Wheel Alignment

aragno

Active member
1995 Defender 110
ROW (RHD South Africa)

Does wheel alignment require shims, etc?

I need to find the right place as not everyone in my area knows how to do this.
 

WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
Just had mine on the rack, took 15 minutes (new/clean steering components). I have a 97, RHD from SA. Alignment shops love these trucks, super simple and no camber/castor adjustments.
 

LRNAD90

Well-known member
As far as I know, only toe is adjustable, and only on the front axle. That should be as simple as adjusting the length of the tie rod (behind the axle) to get the desired toe. The drag link also has some adjustment should the steering wheel not be perfectly centered when the wheels are in a straight ahead position, but if it is off too far, you'd need to pull the steering wheel and reset center.

These are the only adjustments I am aware of for alignment, and none of these require any shims. But there are others far more knowledgeable than I on here..

Edit - Like WreckItFrank, who responded above. That is what I get for not refreshing the post before posting..
 

WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
@LRNAD90 nailed it.

Action shot.

PXL_20221229_155946260.jpg
 

UnfrozenCaveman

Well-known member
Neighbor whacked into mine summer of 2019 ... idiots at the "alignment" shop couldn't manage to read the specs that I brought them ... to IN is not the same as toe OUT.

I let them try twice then took it home and set it up correctly with a string and tape measure.

I will say that two foot square bits of sheet metal under each front tire and a squirt of lube between make a good impression of a slip plate for this job.

Loosen the track rod (tie rod) and drag link, find center on the steering box, stick the appropriate drill bit / bolt in the drop arm, adjust length of drag link, then tie rod to arrive at the correct toe dimension.

Might take a few trips around the block, but you can do it!

sheesh, I knew this sounded familar...

 

MountainD

Technical Excellence Contributor
You have it right for Toe adjustment. But Caster is in fact adjustable and if you have a lift, it should be addressed. Either by bushings, control arms or even swivel balls. Camber is fixed. Does caster adjustment really matter. Hell yeah. When do you need to take it into account? I’d say if you lift about 2” or more then yeah. Maybe 1.5” depending on tires and suspension.
 
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LRNAD90

Well-known member
You have it right for Toe adjustment. But Camber is in fact adjustable and if you have a lift, it should be addressed. Either by bushings, control arms or even swivel balls. Camber is fixed. Does caster adjustment really matter. Hell yeah. When do you need to take it into account? I’d say if you lift about 2” or more then yeah. Maybe 1.5” depending on tires and suspension.
True that Caster settings are important, particularly when altering the suspension height, but that is not adjustable. It would be nice if there were concentric bushings or something that allowed adjustment, but as far as I know the only options are custom Radius arms, redrilled swivel balls or offset bushings as you have mentioned.

I've seen swivel balls with 'slotted' holes. but I was never comfortable they would hold adjustment..

Either way changing factory parts for custom aftermarket parts to address caster change, is not an 'adjustment' that can be performed during an alignment..
 
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WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
the only thing I have ever seen is camber adjusted radius arms from the blue bag company it think. I dont really run a lift, or not that much so likely not something im concerned with until i need to be i guess.

 

MountainD

Technical Excellence Contributor
the only thing I have ever seen is camber adjusted radius arms from the blue bag company it think. I dont really run a lift, or not that much so likely not something im concerned with until i need to be i guess.

Trek Overland, ARB (maybe discontinued) and a couple others make caster corrected bushings so you can retain your existing arms:

Others make caster corrected swivel balls. Here is one from Britpart, DA3203

Just giving options.

Are they adjustable in the field? No, not variably. But many come in increments so if you knew what you were doing, you could solve it. It is just geometry and you have all the lengths so you could solve that equation easy enough if you know basic geometry/math or you could ask suspension folks that have already worked that out. If you haven't raised the truck, don't use them.
 
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