So, im not an auto mechanic by any means but i am a mechanic. I have actually never heard of a trucks rear end being out of alignment.

Long story short (might be completely unrelated) but i swapped my shocks out and put Fox 2.0's on. I started hearing popping noises a week or two later, nothing crazy, just noticeable though. Anyways, took my truck in for the engine block heater cord replacement and had them do an alignment. He said the front was fine but the rear had to be adjusted. Wouldnt that mean actually loosening the axle bolts and shifting the axle?

Just odd. Anyway, the popping has seen to have gone away for now...just curios as to what would cause that?

 

[QUOTE=MarkUSAF;6359115]So, im not an auto mechanic by any means but i am a mechanic. I have actually never heard of a trucks rear end being out of alignment.

Long story short (might be completely unrelated) but i swapped my shocks out and put Fox 2.0's on. I started hearing popping noises a week or two later, nothing crazy, just noticeable though. Anyways, took my truck in for the engine block heater cord replacement and had them do an alignment. He said the front was fine but the rear had to be adjusted. Wouldnt that mean actually loosening the axle bolts and shifting the axle?

Years ago I was told I needed a four wheel alignment on my E-350. The "mechanic" was unable to show me how he would align the straight axle on leaf springs rear tires. Just a scam to get more money.

 

[QUOTE=MikeD134;6359122]Well, the dealership it was at, its $99 whether it needs an alignment or not...so i dont think he would lie just for fun, didnt get any more money out of me.

 

The solid rear axle on a truck cant be aligned, but there are alignment measurements on the screen when checking alignment, it technically cant be aligned, but you can loosen up the u- bolts, and make small measurements.

 

[QUOTE=MarkUSAF;6359127]Basically they all lie by not telling or explaining to you the whole truth,,,,, Solid axles can't be aligned....but what they do is put / drive it on the align. rack straight (by eye)........ then they set-up their machine so that frt wheels are straight in line with the back wheels...(they move frt wheels sideways to be 100% in line with the back wheels)....
Now they can do their adjustments on the front suspension !!!!!
Example is: if you ever saw a tractor trailer where the rear of the trailer is say more to the right or left than what the tractor is; we call this dog tracking.......If for example it is only out of align. by say 1/4''.......by the time that 1/4'' gets to the rear of a long trailer it can be out 3-4 feet to the side!!...........This causes huge tire wear & heavier pulling by the tractor.....
In short they can't properly align a vehicle unless it is dead straight on their alignment rack...They set it up ....You pay!!

 

I've seen many pickups running down the road with bad dog tracking tendencies. There has to be a way to shift it over some right? Or you saying all the rigs I'm seeing have bent frames?

 

well, whatever they did, my truck isnt "popping" anymore...so hot diggity.

And yeah, i was just behind a semi this morning where the back of the trailer was on the dotted lines whereas the truck was in the middle of the lane

 

We've always called it "crabbing" like how a crab walks Same symptom different term

 

Not necessarily but is possible.......however big trucks have a slight tendency to break the centre bolt in any one of it's springs...that causes the axle to shift, usually backwards.
That bolt has to be replaced before an alignment, as it centres the axle to the spring..............same can happen on a car/pick-up & is usually caused by a major accident........After all vehicles are checked for worn parts an alignment can now be performed of course after replacing anything worn or broken!!!

 

I would venture to say the mechanic didn't put the vehicle straight on the rack....maybe even installed the mirrors that they attach to all your rims wrong. Either way you just got a bad alignment......Another thing that would put it out & make it dog track is someone that say replaced the tie rod ends & grossly installed them way out....That is why the rule is, if you replace front end parts go & get your alignment checked & corrected!!