DYI front end alignment Chevy truck

[Ketch]

Have a chevy truck (1999 suburban older style) that, since new, has never really had a correct alignment. Always pulls. Alignment shops won't tweak it beyond "factory spec". Its not due to tires. Swap them, replace them still she always pulls to right. Premature wear on outside of right front.

So I've always wished I could do my own alignment. Tweak it til she tracks straight and tires stop wearing.

I'm not interested in buying my own Hunter machine but would like to find a set of turnstiles and manual alignment gauges. Any ideas on where best to find a set?

[MagicRat]

There was an outfit that sold a home alignment kit, mostly to the sports car crowd. Such an item may be avail. on the net. Otherwise, look around for someone selling used garage equipment.

BTW look for a shop that does performance or race car alignments. Factory specs are notorious for encouraging understeer, with the theory its more predictable and safer for the general driving public that way. There are more optimal settings, especially if you find a knowlegeable person who is willing to work with you to find a good set up.

[calgary_redneck]

do you have a print off of the specs from the last alignment that was done

[Ketch]

I always ask for one. The last one is around here somewhere but I'm not sure its the actual spec from my truck. When I find it I'll post the results.

[Ketch]

and here's a story...This latest place spent three hours fooling with it. They had some very nice racks and Hunter alignment gear. Even though I had the knockouts done long while back the guy charged me an extra $60 to "file out the burrs left when they did the knockouts" that he claims was preventing him from getting the camber correct. Well, he filed but its still is not correct else it would not pull and would not wear.

Why didn't I go back when I realized it was still pulling? Cause I was already on a 1600 mile road trip by that evening and by the time I got back it would have just been a big battle my word against his "oh you just drove 1500 miles it probably was a pothole."

It boils down to my gut feel about the shop that they are more interested in getting customer's money and less interested in repeat business which they'll never see from me.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by Ketch

It boils down to my gut feel about the shop that they are more interested in getting customer's money and less interested in repeat business which they'll never see from me.

I agree.
I have owned many vehicles and had them aligned by lots of shops, and alignment shops are just about the worst. I have been charged for alignments where nothing was done. I have been charged for alignments where the camber was never touched and the only way I find out is when $350 worth of new tires are mostly destroyed.
Of course, if the alignment shop truly does their job well, they will not get much repeat business from you....you won't need it!!