I took my truck to the local tire shop to get an alignment. I stood in the shop for about 10 minutes after they pulled my truck in the garage. The mechanic came inside and told me to come to the garage. He told me I needed upper control arms and lower ball joints, which I understand because my truck has 190,000 miles and never had them changed. He then told me I needed an aftermarket caster/camber kit. That made me think that if I needed a caster/camber kit to get my truck aligned, then there is probably a part that needs to be replaced that he is not telling me about. Could anyone tell me what part could need to be replaced or why I would need a caster/camber kit? Anything would really help at this point.

 

Caster and camber kits are used quite often.

 

Does that mean there is a part that needs to be replaced?

 

I don't know that much about it.But, i'd bet its cause all the suspention parts are such tight tolerances any over time its going to stretch or bend. I'm sure if you could start replacing parts and get it back without a kit. But i worked at a shop that did alot of the state police cars and they were always using those caster/camber kits.

 

These trucks have provision for caster/camber adjustments. If yours are seized they mechanic might want to replace them. In most cases they can be unseized. If the factory provision for adjustment is unable to bring caster/camber into spec : suspension may be sagging a bit and in need of repair. In many cases the mechanic on flat rate gets more labour when installing an afetrmarket kit. I've done many alignments on these trucks and have never needed to install a kit. Maybe try a different shop.

 

I just had my truck aligned yesterday at belle tire. I just put a 2" lift,leveled it out and put 33's on. I was an inch out on my camber and he also told me I needed a camber kit because there isn't enough adjustment to bring it back. It was $56.00 and an hr labor. It's just a bolt with special washers they put on the upper control arm to either move it in or out depending on what u need. It keeps your tires from wearing uneven.

 

It is adviseable when doing upper control arms and lower balljoints.

 

There is nothing to worry about. The shop you are at is doing a thorough alignment. If indeed the ball joints are bad, I would ABSOLUTELY put a kit in it. The kits are about 35 per side and take little to no time to put in. The reason you need them is that the truck comes factory with a square instead of a eccentric washer. The square is cut to hold a "close enough" caster/camber setting until a real mechanic puts one in 190k later. Other than having them show you ball joint movement and print off an alignment report after, I would say they sound on the level.

 

Thanks. That mechanic had me worried for a bit.