They couldn't align my truck

[LSUMurse]

"The nuts were too rusted and we couldn't break them free." That was the story they told me.

I know nothing about alignments, so I have to take it to someone. What bolts/nuts do I need to get under my truck and man up on?

In case it matters, it's a '68 with factory non-power steering (though I've added it from a '75), non-power brakes, 307. It's wearing down the inside of the front tires faster than the outside, proper inflation.

[cdowns]

i'd think the upper control arm mounting bolts would b critical in an alignment

[Lee H]

Originally Posted by cdowns

i'd think the upper control arm mounting bolts would b critical in an alignment

Yes, and the tie rods adjusters.

[i82much]

I think the problem is with your mechanic's nuts and not yours.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by LSUMurse

"The nuts were too rusted and we couldn't break them free." That was the story they told me.

I know nothing about alignments, so I have to take it to someone. What bolts/nuts do I need to get under my truck and man up on?

In case it matters, it's a '68 with factory non-power steering (though I've added it from a '75), non-power brakes, 307. It's wearing down the inside of the front tires faster than the outside, proper inflation.

Toe in is adjusted by turning the tie rod ends (first photo) in or out. Camber and caster are adjusted by loosening the upper A arm mounts (second photo)and adding or removing shims.

[LSUMurse]

Originally Posted by i82much

I think the problem is with your mechanic's nuts and not yours.

My thoughts exactly.

Thanks all for the replies. I'll see just how impossible to turn they are once it cools down around here. Summer is finally here, and it's angry.

[truckster]

Just a thought, but if they're that lazy, they might be sloppy, too.

I'd think about finding another alignment shop.

[68gmsee]

Rusty nuts syndrome... Sounds like a medical condition for some of us.

First thing I would do is to soak them for several days with your favorite penetrating oil and use a torch of some kind to heat and loosen the real stubborn ones.

After they're all loose to your satisfaction, take them to another alignment shop but be prepared to spend some money. Most of these shops don't like to do a hafazz job for liability issues.

If you know someone that can do it you can replace parts and then take the truck in for final alignment.

[Old Truck Man]

I never take my vehicles to a alighnment shop. I place the front A arms on jack stands and bolt two rims without tires on . using a tape measure its easy to set the toe in. the caster & camber is set using one of those J C Whitney gauges that fasten on to the front spindle. If a alighnment is properly done the steering wheel will remain centered. Any shop worth its salt would not be stymied by rusted nuts.

[Old Truck Man]

Heres some pictures of my alignment guage.

[long67]

Tric-kee.Pretty accuate?

[Old Truck Man]

it works for me

[LSUMurse]

That thing is awesome. Looks like it came with the truck.

That may be in the future. I think for now, I'll have someone else do it. Maybe next time I'll get something like that. Did it come with shims?

[Old Truck Man]

Originally Posted by LSUMurse

That thing is awesome. Looks like it came with the truck.

That may be in the future. I think for now, I'll have someone else do it. Maybe next time I'll get something like that. Did it come with shims?

I bought it from JC Whitney 50 years ago. it didn't come with any tools or shims just the instructions. You could maybe find one online. I take pride in doing almost everything my self. its part of being self reliant. I repair my own auto transmissions ,engines ect. I even do my own carpentry and electrical work. raise our own meat dairy & poultry. The self reliant person never has to wait upon the time & pleasure of others to get things done.

[72bowtiestepper]

Originally Posted by Old Truck Man

I bought it from JC Whitney 50 years ago. it didn't come with any tools or shims just the instructions. You could maybe find one online. I take pride in doing almost everything my self. its part of being self reliant. I repair my own auto transmissions ,engines ect. I even do my own carpentry and electrical work. raise our own meat dairy & poultry. The self reliant person never has to wait upon the time & pleasure of others to get things done.

More people should have that attitude ! The world would be a better place !

[long67]

I like your attitude. I do what I can also.

[bMr]

FYI for those who may also be looking for tools to do your own alignments, check out http://www.quicktrickalignment.com

[Old Truck Man]

About twenty years ago this lady came by trying to sell a ford van and buy something else. she was honest told me the tires on front wore out very fast. she had taken it to the local high dollar tire & alignment shop. and they told her the van needed about $500 in new parts. Needed new ball joints &tie rods ect. I told her its a ford twin I beam they don't have ball joints they have king pins. I crawled under it and had her wiggle the steering wheel. nothing was really worn out. So She left it with me. I alighned it with my primitive equipt. Had to use a hydraluc jack to bend one of the I beams back to the proper spec,s. We charged her $80. and boy was she happy. It drove good and the tires didn't wear out so fast. we likely got thousands of dollars of word of mouth advertizment. The same place replaced so tie rod ends for a guy. afterward his steering wheel was crooked. He came by here wanting us to pull the steering wheel off and straighten it up. We laughed and loosened the sleeves and properly adjusted the steering wheel back to center. If whoever is doing something doesn't have the necessary want to & know how. it don't matter how big the building & how fancy the equiptment is you still get inferior results. If you want it done to suit you do it yourself.

[LEEVON]

There are a lot of crappy shops out there, so I can't defend them all but for a little perspective...we see 60-65 cars/week in my shop and 95% of them are routine. The other 5% can eat your lunch, and while we bend over backwards for many of our customers, some you just simply have to pass on. Old, rusty or extremely greasy is not as attractive if your schedule is full. I have two badass techs and the best machine money can buy and we turn away alignments from time to time. 22" wheels, lowered BMW's and stuff like that. It's just business.

With that said, there should be nothing difficult about breaking the nuts loose on your TRE's or upper control arms, may have to break out a torch but I bet you will find another shop willing to do it.