Took my 96 T100 4x4 SR5 to get an alignment. The steering wheel has always been a little off center. And since I recently got new tires, it's seemed to have difficulty tracking straight at interstate speeds. I told this to the tech and asked him to do a before and after printout.

Setting: Before: After: Specs:
LF Caster: 1.04* 1.10* 1.50 +/- .75 max LR diff .75
RF Caster: 1.39* 1.43*
LF Camber: -0.09* -0.01* 0.75 +/- .75 max LR diff .75
RF Camber: 0.72* 0.34*
LF Toe: 1/16" 0" -2mm +/- 2mm
RF Toe: -1/16" 0"
LR Camber: -0.13* -0.13*
RR Camber: -0.17* -0.16*
LR Toe: 1/4" 1/4"
RR Toe: -5/32" -1/8"
ThustAngle: 0.40* 0.39*

They were closed when I picked it up, so I didn't get to talk to the tech about it. I will say it seemed to track a little better (probably because he tweaked the Right Front Camber to more closely match the left), but the steering wheel is still off center. I guess this probably has to do with the rear toe settings, positive on one side and negative on the other. With the solid rear axle, is there anything that can be done about that? Would you be happy with this alignment?

Thanks!!!

nothing can be adjusted in the rear...the steering wheel can and should have been straightened if you had it done at a good shop, they usually set the steering wheel to center and adjust the toe accordingly...my steering wheel has been off several times after having my alignment done, i just took it back in and had them fix it.

Yeah, I'm just wondering if the reason the steering wheel is off center is not because the front is out of alignment, but because the back thrust angle is so far off that I have to compensate with the steering wheel, and thus I'm 'crabbing' down the road.

I see, that could be, i believe somebody else on the board had a crab walking problem in their T100, might have been a U-bolt/centering pin problem...

No I would not be happy with these numbers. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

What did he do to:
1) achieve the toe-in change from -5/32 to -1/8" on the right side (no adjustment)
2) AND not affect the left side on a solid axle..

Either he's got one messed up alignment machine/measurement or you got a shifted rear axle (as mentioned above). Does the truck sit level? with leaf springs, if one side was low enough compared to the other side, it could begin to effect the rear toe measurements..

A plus 1/4" and minus 5/32" toe on the other side if real, would give some significant dog leg tracking...

What's the history of this vehicle e.g. collision damage.... If the vehicle is cherry, I'd go looking for a competent alignment shop and write this one off as experience.

As described above, if even your torsion bars up front are not adjusted so each side is at same height you'll have the effect, had that problem with an 87 4wd.

Most alignment shops dont touch the torsion bars and if they do they usually break the bolts like when i took mine in for an alignment at Les S*hwab