They're frickin' idiots!!

The spec on their sheet is 5 to 9 degrees positive caster and they set it at .4 negative?

Are they color blind? Green is for in spec and red is for out of spec.

 

Just to explain the "camber is not adjustable" comment.
This is true because you have a solid axle.
IFS can be adjusted, but solid axles have a fixed camber.
As a general rule, this spec will only come out of spec if the axle gets bent.
Don't get air!!

 

I'm lucky enough to have a few 4 wheel drive shops in the area... There's a big 4WP service center in Carlisle here and they actually know what they're doing.. Adjustable control arms for an alignment was around $300.00 last I checked but they take their time and get it right with road trips included.. Needless to say the XJ is very popular and there's always something impressive sitting around every time I'm there...

 

Or worn out ball joints.

 

I believe you meant to say +5-9 caster.

The shop i worked in a number of years ago we had 4-5 techs including myself that were "qualified" to do alignments and sadly yes those other guys only knew how to set it "in the green" and send it. They didn't care whether it was correct for that vehicle, it was "in spec" so they were done. I used to try and teach them but you can't squeeze water out of a rock. After taking all their comebacks horses a while I finally convinced by service manager to refer all modified vehicles to me. If they came in with their own specs I would set them exactly as requested with their understanding that we may need to tune them for quality from that point. I really enjoyed doing alignments but at the end if the day the I didn't make any more $$ doing complex alignments vs standard. Shop policy all alignments were standard priced unless disassembly was required.

 

Doh! Yes, I did.

 

Joyous day! Second alignment completed. Second test tow proved fruitful. The caster was too far out of spec as some of you pointed out. I am a worrier and a thinker. I get deep in my head. I love rabbit holes. So I appreciate getting tons of responses. Gonna do a longer test tow this week, hit the freeway. Thanks for all the help and we’ll see y’all on the road

 

Thanks for the update!! Happy trails.
Send a link to this thread to the manager of that alignment shop.

 

I really can’t think everyone enough for helping me to realize this dream. As I sit here in Moab for my first time ever, thinking back on the hours of resesrch, waiting for replies, and hoping this would all work out, I can’t help but wish for an opportunity to catch some of y’all on the trail.
Pic is in Capitol Reef NP. Great first outing for a rookie that just pulled his boat anchor for two days from California!
It has already been an amazing experience, and I haven’t even driven any trails in Moab yet
Peace and happy jeeping!