Truck Wheel Alignment Question...

[Edward]

As you guys know, I have an old 1995 Ford F250 4X4 that I (was blessed with) got in Colorado and it's a beast/ But the front end suspension was worn out and I've been slowly bringing it up again. I got laid off after the new parts, leif springs, shocks and all the related and ran out of money before the alignment and new tires. I did get the alignment done and through another blessing from the Lord that I didn't see coming, I m now about to get 4 new tires for it.

But it was way off, and was going through used tires so fast that...I wasn't about to buy new tires until the alignment was corrected. Now that I'm about to get the tires this weekend, it occurred to me...how do I know that they did it right and it wont chew up my new tires?

Oddly enough, my steering wheel was 180 degrees off and it bugs me so one time (before the alignment) I tried to pull the steering wheel and rotate it. But I was unable to do that and found out that, this is due to misalignment and when it gets aligned it will be correct again, and I talked to the shop and asked them, will alignment fix the steering wheel? Oh yes it sure will.

The shop who did it has a good reputation and was also highly recommended personally to me. So I trusted them that it would be done right, and hadn't really noticed (until today) that, even though it drives nice and straight again and I haven't had any more death wobble since it was aligned...but my steering wheel is still 180 off!

Is there a way to check it to confirm that it is aligned ok and not chew up new tires? That they even did it at all? These tires are about 700 bucks and I dunno if it was done right or how (IF) there is a way to double check their work?

I don't remember if the steering wheel was right side up when I first drove it home from alignment and it went 180 off since then, or if an alignment can be done...and it is good, but did not correct the steering wheel?

Anyone have any clue about this?

 

[jasonc]

The wheel,can be off and the tires aligned since in your case with that type of steering the turn buckle is adjusting the wheel to be straight .

 

[Edward]

Yeah but it is an annoyance because it makes it hard to see the dash instruments when I'm driving. Plus I don't want to chew up the new tires.

I was reading some stuff that said steering wheels go off center because of the rear axle, and it was a 4 wheel alignment. You make it sound like they just skipped that part of it. They was done fairly fast. It does hold the road good so I guess I'll have to live with it.

 

[jasonc]

Yeah but it is an annoyance because it makes it hard to see the dash instruments when I'm driving. Plus I don't want to chew up the new tires.

I was reading some stuff that said steering wheels go off center because of the rear axle, and it was a 4 wheel alignment. You make it sound like they just skipped that part of it. They was done fairly fast. It does hold the road good so I guess I'll have to live with it.

Can't adjust a solid axle ,they use the rear to see the front and to tell if its got excessive thrust angle and also other issues ,you can adjust toe for the thrust axle.I didn't mention adjusting the rear cause there ain't none.

The best bet is that its simply been done wrong if no other parts or problem arise .if the toe is 0,and wheel is crooked ,start with the centering of the wheel at the turn buckle ,also tires can cause pulls

 

[Edward]

It's supposed to be 0? The printout I got says 17-17-17-17

I wondered about that.

 

[jasonc]

Take a photo and look at the specs ,some makers don't want toe at 0,camber in,some cases won't be,faster never will .

 

[Corn Pop]

As you guys know, I have an old 1995 Ford F250 4X4 that I (was blessed with)

You have a beast. I hope it's a dirty diesel like my ford ute, I dont have 4x4 that's the only negative, it's got tow power though 2.6 turbo. Your F250 4x4 is a beast, they solid machines.

 

[JohnDB]

Yes, but it will involve getting another alignment.
Your suspension parts got replaced, when they did the work they weren't paying attention to the steering wheel (inside the cab vx underneath your truck) and that's why.
It's gonna involve more work than you really want to put into it at the moment.

Live with it until you get some more money. Then get another alignment and tell the guys doing it the problem with the steering wheel.

It will be $100+ to fix...but it's worth it.

 

[Edward]

You have a beast. I hope it's a dirty diesel like my ford ute, I dont have 4x4 that's the only negative, it's got tow power though 2.6 turbo. Your F250 4x4 is a beast, they solid machines.

It is a beast! This truck was ordered new as a municipal city truck. It has the tool boxes bed, it's HD, it has the tow package and the off road package, It has a gasoline 5,8 351W in it and runs great, but only gets about 10 or 11 mpg.

It's an F250 but it has an F350 suspension on it. It's a 1 ton.

 

[Edward]

Yes, but it will involve getting another alignment.
Your suspension parts got replaced, when they did the work they weren't paying attention to the steering wheel (inside the cab vx underneath your truck) and that's why.
It's gonna involve more work than you really want to put into it at the moment.

Live with it until you get some more money. Then get another alignment and tell the guys doing it the problem with the steering wheel.

It will be $100+ to fix...but it's worth it.

I did do that with this alignment that I got. I showed the guy the steering wheel was 180 off and asked him, this is related to alignment? The alignment will correct it? He said yes. Somehow I doubt they will correct it for free but perhaps I can cajole them into a discount.

 

[jasonc]

I did do that with this alignment that I got. I showed the guy the steering wheel was 180 off and asked him, this is related to alignment? The alignment will correct it? He said yes. Somehow I doubt they will correct it for free but perhaps I can cajole them into a discount.

Firestone ,the big stores will within 6 months or a purchased policy .

 

[jasonc]

Looks like a diagram is on order