wheels dont line up after spacers? (with pics)

[Keith Harrer]

I recently had new BFGoodrich AT 265/75/16 tires installed. I replaced both upper control arms, and put new cam bolts in the drivers side, then I did a slight torsion twist up front to level the trac. After the TT, I went in for an alignment. I then tried to install 1.5" spacers in the rear and 1.25" in the front. The passenger side looks great, both wheels look even when looking down the trac. But on the drivers side, the front was sticking out noticeably more than all the rest of the wheels and would rub bad on full turn. The driver side rear is not as far out as the passenger side wheels. I removed the wheel spacer on the front driver, and the wheels on that side are more aligned, but both are not out as far as the passenger side. Could the shop that did the alignment have done something wrong? I am already questioning this because they could not get my steering wheel straight after 3 visits, but it was straight when I came in the first time. Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.



I am currently only running 3 wheel spacers, because it is what looks the best right now but this just does not seem right.



2001 build 2 4X4

 

[EddieS'04]

Did the shop do a 4 wheel thrust alighnment? If the tech knows what to look for. That would tell if the frame was twisted, from a wreck. Or rear axle was out, on its mounts. Spring pins, shackles, torque box, etc.



The rear could be the bed needs loosened and shifted.



Not sure how much your left front is outward. I have 18x8.5" 0 offset wheels, with 265/60-18 tires, 9" tread width. When I look from the front. My left tire is outward more than the right front. On hard left turns I get a slight rub.



I have owned my from new. Never wrecked...Except a side swipe, no frame damage. Just cosmetic.

 

[Keith Harrer]

yes, they supposedly did a 4 wheel alignment. I looked at the bed, and it seems off a bit, but if i corrected the bed to the truck, the wheels would look worse at the wells. I will post some pics of the tires. give me a moment...

 

[Keith Harrer]

Right Rear with 1.5" spacer

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Left rear with 1.5" spacer

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Right front with 1.25" spacer

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Left front with no spacer

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[EddieS'04]

It appears the bed could be shifted 1/4 to 3/8 " to the right.

I dont know what to say about the front. Unless it has been hit.

Look down from the top of the fender. What do you see? I cant tell from the pic.

Is maybe just your bumber is pushed in.

When I look down from the top front fenders, on mine. I see the same amount of tire. Only from the front do I see a small difference in mine.



You say he cant get the steering wheel straight. Is that with spacers' on both front wheels. If your 4 four wheel thrust is squared. Without the Left front spacer. Possibility of some frame damage. Maybe one side had the control arms replaced, with the wrong ones.



If it is only cosmetics. I would put the spacer back on. Without the spacer the geometry of the steering will be off.



If a tire shop did the alighnment. I would take it to a frame, wheel and axle shop. Explain the issue. Let them check it out.



Where I live. We have a wheel and axle shop. Been around 50yrs. They are experts. That is where I go.

 

[Bob Floyd]

Any good shop with a 4 wheel alignment will tell you if your not in square.. you can not get a decent alignment with 3 wheel spacers personally I dont think you can even get one with any wheel spacers. A good alignment machine is going to tell you your track with front and rear as well as the squarness of the axles to each other.. there are spec's. Did you get a print out of the alignment?

 

[Mark Price 2]

When I look from the front. My left tire is outward more than the right front.

..Mine too. Probably an inch I'm guessing. I just recently noticed this while I was checking"eyeballing" for any toe issues.. Pretty sure it has always been like this. 99% sure never wrecked. 03 rwd. ...Thought it was kinda odd. I'm just mentioning this because if Eddies and mine are "normal" (I hope) you may have some issues there.? ...anyone else's front tires "off center"??

 

[swshawaii]

Slightly off topic but the Ford Workshop Manual "dogtracking" spec shows the

maximum centerline of the front tires is 30mm (1.18") farther out than the rear.

 

[EddieS'04]

Steve,

Back in the '70's. Manufactors discovered, that vehicles track better, and have less tendeny to understeer. When the front track is wider than the rear.

That is IMO. When using spacers. Front and rear should be the same thickness.

 

[Keith Harrer]

the bed is slightly off, but if I were to adjust it left the issue of the right side sticking out farther will only look worse.



looking down on the tires now, as is, with a spacer on the right and no spacer on the left (front). the right side is out more by maybe a half inch or so. not really noticeable (except to me). but if I put the 1.25" spacer on the left side, it is sticking out much more than the right and will rub hard on the wheel well at a full turn to the left. looking down the drivers side of the truck, the tires appear to be in line. same with the passenger, except the passenger is sticking out a little more (equally front to rear). I never looked close enough at this to notice before installing the spacers. I knew the front was wider than the rear but not different from left to right.



as far as the control arms, I replaced them both myself with the proper moog parts.



I have owned this truck for almost 10 years, it has not been wrecked since I owned it, but I guess I cannot speak of its history prior.



When I went in for the alignment, the spacers were not yet installed. I installed them after the third trip to Brakes Plus in Omaha, NE. NEVER GO THERE!!! They tried to tell me the reason they could not get my steering wheel straight is because there is play in the rack and pinion, which is complete crap because i had it replace 4 years ago, and i confirmed this today when I was able to straighten the wheel myself by raising the front end and adjusting the tie rods with the wheel locked level. I will be going back to that shop this week to raise hell and demand my money back.



I am just completely stumped by this. I will be trying another shop as soon as I can to try to get some more info, I just HATE going to a mechanic. I do most of my own mechanical work, as I have learned from the past most shops will ******** their way as deep into your wallet as they can. I was just hoping to find some helpful info here first, and it seems I am not the only one with the wheels not even up front.



If you guys have anything else for me, I will definately appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Keith Harrer]

one thing am definitely not sure about, is it bad to run only 3 spacers? i know it sounds stupid, but things look more lined up that way. If I put the 4th spacer on the front left, it looks terrible and rubs bad, because it is too far out.

 

[Uwe Canting]

I have a 03 4wd SportTrac that has the same problem. I put 1.5" wheel spacers on the rear and the passengers side was in about a half inch. I put a 2" spacer on the passengers side and it now looks even. On the front the drivers side pokes out just a bit. It was never in an accident and the bed is aligned. My mechanic who has known this vehicle a long time says this is just the way it came from the factory and he recommended the 2" spacer on the passengers rear side. I have driven this vehicle like this for 35K miles with no issues. It is odd that the chassis is not aligned with the body.

 

[Keith Harrer]

Thanks Navyman, my next thought was to buy different spacers for the wheels. I just didn't even see this coming, and really doesn't seem right since so many people have had success with the 1.5" & 1.25" setup

 

[EddieS'04]

Are you running aftermarket wheels? If so make sure the offset and rim widths match.

I have a freind, that the tire shop put one custom wheel on. That didnt match offsets.

 

[Keith Harrer]

They are stock wheels