K 1/2-3/4 Ton Front Wheel Alignment

[MadOgre]

Hey guys I got new tires on my K truck and about 1inch on the inside of both front tires are wearing.

I had replaced my tie rod end joints years ago and probably was off a little im guessing when I put it back together.

So measuring from inside tread to inside tread im toed out about 3/16 of an inch from front of tire to back of tire.

So after checking all the threads I thought it would be a good idea to have a thread on the proper way to measure and perform a front wheel alignment on our solid axle K trucks.

So im looking for answers!

 

[bucket]

I always set them up with a very small amount of tow-in. Maybe 3/16 of an inch on a 33" tire. To measure it more accurately, mark the tread on the back of the tires and measure the distance, then roll the truck forward until the marks are on the front and measure again off the same marks.

Then once the tow-in is set, drive it and see how far off the steering wheel is and remember the position. Park the truck with the wheel in that position and leave the column unlocked. Then simply adjust the drag link and stop when the steering wheel turns itself straight.

 

[MadOgre]

So inside wear would indicate Toe out ? Out side wear would indicate Toe in ?

 

[350runner]

Yes.

Sent from the dust in front of you!

 

[marks86]

I always put mine like an 1/8 inch toe in

 

[MadOgre]

So according to my new to me GM service manual it says right from GM that the amount of toe for 4wd is to be set at 0.

So no toe in and no toe out.

Set them steer wheels at 0

 

[HotRodPC]

0 as the spec, but if it's off just a little, you'd prefer to be towed in than out for sure. If doing it manually with the old tape measure on the ground, I'd go for the 1/8 tow in also just to be sure I'm not toed out at the slightest.

 

[MadOgre]

Ya good point. Toe out is bad!

 

[firebane]

Just so people know.. Doing the toe adjustment on earlier K10s is a bit of a pita compared to newer models.

My K10 only has 1 adjustable tierod on the front not two. So in order for me to ensure toe is set correctly I had to ensure both wheels were relatively straight during the install.

Still can't guarantee I was straight but I'll do a proper check when the lift gets installed.

 

[HotRodPC]

Ya good point. Toe out is bad!

Unless you're talking about the way ole' girl walks. I'd prefer her to be a bit more towed out than in but my truck.... towed in a hair is better. I'd rather toe in a hair just to be sure I'm not towed out.

 

[MadOgre]

Unless you're talking about the way ole' girl walks. I'd prefer her to be a bit more towed out than in but my truck.... towed in a hair is better. I'd rather toe in a hair just to be sure I'm not towed out.

Hahaha Pretty soon they will call you a dirty old man.

I have to redo my alignment now. I have been wanting to replace that cheap ass partsmaster adjusting link that the oh so smart parts guy ordered me instead of the moog one that I asked for because he figured he was saving me some $

I have a moog one on a spare axle so I guess ill just use that and then set my alignment with that and I think I will take the wheels off and use a straight edge across the rotor to measure from this time.

 

[HotRodPC]

Some already call me dirty old man. I just respond with, I'm not old !!!

 

[MadOgre]

lol