several weeks ago, i had a new idler arm & alignment done. schwing... i'm on the straight n narrow again. and the alignment has a 6 month guarantee.

and then... i went n bought some h2's with new rubber. :ro) in order to fit them, i have to go down and crank the t-bars from cranked to fully cranked. on each side, i turned exactly 2 full turns. i marked the bolt and turned them exact.

i get set up and i'm stoked. the truck drives straight. i feel like it floats a bit more, but i reckon that's because it's a bigger footprint? the wisdom i pick up from dp is that i need to get the alignment checked. i go in today for a tranny fluid change, and 'oh by the way... check the alignment please, i think something might have changed'. they try and put it on the rack, and it won't fit! the stance is too wide now.

so here is my question... is the alignment necessary because left n right can get out of whack, or because some up and down angles changed? don't most alignment shops just do 'thrust angle'? what the heck is that, and does that not include change to up n down angles? what about those of us that have put on bigger tires?

here's my situation.... i could bust my a$$ and put the other wheels on and go back and have it checked, but if it's not necessary from 2 exact turns, i'd rather not. i suppose i could have it checked at an rv place, but i'd rather earn that money by swapping the tires out (only if it's necessary).

here's my question... what could 2 exact turns on each bar have changed on alignment? anyone do a mild crank same on each side and have nothing change on alignment? better yet... anyone here actually know what happens when t-bar gets cranked and if 2 turns is just an r.c.h. in the context of 'within specs'? or... i could just turn back the bolts 2 turn to where they were... i'm not convinced the clearance changed much.

thanks.

No, 2 turns isn't alot, but any turns up will throw the caster off and make the truck want to wander. In my case, I went up 5 rounds to clear the 285s and did a test ride before resetting the caster. Wandered all over the place. Reset caster. Toe and camber went right back where they belonged. Bear in mind that it was the day after I bought it and there was only 50 miles or so on it. After alot of miles I'd think the situation would be different. In any case I'd recommend an alignment at someplace that is used to handling the bigger trucks and with the tires you'll be running. JMHO

thanks bt...

i think i'll head for a truck shop. i just checked my alignment report from a few weeks back... they only measured toe n camber. caster measure was empty ?!?!? is that because that is more 'advanced' and harder work?

live n learn i guess.

is the 'floating' sensation from caster? i mean... it seems straight but if i take my hands off, it might float left, it might float right. i can't decide which way it pulls... it's a floater. i *thought* it was because of wider tires, but you are saying that caster could be out?

thx