Alignment

[cfan10]

Long story short, I was stuck in the yard in mud...paid my neighbor $30 to pull me out and it bent the tie rod pretty bad...$128 later that was fixed forgot to do a quick alignment and two month old tires are toast.

It's been literally like 7+years since I did this. Which way do the tie rods need to be turned foe toe in/toe out

As always advise is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

[cfan10]

Cannot post photos but the driver front tire is slick underneath the car, and thread on the outside. Steering wheel is cocked to the driver wheel to drive straight

[cfan10]

Photos

[cfan10]

No one?

[kwmech]

What do you have for steering on that? I see a box, but I also see what appears to be a tie rod end for rack and pinion. Also looks like camber is way off. Take it to an alignment shop and have it all checked out. What year is this?

[SCOTI]

The outer Tie Rod on the one side def looks bent.

Clean & put reference marks on the damaged tie rod where it threads into the rest of the linkage (measuring the exposed threads on the damaged part is usually easy enough; a piece of masking tape around the exposed threads works quick & dirty as well).
Remove the damaged part.
Install new part & thread it in as close to the dimension pulled off the one removed.
Reassemble.

For temporary alignment, put the steering wheel straight (which should put your non-damaged side pointing straight). Once that's done turn the turnbuckle in or out as needed to get the repaired side in a similar position as the non-damaged side.

Go get fresh tire/s & an alignment.

[cadillac_al]

I just go to an alignment shop when I need one or when I buy another vehicle. If you need one you need one, there is no other way if you care about tire wear.

[cfan10]

Thanks for the replies, no rack and pinion, power steering gearbox. I replaced the bent tie rods. It was shaking so violently yesterday it scared me terribly. All ofvthese troubles to get pulled out oglf the mud. I think the tow chain was wrapped around the k member

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by cfan10

Thanks for the replies, no rack and pinion, power steering gearbox. I replaced the bent tie rods. It was shaking so violently yesterday it scared me terribly. All ofvthese troubles to get pulled out oglf the mud. I think the tow chain was wrapped around the k member

With that TRE linkage bent like it was, my guess is it was wrapped around that. They cannot take that sort of pull & retain their shape although if it was wrapped around the x-member, it's possible the TRE was collateral damage depending on the placement of whatever was used to pull you out.

If there should ever be a 'next time', pick a spot on the frame where steering linkage is out of the way.

[cfan10]

Took it to an alignment shop yesterday, they said everything was worn out even the tie rods I replaced less than two weeks ago, crazy!
In either event purchased two new front tires and the violent wobbing stopped however I still need to get the alignment decent as not to burn up $400 in tires. Any no nonsense methods to get it right with backyard basics?

As always advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[cfan10]

Tires

[kglowacky]

I will try. Back in the day when we use to rebuild wrecks, we would use what we called the string method to do a toe align. NOT PERFECT but gets you better than nothing. Take roll of Kite string or twin. and have someone place it across the back rear tire and then you stand in front of the front tire and pull the string tight. Holding the rear string area flat against both sides of the rear tire, you in the front of the truck can get an eye on which way to adjust the front tire in or out using the tie rod adjustment. Basically, you are drawing a straight line based on your rear wheels which are square due to the one-piece rear end. we would do a quarter of an inch toe in for driving purposes. By this I mean when the guy in front pulls the string tight then he places the string on the rear of the front tire it will show you which way to go on the back as there will be a gap (it needs to be adjusted out )or the front of the front tire will move the string off the back of the front tire. (Then it needs to be adjusted in). Now if that doesn't confuse you, you can align your truck for tow.
A footnote. After every adjustment back the truck back and forth a couple feet before you check it again. this is needed to insure settlement in your adjustment.
Also before you start set the steering wheel so it is centered.
LOL this tells me I am too old for this world remembering these types of old school tricks.
Good Luck

[SCOTI]

You need an alignment now, not later. Expensive new tires have zero wear pattern in them until you start using them. As soon as that happens, the wear starts. Depending on how many miles are accumulated & how far off alignment is = how quickly a wear pattern forms. Once a wear pattern forms it typically continues wearing that pattern so that $$ spent is losing its value.

If you replaced a Tie Rod end (you mentioned replacing one so I assumed it was w/a new part) & the shop you took it to said they were "all bad" (including the one just replaced), I would question their assessment skills.

[v30crewcab]

time for a different alignment shop. but it needs one like yesterday.