Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
I'm in Monmouth. I haven't lived up north for yrs. I'm still looking for one in my area myself.
09 Tahoe Wheel Alignment Question
- Thread starter winmag45
- Start date
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George B
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Perhaps look for a commercial and fleet service shop?
IMO, the shops that specialize in strictly brakes and suspension/steering repairs typically are set up to do the best alignment work. Instead of a tech that does everything and every now and then doing an alignment, the techs that do them on a regular basis are in tune with what should and would be done. When a shop specializes in under carriage work, they typically also want to be known for alignments as a specialty. Plus, alignments are more specialized than get dirty grunt work of the under carriage variety. This is where that tech gets to think more than do physical work, more analytical so to speak, and it pays very well for the time it takes to do it.
You should ask up front about doing a thrust alignment, referencing the rear axle, and they should hang alignment heads on all 4 wheels, even on a rear axle where there are no adjustments to be made. They would be used to that with independent suspension vehicles with rear alignment adjustment capabilities. If they hang just 2 heads, walk away asap.
Rear axles, on our rigs, are supposed to point straight but they can be off just a small amount from wear and tear and that small amount can cause a PUSH to one side or the other and look like a dog tracking rig, from the rear, if that small amount is not referenced in the alignment and the front adjusted accordingly. A front end in perfect alignment can still need a slight **** of the steering wheel to one side or the other to keep rolling straight down the road, if that rear thrust is not referenced with heads on the rear wheels.
You should ask up front about doing a thrust alignment, referencing the rear axle, and they should hang alignment heads on all 4 wheels, even on a rear axle where there are no adjustments to be made. They would be used to that with independent suspension vehicles with rear alignment adjustment capabilities. If they hang just 2 heads, walk away asap.
Rear axles, on our rigs, are supposed to point straight but they can be off just a small amount from wear and tear and that small amount can cause a PUSH to one side or the other and look like a dog tracking rig, from the rear, if that small amount is not referenced in the alignment and the front adjusted accordingly. A front end in perfect alignment can still need a slight **** of the steering wheel to one side or the other to keep rolling straight down the road, if that rear thrust is not referenced with heads on the rear wheels.
Eric O shows how.
wjburken
Supporting Member
Exactly. When you have rear leaf springs one of the most common causes of dog tracking was a sheared leaf spring center bolt and the only thing holding the leafs together was the tension on the u-bolts attaching the spring pack at the axle. That can be very dangerous.
pcwizard2600
TYF Newbie
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We were doing "4 wheel" alignments back in the 80's. Seems to me that would be standard, but as mentioned, if they are just hanging sensors on two wheels, run the other way. A lot of variables that are mentioned in other posts so I won't repeat them. I have an '09 Tahoe and both of the shops I use here in VT get it right every time. (so far anyhow) I remember one time they did the alignment, took it out for road test, they saw the wheel was just slightly off, so they pulled it right back in and took care of it. Nice to have a shop that pays attention to detail.
