Toe adjustment 1987 V10

[Cdog_96]

I have an 87 v10 and my toe is out, the front end of my front tires are poking away from each other. I have the long adjustable tie rod with the tie rod ends on each end. I have adjusted the tie rod as far as it will go and the tires still aren't close to parallel. It's almost like my tie rod ends are too long and I can feel them bottom out in the tie rod tube. Could that be possible. Basically I have no way to even be close to toe in. I am toed out pretty far with no adjustment left, any help appreciated

 

[bucket]

Are you actually measuring it, or just eyeballing it?

 

[Edelbrock]

You can basically just lean a board up against the front tire, and use a tape measure - like this:

(Use one tape measure, not 2).

 

[Cdog_96]

Are you actually measuring it, or just eyeballing it?

Eyeballing it until I can dial it in, it looks way off as it sits, both tires pointing outward a good bit

 

[Redfish]

My tie rods are both screwed in pretty far but there is some thread left on both. Unless you have some incorrectly matched components I don't see how you could run out of adjustment.

Just crawled under the nose of it to check, I have about 3/4 inch of thread on the driver's side and about 1/2 inch of thread on the passenger's side. I don't see how you could "bottom out" unless you ran out of threads.

I am not sure if this is helpful to you...I am not trying to be as negative as this post probably "sounds". I am just confused.

 

[Cdog_96]

My tie rods are both screwed in pretty far but there is some thread left on both. Unless you have some incorrectly matched components I don't see how you could run out of adjustment.

Just crawled under the nose of it to check, I have about 3/4 inch of thread on the driver's side and about 1/2 inch of thread on the passenger's side. I don't see how you could "bottom out" unless you ran out of threads.

I am not sure if this is helpful to you...I am not trying to be as negative as this post probably "sounds". I am just confused.

I think the driver side with the hole in the TRE is way too long, I still have about 2 inch of thread left on it, the adjusting tube doesn't thread that deep. On my 87 v10 originally come with the 7/8 long adjustment tube or was something swapped?

 

[HotRodPC]

Are you sure you have the right parts?

 

[Cdog_96]

Are you sure you have the right parts?

Not now lol, confused as to what is original for this truck now

 

[DoubleDingo]

Lowered truck? Check this out...

Thread 'C30 front end bagged and now tie rods are too long' https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/c30-front-end-bagged-and-now-tie-rods-are-too-long.44829/

 

[Cdog_96]

Lowered truck? Check this out...

Thread 'C30 front end bagged and now tie rods are too long' https://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/c30-front-end-bagged-and-now-tie-rods-are-too-long.44829/

I'll just trim some off the tie rod ends

 

[bucket]

I'll just trim some off the tie rod ends

You might want to measure first.

But let's take a step back. Were these parts already installed and you were driving the truck? Did you install these parts and then your tires were way out of alignment? What's the back story here?

No matter the scenario however, it would be silly to cut tie rods without even measuring the alignment.

 

[Ricko1966]

You can basically just lean a board up against the front tire, and use a tape measure - like this:

(Use one tape measure, not 2).

Use 2 tape measures,pulled taught and compare reading front and back. I made these over and have used them for over 30 years now. No need for the store bought plates 2 pieces of 30 inch bedrail 2 identical tape measures, some bungee chords under the vehicle to hold the angle and some clothes pins to hold the loose end of the tape. I'll see if I have pics in my phone to post. I'll have to check my other phone check back if there aren't pics posted. Found some real old pics. Use 30 inch angle not 24 as pictured.see how the clothes pins hold the tapes? The bungees hold the angle against the tire. It helps to hook both bungees on the frame on one side go to the other and hook to the angle,go back to side 1 and hook your bungee to the other angle. You can use pop cans cottage cheese containers whatever to gauge same height left to right front to back of the angle just be over the sidewall bulge at the bottom.Park on sand or loose dirt if making adjustments.

 

[Edelbrock]

Use 2 tape measures

I do not recommend using 2 different tape measures.

Use 1 tape measure to check both sides. Less variables this way. More accuracy.

The rivets can loosen, the clasp at the end can have different bend angles, etc.

The printed marks are always perfect, but the ends are always different.

If you take all of your tape measures and line them up, you might be surprised by the results.

 

[Ricko1966]

I do not recommend using 2 different tape measures.

Use 1 tape measure to check both sides. Less variables this way. More accuracy.

The rivets can loosen, the clasp at the end can have different bend angles, etc.

The printed marks are always perfect, but the ends are always different.

If you take all of your tape measures and line them up, you might be surprised by the results.

I won't be surprised,thats why you use 2 dedicated new tape measures. If you need to compare them against each other for accuracy before each use,go ahead,but reading it taking it down,moving setting it back up,adjusting,moving it back and forth etc etc. You are just as apt to make a mistake. Buy and compare 2 tapes,look down the one in front says 58 inches,the one in back says 57 and 3/4 inches you have an immediate visual of 1/4 inch toe out. Yes if your 2 tapes don't match your readings will be incorrect.

 

[Edelbrock]

That's why you use 2 dedicated new tape measures.

Ya, if you can verify that two tape measures read 100% the same, you could use two different tapes. But any time the tape retracts and "slaps" back, you would need to re-verify the accuracy between the two. I have always used one and it worked well for me.