81 K20 Pulling Right.

[j.double.u.p81]

I need help. I just recently purchased new tires for my 81 chevy and i went to get an aligment job done. Before i got the new tires the truck pulled hard to the right when i let go of the steering wheel. The front passenger side tire wore out and just on the outer part of the tire.
Back to the alignment job, i took it to a shop and they told me everything was fine alignment wise. They told me that it could be either bad bushings, tie rods, or bad shock or possibly bad everything!
Can anyone tell me where to start looking to fix the problem.
THANKS!!!!

 

[Georgeb]

I need help. I just recently purchased new tires for my 81 chevy and i went to get an aligment job done. Before i got the new tires the truck pulled hard to the right when i let go of the steering wheel. The front passenger side tire wore out and just on the outer part of the tire.
Back to the alignment job, i took it to a shop and they told me everything was fine alignment wise. They told me that it could be either bad bushings, tie rods, or bad shock or possibly bad everything!
Can anyone tell me where to start looking to fix the problem.
THANKS!!!!

A new alignment shop? They don't wear tires like that if the alignment is fine.

 

[phinix]

I need help. I just recently purchased new tires for my 81 chevy and i went to get an aligment job done. Before i got the new tires the truck pulled hard to the right when i let go of the steering wheel. The front passenger side tire wore out and just on the outer part of the tire.
Back to the alignment job, i took it to a shop and they told me everything was fine alignment wise. They told me that it could be either bad bushings, tie rods, or bad shock or possibly bad everything!
Can anyone tell me where to start looking to fix the problem.
THANKS!!!!

If they didn't check all those things before doing the alignment, they are not a shop you should be having work done at.

 

[MadOgre]

They do if the alignment is fine and the ball joints are toast. That actually wouldn't surprise me at all!


It sounds like it needs a full rebuild, but I suppose if the drag kink and tie rod were completely shot that might be it, but, they probably would have told you so. So Im guessing the upper and lower knuckle ball joints are toast which if that's the case then you would need to do a full rebuild on the front. That's about $2500 at an honest shop or $500 and a lot of elbow grease!

 

[j.double.u.p81]

If they didn't check all those things before doing the alignment, they are not a shop you should be having work done at.

Good point

 

[j.double.u.p81]

They do if the alignment is fine and the ball joints are toast. That actually wouldn't surprise me at all!


It sounds like it needs a full rebuild, but I suppose if the drag kink and tie rod were completely shot that might be it, but, they probably would have told you so. So Im guessing the upper and lower knuckle ball joints are toast which if that's the case then you would need to do a full rebuild on the front. That's about $2500 at an honest shop or $500 and a lot of elbow grease!

Thanks sounds like ima gonna need alot of that elbow grease!!!

 

[HotRodPC]

I'll agree with all of the above. Get a new shop. They're idiots. Places I've gone to in the past, they tell you, We can NOT align this because you need, lower ball joints, and upper bushings, or You're idler arm has alot of slop in it and tie rods are wore out. So these guys aligned it, but didn't even inspect your parts to tell you if it's worthy of alignment? But yet they took your fukin money I bet? I'd ask for a refund, ORRRR I'd at least make them list the worn items that need replaced, replace those items and make them align it at no charge after you get the parts replaced. Honestly, I'd push for the refund.

 

[HotRodPC]

Thanks sounds like ima gonna need alot of that elbow grease!!!

Try to afford Moog suspension parts. They're about the best money can buy. RockAuto also carries Moog parts and you save alot over buying at Auto Parts stores. Plus we get a 5% discount. Look in the Rock Auto Vendor Section of the forum to get the code to use at check out.

 

[MadOgre]

Here is a decent Video on what your up against

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-sSxlHEocg

And you will need these items

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008DGJY9Q/ref=pe_385040_128020140_TE_3p_dp_1?tag=viglink24017-20

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-7080-Join...im_263_23?ie=UTF8&refRID=1HJXW8YSQ3VKR62C1MSE

And something like this. Not sure if this is the correct one though???

http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-24...im_263_12?ie=UTF8&refRID=1DA30NRAYNBBM48N5SCP

 

[j.double.u.p81]

I'll agree with all of the above. Get a new shop. They're idiots. Places I've gone to in the past, they tell you, We can NOT align this because you need, lower ball joints, and upper bushings, or You're idler arm has alot of slop in it and tie rods are wore out. So these guys aligned it, but didn't even inspect your parts to tell you if it's worthy of alignment? But yet they took your fukin money I bet? I'd ask for a refund, ORRRR I'd at least make them list the worn items that need replaced, replace those items and make them align it at no charge after you get the parts replaced. Honestly, I'd push for the refund.

They didnt do anything...so they didnt charge me or anything...they gave me a list of things that "could cause it to pull right".. they said the readings (caster camber, toe) readings were fine and straight. So thats why they didnt do anything but tell me the parts that could be bad and make the truck pull and wear that tire out like that.

 

[Georgeb]

Still find a new shop. If they couldn't tell you specificaly what was worn they are not competent enough to do the work. It's not that hard to find worn parts on a truck like that!