Alignment facts

I have yet to use them but, I plan to when I feel I will need an alignment. Has anyone used an MD Alignment shop yet? I heard they do all the things talked about on this thread, including the centering of the 5th wheel plate. Like I said, i have yet to use them but, plan to. I am also wondering if anyone here has used the Road King Shocks? I know mine need replaced, just because I know they never have been and this truck has 327,000 miles. I have a 2012 Coronado Glider from Fitzgerald. As you know, it has air ride on all axles but I can't tell the difference between this truck and a all the Cascadia's I have drove with no air ride up front. Rides like a old duece and a-half...lol I mean really, rides like crap. All my air bags do inflate and all my tires are wearing perfect, at least to this untrained eye.

 

BTW, I have had True Balances on my list of things to buy for a few years now...lol

 

Maybe it's the roadkings.., I had then all the way around and have pulled them off in favor of some magnum 65's and I'm far preferring the softer ride.
My roadkings wore out and I won't be spending the money to have them rebuilt.

 

How many miles you got out of your Road King shocks?

 

Just over 400. I should have pulled them sooner though. A few were in rough shape when I took them off.

 

Hi!
I’m working suspension, but sometimes I do alignment even though I’m not so into it. I need help from you guys.
I changed king pins on a 2013 Volvo few weeks ago. I did alignment, toe and caster in specifications. Camber was just a lil bit off both sides, but honestly I almost never bend axles just because my boss has a bad experience with that and he doesn’t want me to do that.
The driver came back and complained that after he turns left or right, the steering wheel is getting straight to a certain point, but not all the way forward, so he’s gotta do it.
I checked alignment again, everything was fine, I thought maybe the king pins are too tight, but that was not the case either coz I was able to move the wheels by hand on the alignment rack.
I checked again the front end, everything looks fine, maybe the springs looks worn out but still driveable.
Has anybody had that kind of experience before?
Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

Check caster.

Not enough caster will cause the steering wheel to not center or wander.

Basically your axle is flat. You need it to lean back. Wedges under each spring pack will get you some caster.

 

Thanks! I was thinking it’s probably the caster angle but the software tells me it’s in spec.
I’ll try your advice. Thanks!

 

This thread is GOLD! Reading it all again.

Now I am chasing a clutch or crankshaft balance vibration.... I think!!!!

But I have dealt with every dang tire issue mentioned in here!!!! Including brand new Yoko steers where on was .090 out of round and asked for 12oz and T/A let it go like that!!!! It kicked my ### for 25k miles while I rebuilt a bunch of other stuff chasing it.

I may just print some of these pages and hang them on my dang office wall! (*^*&%*#!

 

I did what you said and it worked. Now I have an issue with Volvo 2007, the truck is pulling to the right big time. I checked whole front suspension looks ok, caster in spec. I rebalanced the tires and even rotated and still pulls. I need your opinion, should I try to decrease the caster angle on the passenger side of the vehicle with a wedge and test drive it. Any advice? Thanks