When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I had an accident a while ago where I had to replace most everything on the front axle such as brackets lower, track bar and drag link. Since these brackets are now replaced I then took it to a front end alignment and was shown that my drag link and track bar aren't parallel to each other and that the drivers side wheel bearing needed replacing. NO big deal right.
Even though my steering link assembly is OEM and NOT bent and my track bar and bracket are both new, where do I make the adjustment to make them parallel?
Oh by the way, I have a 3 inch lift short arm kit.
I know a few things that are needed: wheel bearing drivers side, possibly a ball joint upper drivers, and my axle is tilted too far forward. They also said I needed a drag link, but mine isn't bent.
When I take the drivers side wheel off, I will check the upper ball joint while I am replacing the wheel bearing. The ball joints are relatively new with only 2000 miles on them.
The pic shows the trackbar and drag link pretty close to parallel. Does it need to be more parallel than it already is?
I am guessing they are looking at the more vertical portion of the track bar and not the alignment of the connection points. You would need a track bar that was almost perfectly straight to fit that definition.
This shop was recommended from Shannon Campbell as his shop is right by my house. After the shop told me of my problems they presented a bill $650 in labor and $350 in parts. I can do all the work myself and when I looked up the parts on rockauto.com they were listed for $90. I then took my truck for an alignment and I have to take it back b/c its pulling to the left and thats on all roads level or not.
So your saying you have not fixed the problems they said and its pulling? Fix the problems listed, realign or align yourself with a friend and tape measure, see how it is then...
Now as my problems with parallel are gone, I still have a few issues. My wheels are slightly bowing inward and my d side wheel is kind of bowed out. I am figuring that I can adjust toe and camber by adjusting the drag link and steering with tie rods.
That is correct. But i would get an alignement shop to do that. Measuing gets close but its not perfect. If your wheels are slanted like / \ then its hubs you need. Check the ball joints as well.
No, you cant adjust camber with anything other than an eccentric degree lower ball joint and you would really only need to do that if the C on the axle tube is bent. Its a STRAIGHT AXLE as in no camber, in stock form.
CASTER can be adjusted with adjustable control arms and with that is used to set front pinion angle after a lift among other things
Sounds like you need to replace both hubs and upper/lower ball joints, then go from there.
You REALLY dont need an alignment shop todo just toe on a straight axle. 1/8" toe in, tape measure right under the control arm brackets against the rim on the back and parallel to the front to each side have a friend hold other end tight.
Now once you have fully adj LCAs, trac bar, sway bar and ec taking it to a GOOD 4x4 shop to get dialed in is ideal, if you cant do the research ans geometry yourself.
Btw yes your draglink angle looks fine heres mine, adj rough country trac bar, before some adjustments and now I have a heavy duty drop heim join bar...
Your angles look fine. If its pulling to one side after all parts that need to be replaced have been then I would think frame is tweaked causing your axle to sit slightly askew. Be happy your angles are better than mine... Just haven't had the time or money to fix mine properly but its low on the list as a trail only rig...
04-11-2016, 12:40 AM
drag link and track bar aren't parallel
