My desert truck mods
12-01-2010, 02:35 PM
#11
Its toe. Ive built and aligned many long travel beam setups. You should be able to back up and go forward slowly without (virtually) any suspension movement. Same thing happens on a stock i beam truck thats out of alignment.
12-01-2010, 03:33 PM
#13
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Again, that is a possibility, I can have an alignment shop (that deals with modified off road vehicles) check it out.
Just got off the phone, since my truck is presently at the big Ford dealer/shop in SLC getting my transmission worked on, they will check my toe. I will post what the results were when I pick my truck up next week.
Which I can, very little suspension movement if I release the clutch slowly and back up slowly.
On a side note, we were playing with our nitrogen pressures last year. I am running 180 psi, we had them up to 220 psi. At 220 the tires splayed out less than at 180. To me showing that some may be toe but not ALL toe.
Just got off the phone, since my truck is presently at the big Ford dealer/shop in SLC getting my transmission worked on, they will check my toe. I will post what the results were when I pick my truck up next week.
On a side note, we were playing with our nitrogen pressures last year. I am running 180 psi, we had them up to 220 psi. At 220 the tires splayed out less than at 180. To me showing that some may be toe but not ALL toe.
Last edited by Desert Truck; 12-01-2010 at 03:38 PM.
12-01-2010, 05:20 PM
#15
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M&D,
Not arguing here, just asking some questions.
I was doing some research:
An incorrect toe-in will cause rapid tire wear to both tires equally. This type of tire wear is called a saw-tooth wear pattern as shown in this illustration.
I do not have this tire wear pattern. Now, if one drives mainly off road (soft surfaces) vs on road (hard surfaces) that could be a reason why.
On a side note, my steering wheel is NOT straight when I drive, it is slightly turned, showing that "something" is out of alignment.
But, even if my front end is out of alignment, and I get the toe and/or other parameters REset correctly, will I not most likely knock it back out after a few hard forays hitting the rocks and ruts and whoops? Like I did already?
If so, what is the point of getting it realigned every few weeks to every few months? Considering that the truck mostly sees off road miles anyways with an occassional short road trip.
Not arguing here, just asking some questions.
I was doing some research:
An incorrect toe-in will cause rapid tire wear to both tires equally. This type of tire wear is called a saw-tooth wear pattern as shown in this illustration.
If the sharp edges of the tread sections are pointing to the center of the car then there is too much toe-in. If they are pointed to the outside of the car then there is too much toe-out.
I do not have this tire wear pattern. Now, if one drives mainly off road (soft surfaces) vs on road (hard surfaces) that could be a reason why.
On a side note, my steering wheel is NOT straight when I drive, it is slightly turned, showing that "something" is out of alignment.
But, even if my front end is out of alignment, and I get the toe and/or other parameters REset correctly, will I not most likely knock it back out after a few hard forays hitting the rocks and ruts and whoops? Like I did already?
If so, what is the point of getting it realigned every few weeks to every few months? Considering that the truck mostly sees off road miles anyways with an occassional short road trip.
Last edited by Desert Truck; 12-01-2010 at 05:28 PM.
12-01-2010, 05:28 PM
#16
Im not trying to argue with you either brother, Ive just seen this sooo many times Im very confident in what Im saying.
Another thing is with bigger, flexier tires, the alignment can be just barely off and once it starts to "push" it will magnifiy greatly by the tires starting to flex - add in the super long steering linkage and you have a relativley "sloppy" front end. Its just how I beams are - its nothing "bad" just the nature of the beast.
If you dont have excessive tire wear, and it doesnt pull or anything, leave it. You shouldnt have to align it very often at all. It really should only get out of alignment when pivot points wear or something bends. BUT I gaurantee if you have plenty of air pressure in the tires, and the alignment is dead on, it wont sqaut like that - thats all Im sayin.
Another thing is with bigger, flexier tires, the alignment can be just barely off and once it starts to "push" it will magnifiy greatly by the tires starting to flex - add in the super long steering linkage and you have a relativley "sloppy" front end. Its just how I beams are - its nothing "bad" just the nature of the beast.
If you dont have excessive tire wear, and it doesnt pull or anything, leave it. You shouldnt have to align it very often at all. It really should only get out of alignment when pivot points wear or something bends. BUT I gaurantee if you have plenty of air pressure in the tires, and the alignment is dead on, it wont sqaut like that - thats all Im sayin.
12-01-2010, 09:27 PM
#19
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Thanks. We still have a few minor issues we are dealing with, seems my alignment is probably out. Other than that it is replacing/fixing the stock components that are slowly breaking due to a combination of old age and just being beat.