Thread: Where to go "Front End Alignment"?

The alignment wont really go out with a lift as the link between the wheels is unaffected. If the steering wheel is still centered, which is probably will be, then just leave it.

As a more general comment, for all Landrovers with rigid axles, the only adjustable alignment is the toe-in/out. Anything else is either worn/loose bushes/bearings/swivels, all of which can be checked and remedied without even checking the alignment, or (very rare) a bent axle housing - which is probably a replacement job.

Lifting the suspension has not altered anything that you can adjust - the castor angle will have changed, but the only thing you can do with that is replace the radius arms with angled ones designed for your lift. Anyone who can do wheel alignment can check the toe - in/out, only need for Landrover familiarity is being prepared for the likely difficulty freeing the track rod threads if it needs adjustment.
John

err....actually.....tilting the diff forward or backward will change the toe....
unless it is set up to zero to begin with.......


it wont change it enough to affect anything though....as it should be only 2mm toe out.....
it may go to 3mm with the lift.......
but when you take your car in for alignment......unless the person doing the alignment is a landy nut.....
or bothers to look up the specs for that specific vehicle.....it would have been set up to 0mm toe.....
every alignment ive done has been set to zero....on all different cars.....

not trying to scare you.....go ahead and lift it....you wont have any problems with the alignment.....
all i was trying to do was explain it a bit......

oh...i forgot to add.....

if you go all out and DO need to adjust the caster......you can remove the swivel hubs
and have the holes elongated then refit them and adjust the caster.....
but you must fit a grub screw to stop them from ever moving again.....

and you can adjust the camber by machining the same bit....but on a slight angle depending on the
amount of caster correction you require.....

this cant be done other makes of diffs which are one piece........

Originally Posted by DEFENDERZOOK

err....actually.....tilting the diff forward or backward will change the toe....
unless it is set up to zero to begin with.......


it wont change it enough to affect anything though....as it should be only 2mm toe out.....
it may go to 3mm with the lift.......
but when you take your car in for alignment......unless the person doing the alignment is a landy nut.....
or bothers to look up the specs for that specific vehicle.....it would have been set up to 0mm toe.....
every alignment ive done has been set to zero....on all different cars.....

not trying to scare you.....go ahead and lift it....you wont have any problems with the alignment.....
all i was trying to do was explain it a bit......

Yes, well you are right of course - tilting the axle changes the toe-in/out (unless its zero) - but for practical amounts of lift the change will be a lot less than the 50% you suggest (and in the other direction). In fact if my mental picture is right, the change in angle will be about five degrees, and the change in toe-in/out will be in proportion to the cosine of the angle - or about 0.4%, or from 2mm to about 1.99mm.
John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Yes, well you are right of course - tilting the axle changes the toe-in/out (unless its zero) - but for practical amounts of lift the change will be a lot less than the 50% you suggest (and in the other direction). In fact if my mental picture is right, the change in angle will be about five degrees, and the change in toe-in/out will be in proportion to the cosine of the angle - or about 0.4%, or from 2mm to about 1.99mm.
John

are you now trying to confuse me even more than i just managed to confuse myself....?

Originally Posted by DEFENDERZOOK

are you now trying to confuse me even more than i just managed to confuse myself....?

Wouldn't dream of it!
John

ARB Southern in Dandenong have a new workshop and some pretty good gear for 4WD alignment. The service Manager there used to work in Land Rovers dealership shop so knows about shimming etc. on Discos ( not many do )

Won't be cheap though -we are talking ARB here.