burb' camber and caster - long thread
Ketch
01-02-2004, 02:43 PM
I want to figure out a way to do my own front end alignment on my 99 Suburban. Anyone know where I can buy a set of turnstyles and alignment gauges to do it myself? Has anybody round here ever done their own camber/caster/toe on a Suburban or Chevy truck?
History:
I figure I've spent $350 to get our 99 Suburban (older style) aligned correctly. First time was the dealer who had refused to align when new. At 17,000 miles (out of warranty) and with brand new tires, he charged me for knock-outs and alignment and still this piece of truck pulled and wore on the outside FrontRight tire.
Second time went to a frame shop who did it by hand gauge and it drove straight for a while but still wore outside of Front Right tire. Did not go back there because he had tried to sell me new upper knuckle which I discovered later when greasing front end was actually just a little play in the wheel bearing. Snug by hand and a little torque to spec and it removed play. He probably new that....
Third time was an alignment shop that had nice, expensive Hunter computer alignment gear, and charged me an extra $60 because they said the knock-outs had "burrs" that needed to be ground out in order for the cams to slide over all the way! What can you do when they've got you on the rack? Drove it on vacation next day and guess what? Pulled all the way 1500 miles round trip. Took it back and he refused to adjust free because of the miles I just put on...sad. Is it really so difficult to help your customer and be honest? I know - somebody's going to respond with "they're are good shops out there"...one or two but who has time, money and luck enough to find somebody who actually takes pride over payola?
Now with 54,000 miles and still she pulls right and wears that really nice Michelin LT on the outside right. So I need to get this aligned correctly.
But I'm pretty gun shy and wondering if there is any decent, law abiding alignment technician on the planet who would actually want to take time to get this right. Its tough to get to the right side adjusting cams because of the A/C and heater hoses - so my guess is they take the easy way and just do the left side which is very easy to get to and blow off the right hence my problem always with the right????? That's why I wish I could pull the camber in a little myself to experiment. Suburban's are supposed to have positive camber (top of wheel leans out). Makes it turn quick I guess but hell on those tires. If I could set it neutral it might help.
History:
I figure I've spent $350 to get our 99 Suburban (older style) aligned correctly. First time was the dealer who had refused to align when new. At 17,000 miles (out of warranty) and with brand new tires, he charged me for knock-outs and alignment and still this piece of truck pulled and wore on the outside FrontRight tire.
Second time went to a frame shop who did it by hand gauge and it drove straight for a while but still wore outside of Front Right tire. Did not go back there because he had tried to sell me new upper knuckle which I discovered later when greasing front end was actually just a little play in the wheel bearing. Snug by hand and a little torque to spec and it removed play. He probably new that....
Third time was an alignment shop that had nice, expensive Hunter computer alignment gear, and charged me an extra $60 because they said the knock-outs had "burrs" that needed to be ground out in order for the cams to slide over all the way! What can you do when they've got you on the rack? Drove it on vacation next day and guess what? Pulled all the way 1500 miles round trip. Took it back and he refused to adjust free because of the miles I just put on...sad. Is it really so difficult to help your customer and be honest? I know - somebody's going to respond with "they're are good shops out there"...one or two but who has time, money and luck enough to find somebody who actually takes pride over payola?
Now with 54,000 miles and still she pulls right and wears that really nice Michelin LT on the outside right. So I need to get this aligned correctly.
But I'm pretty gun shy and wondering if there is any decent, law abiding alignment technician on the planet who would actually want to take time to get this right. Its tough to get to the right side adjusting cams because of the A/C and heater hoses - so my guess is they take the easy way and just do the left side which is very easy to get to and blow off the right hence my problem always with the right????? That's why I wish I could pull the camber in a little myself to experiment. Suburban's are supposed to have positive camber (top of wheel leans out). Makes it turn quick I guess but hell on those tires. If I could set it neutral it might help.
back2life
01-06-2004, 02:49 PM
Check Around And See If Theres A Service Bulletin Out For Alignments On Your Vehicle There Is Probably A Different Measurement That Needs To Be Used
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