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Air Ride Suspensions \  help! alignment way off after bags and drop spindles

help! alignment way off after bags and drop spindles

Air Ride Suspensions Q & A
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replies 13
following 9
 
l0wyota   +1y
when one wheel is straight the other is really off, so bad im afraid to drive it. if the drivers side wheel is straight then the passenger is sticking way out (enought to hit the 4x4 fender when aired out). its a 90 yota with slam bags and belltech drop spindles and new upper and lower ball joints. anyone got any ideas one what i could have done wrong? is it possible that the alignment is off that bad after installing spindles? if i drive it up to a shop could they even fix the alignment? any ideas would help?
time1   +1y
Adjust your tie rod ends enough so you can drive it to the alignment shop.
sjudd86   +1y
thats normal, just do what ^ he said. its not a big deal.
tofnlows10   +1y
yep..what they said..
TwistedMinis   +1y
Yea, that happens with adjustable suspension. Mine is toed in a little bit laid out.
jmurphy   +1y
Yeah spindles will do that everytime. Try to get it close.
l0wyota   +1y
cool, man what would i do without streetsouce! i prolly should replace my tie rod ends while im doin this. the control arm ball joints where bolt in but not the tie rod how would i go about replacing the tie rod end? a vice and a socket larger then the joint and try and press it out? thanks again to eveyone who has helped a newbie out.
l0wyota   +1y
bump
dssur   +1y
loosen the castle nut till it covers all the threads then take a 5 lb sledge and give the spindle a whack right there. Repeat till the tie rod pops loose. Leaving the castke nut on there is just to keep you from hitting the threads and mashing them.

Dont use a pickle fork, you'll just ruin the boots. Moot if you are replacing them I know, but learning that a couple well placed whacks will take the place of "special tools"
dssur   +1y
oh, and an awesome way to eye in the alignment, set the bags at your desired ride height, and then get a tape measure and a friend. Set the steering wheel straight. Eyeball one wheel and adjust as straight as possible. Dont worry about being too exact.

In front of the tire, measure from a tread line on the left tire to a tread line on the right. Then go behind the tire and do the same, using the same tread lines. Adjust the tie rods till the two measurements are equal, congats you just adjusted your alignment. All the alignment shop will do now is just make it more exact, they will liekly turn you away for how low it rides or for having adjustable suspension anyway.