alignment after lift

[vxcp]

Think I've seen some threads on this, but can't seem to find them now.

Just lifted the Vx with OME913 springs and torsion bar crank in the front. Ball joint is flipped in the front.

I have a lifetime Firestone alignment. Is it likely that Firestone will align by cranking the torsion bar down? Do I need to tell them don't touch the torsion bar? Anyone know if Firestone will shim if need be? Other thoughts?

[VX KAT]

no, Firestone shouldn't touch the torsion bars for an alignment, but I'd tell them not to anyway, just to be sure.

[Gizmo42]

Firestone is hit or miss with doing proper alignments. After my mitsubishi was wrecked the first time the guy shimmed it and did it right. After that when I needed it aligned again there was a different guy there and he never shimmed it even though it was way out. I take mine to an alignment specialist now.

[tom4bren]

Just a guess but ... be prepared:

Forestone could refuse to honor the free alignments after modifying the vehicle (lift).

I'm just sayin!

[vxcp]

That would be no bueno. Hopefully if one Firestone gives me trouble I can go to another and give it a shot!

[tom4bren]

That would be no bueno. Hopefully if one Firestone gives me trouble I can go to another and give it a shot!

Yah, it's prolly just my luck but warrantees never seem to work out for me.

Just last night I bought a T55 ratchet bit to use to get out some stripped head bolts (allen). The package said lifetime warrantee. Bit was stripped within an hour. Went back to the store but they wouldn't honor the warrantee since it was just stripped & not broken. Son said that clerk was a real jerk that he'd had problems with in the past. Granted that this was prolly a bad example since I was mis-using (abusing) the tool, but ...

Good news is that after about 9 man hours (Josh 6 hours, me 3 hours) & 4 goobered bits, all 16 head bolts have been removed.

Thread Jack over:hj:

[vxcp]

Well we'll see whether I have good luck or not. Firestone has the Vx now.

[vxcp]

Apparently, even with ball joint flip, shims are needed to adjust for camber after lifting. FWIW Firestone is charging me an extra $45 for this.

[vxodus]

:: swing by so i can see it man ::

[vxcp]

Will do Lex.

Camber was a little off on the right and apparently the shim adjustment bolt was too rusty for (easy) removal so no shims for me today. I'll have to see about getting the bolt loose and giving it another go.

[tom4bren]

Actually your original concern was legit. I just remembered that one member did encounter an alignment shop that lowered his front end as part of the alignment. :slap:

[Gizmo42]

If they have to shim it then the BJ flip was probably too much for it. Camber adjustments on Isuzus is backwards from most other vehicles. Adding shims brings the top of the tire in. On the 3 Rodeos I've done lifts on, none have had to have the BJ flipped to get it into proper alignment. Its mostly older short control arm Isuzus that need it.

When I replaced the upper control arms on my Rodeo I had to take the torch to one bolt and heat it pretty good. Nothing would budge it before that.

[vxcp]

Well that's interesting. Sounds like it might be easier to flip the ball joint back on the right side then.

[VXorado]

I agree with Giz, everyone assumes the BJ flip is necessary but it actually depend on the alignment. The flip caused way too much positve camber on my VX and the wheels were almost perfect 0 after I put the ball joints back to stock.

Good: l l
Bad: \ /

:_beer:

[whitebreadx]

Yeah I have had kind of bad luck with my lift so far ( OME 912's 2.5 lift ) I have had to change my BJ's once already.
They are already looking pretty trashed. : (

[vxcp]

Okay, ended up getting the shim bolts loose with no need for a torch. Left the ball joints flipped and got some shims installed. Only the right side needed shimming. Good to go on camber. Noted that my SAI was 0.1 deg out of spec on one side. Wonder if I tweaked something a little... ? Can't feel it while driving so not too concerned.

[RickOKC]

Hi VXCP,

You might consider readjusting the angle of your headlights, too. The likelihood of getting a ticket for that is probably low, but it's the "nice" thing to do for other motorists. ;)

--Rick

[twalker920]

Not to hijack, but speaking of alignment specialists...do any of the Colorado/Denver peeps have a trustworthy alignment place for our VXs? I took mine to Big-O again after I beat the snot out of my truck on a trail a couple weekends ago. (they did a nice job pre-Moab) but this time the DENTED MY FENDER! They are going to take care of it, but I just don't have the time to deal with that kind of crap. I'd rather take it to a specialist, plus they only did the toe-in, which is all they include in the "regular" alignment, and it needs some shims to get the camber/caster in to get the last 5% alignment right.

Sooo busy at work....why can't repair shops be open at night??? :P

[twalker920]

Oh and Rick, I hope you get your alignment all sorted out. It's so nice to have the VX rolling dead straight!

[Gizmo42]

I always take mine to Stans Alignment and Brakes (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=stans+alignment&ll=39.741283,-104.878621&spn=0.012358,0.01929&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&fb=1&gl=us&hq=stans+alignment&cid=0,0,3839061456815193194&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A) between Yosemite and Dayton by Colfax. They always do a great job. After I replaced the UCA's and messed up the shim placement they spent a lot of time changing shims to get everything just right. Reasonable price too.

[twalker920]

A little out of the way, but sounds good to me. I'll see if they can do a Sat appointment. Thanks Giz!


I always take mine to Stans Alignment and Brakes (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=stans+alignment&ll=39.741283,-104.878621&spn=0.012358,0.01929&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&fb=1&gl=us&hq=stans+alignment&cid=0,0,3839061456815193194&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A) between Yosemite and Dayton by Colfax. They always do a great job. After I replaced the UCA's and messed up the shim placement they spent a lot of time changing shims to get everything just right. Reasonable price too.