I have recently replaced ball joints, control arms bushings and tie rods on both sides of my '98 2wd Tahoe. After some calling and comparing prices, I decided to buy a lifetime alignment at Firestone. Today I brought them my Tahoe, and when the job was done, I looked at the print out, and saw that some numebrs are out of the spec range. Here is what I got:
Front left
***********
Camber: Before -1.3, Actual -1.2, Specified range 0.2-1.2
Caster: Before 2.1, Actual 2.2, Specified range 2.0-4.0
Toe: Before -1.3, Actual 0.14, Specified range 0.02-0.22
Front right
***********
Camber: Before -2.5, Actual -1.2, Specified range 0.2-1.2
Caster: Before 1.4, Actual 3.5, Specified range 2.0-4.0
Toe: Before -1.26, Actual 0.02, Specified range 0.02-0.22
Cross camber
************
Before 1.2, Actual 0.0, Specified Range -0.5-0.5
Cross caster
************
Before 0.7, Actual -1.4.0, Specified Range -0.5-0.5
Cross toe
************
Before -2.56, Actual 0.16, Specified Range -0.04-0.44
I see that overall they did a good job: 8 out of 9 were out of specs, and now it is only 3 out of 9. I asked the mechanic why the could not adjust my left camber, right camber and cross caster to specs, and he said that it is an old car, the frame is worn out, and it is not adjustable.
My question is: is it true that some numbers are not adjustable on the older cars? If yes, I'll live with that - after all, the truck doesn't pull on the side and the steering wheel is straight. But if it is the low competence of Firestone, I'll keep looking and trying, and eventually align my wheels to the specs. What do you say?
Front left
***********
Camber: Before -1.3, Actual -1.2, Specified range 0.2-1.2
Caster: Before 2.1, Actual 2.2, Specified range 2.0-4.0
Toe: Before -1.3, Actual 0.14, Specified range 0.02-0.22
Front right
***********
Camber: Before -2.5, Actual -1.2, Specified range 0.2-1.2
Caster: Before 1.4, Actual 3.5, Specified range 2.0-4.0
Toe: Before -1.26, Actual 0.02, Specified range 0.02-0.22
Cross camber
************
Before 1.2, Actual 0.0, Specified Range -0.5-0.5
Cross caster
************
Before 0.7, Actual -1.4.0, Specified Range -0.5-0.5
Cross toe
************
Before -2.56, Actual 0.16, Specified Range -0.04-0.44
I see that overall they did a good job: 8 out of 9 were out of specs, and now it is only 3 out of 9. I asked the mechanic why the could not adjust my left camber, right camber and cross caster to specs, and he said that it is an old car, the frame is worn out, and it is not adjustable.
My question is: is it true that some numbers are not adjustable on the older cars? If yes, I'll live with that - after all, the truck doesn't pull on the side and the steering wheel is straight. But if it is the low competence of Firestone, I'll keep looking and trying, and eventually align my wheels to the specs. What do you say?
