2016 Lariat SCREW 3.5 Eco 33k miles

Back in April was at dealer getting some 30k maintenance done and asked them to check alignment as it seemed to drift.

They noted it was out of alignment and said they wouldn't be able to get it aligned since it needed a camber caster kit from a third party- Moog. Apparently Ford doesn't make this. I looked it up and it is a $35ish part that looks to consist of some washers and bolts. Of course it is all labor and would be close to $400 to fix it.

I asked them to align it anyway and it did align (to their surprise). Been driving true until the last month. It been drifting again. Have not been over any curbs or bumped into anything.

So I am going to take it to a tire/alignment shop and have them put it in their rack. However I am torn between telling them what the dealer said 8 months ago or not telling them. I would assume a reputable shop would find the same issue assuming it was the camber caster kit.

Thoughts would be appreciated. Do I tell them or not.

Also what does this $35ish part really do that need $350 labor (dealer) to install?

Thanks

 

Ford DOES make adjustable caster/camber bolts.

 

No need to tell them. Just say it needs an alignment. FYI you may need multiple kits for your truck. I had a similar experience bringing in my 2.5” leveled truck. First the dealer said I needed the kits, then I showed them a printout of where the last shop set everything using stock parts. Lo and behold, the alignment suddenly became possible.

 

Thanks

I should have stated in my first post that I have no modifications to the truck. No lift, spacers, etc

 

Stay away from that Dealer. Many tire shops have superior alignment equipment, it's their livelihood. Check around local area on Google maps.

 

A few points:
Dealer is incompetent. Ford does make a kit, but expensive for what you get.
The Moog kit @ 35.00 is junk, avoid.
As a bare minimum, get kits without the stamped steel guides, they bend if you breathe on them wrong.
Best kit, and worth every penny is the heavy duty Raptor kits with guides and eccentrics on both ends of the bolts. They will fit all trucks.

 

Theyre bolts that make it easier for the tech to get the caster/camber set and i think it also helps keep it in place. Im no mechanic so forgive if im wrong but i needed some too because i lowered my truck so i did some research. Im surprised youd need them on a stock truck though but again im no tech.

 

Camber and caster kit is not required to get a perfect alignment. They are too lazy to expend the effort to adjust manually or trying to up sell. A kit does make it easier to align the truck but not required. Some technicians use a ratchet strap to help realign the LCA.

 

While not technically required the adjustable camber bolts make it a hell of a lot easier for the mechanic to dial in your suspension alignment. And they're cheap.

It also locks the A-arm bolts in place. Driving off road, hitting pot holes even a fast run across railroad tracks can knock your alignment out of whack if those bolts slip.

I mark them with yellow paint after an alignment so I can just look under the truck and see if they've moved over time. It happens. Pep Boys has done mine twice in 3 years and it tracks perfectly straight on the highway.