic.
Does anyone align their own frontends? JC Whitney sells a tool that looks like a large yardstick. Has anyone used it?
john

never bought the tool from JCW, but I use my tape measure. pick identical points on front & rear of tires and measure between them. You want the front tires about 1/8" narrower that the rear. when you go down the road, the front pushes out, and will be "straight".