Alignment?

[jimmy1614]

So how is everyone getting their trucks aligned? I tried the other day and the guy told me I'm too low. The bed is covering too much of the wheel and the sensor wont fit. He said I have to take my bed off! Is he right or should I try somewhere else?

[jimmy1614]

Really sorry bout the crooked pics but I have no clue how to fix it! The truck is gonna come back apart soon to be to be stripped and painted. Im just trying to get it aligned so I can put a few miles on it. I wanna work out the kinks and make sure I put stuff together right haha.

[old cruiser]

Try somewhere else, if you take the bed off this will change the load on front suspension so if alignment done then and you put bed back on the alignment will be out gain.

[lowlife4life]

That is a good question. I'm laying my 63 out on 24s an never even thought of that looks like ill have to disassemble to finish lol

[stealth_weapons]

granted i dont think i am as low as you are in the rear and i have i have 15" steelies but, i didnt have to take my bed off to do an alignment. the sensors we used adjusted to the wheels. i would try somewhere else. FYI it took 3 hours to dial in the alignment because of adding and removing shims on the front cross shaft.
Old Cruiser has a valid point with the bed being off as well.

[KJSR]

I do my own on my old cars/trucks. Toe in is with a tape measure and caster/camber is with a Longacre caster/camber tool. I can get it a ton closer than the shops.....

[BMERDOC]

It would be impossible to get the heads they are using on the rim. I'm sure his is the rim clamp style. I'll take some pictures of heads that are better suited for your truck. That way when you locate another shop you'll know what to look for. BTW, heres your pic...corrected.

[LVPhotos]

Somebody has to have a better set up. Even some of the 1990s-2000s Cadillac have rear tires inside their wheel wells. Even a race shop can dial in using old school bar and tape method. Too low? Ever try getting a Corvette on a lift, flat bed, driveway?

[jimmy1614]

I was pretty confused when he said too low! I did adjust the toe and I think its really close but im pretty sure the caster is way off. Its def a two hands on the wheel kind of driving. Feels very twitchy and all over the place. The whole front end is from an 89 suburban.

[mr andrerson]

Jimmy... diggin your truck man! what size/make/model are those rims n tires you're running?

[jimmy1614]

Thanks mr anderson! They are Vision Legend wheels. I chose these wheels over other brands that look very similar because they have multiple choices as far as backspacing is concerned.

[mr andrerson]

sweet!! thanks! what size are they? i like the ratio on the tires too... what size skins did you wind up with?

[joedoh]

I got the same comment. Guy told me to pull the bed and fenders.

[jimmy1614]

They are 20's. Ill get all the measurements when I get home and post them up for you.

[NEWFISHER]

Semi truck shops have multiple head designs for laser alignment.

[jimmy1614]

Thanks for the help everyone!

[BMERDOC]

I tried but only got one picture of the three styles of heads we have for our alignment machine. I'll try again tomorrow. Again, his is probably a rim clamp style that grabs the rim at 12 o'clock and 3 0'clock. You probably wouldn't want them to use those anyway because they are notorious rim scratchers. The newer styles grab the tires at 9 and 3 which should have no problem attaching to your truck so that they can align it.
In any event don't have them align the truck to stock specs. They are horrible!! Here is a linky to a post I put up after experimenting with C10 alignments. Hopefully it helps you get the right alignment.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=582187

**EDIT** I said the stock specs are horrible but realized that MY truck's specs are still stock. I would say that after some seat time the caster still needs to be more. All the more reason to do the Caster Mod. The return to center still isn't that great. But hey its worlds better than it was!

[jimmy1614]

Thanks Dude!

[poorboy]

This is the style we use. Only a rubber ring touches the rim. This is my car and my rears are tucked.

[jimmy1614]

Ok so heres the wheel and tire specs.
Front=20x8.5 bs 5.5 or 6 245/45/20
Rear=20x9.5 bs 5.25 295/40/20 Firestone fire hawk wide oval
I called them and ordered over the phone so I couldn't get the exact bs measurements. I made bs measuring tools out of yard sticks so I could get it just how I wanted it. Wide in the back and slightly motor homed in the front.

[BMERDOC]

Originally Posted by poorboy

This is the style we use. Only a rubber ring touches the rim. This is my car and my rears are tucked.

Yup. Those are the heads I was refering to.