alignment done rear axle not centered

Loydster

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
685
1
2003 discovery 2. no sign of any damage to frame or axle. 129K

I replaced the steering and drag link due to wear. took it to alignment shop and had it aligned. it drove straight and true prior to replacing the steering parts. now I am being told the rear axle is out a couple degrees and cannot be adjusted. The mechanic aligned the front wheels with the rear and now the truck pulls slightly to the left and the steering wheel is slightly turned. Everything is tight. I am not sure what to make of this. Ideas are appreciated
 

listerdiesel

Well-known member
If the Watts linkage bushes are worn at the back, that will allow the axle to be out one way or the other, but worn bushes normally make themselves known by a clonk when you shift the weight of the car on corners.

Otherwise, the rear axle and front axle location is pretty firm on the D2.

Front is located by Panhard rod, and you can adjust almost all of the steering parameters on the drag link and track rod, I've never heard of someone using the rear axle to line up steering on the front, they should be using chassis hard points.

Peter
 

Buddy

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Nov 6, 2006
2,839
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Central NC
Something sounds fishy here, the rear axle is not really adjustable in a DII. Is your truck lifted? Do you have an adjustable panhard rod? When you lift your truck and don't adjust the panhard rod length the front axle will get pulled to the left side of the truck. This will result in the axle being slightly off center. Maybe the front being off center made him think the rear was out. Then he tried to fix something that was not broken.

Either way it does not sound like he knew what he was doing if the truck now pulls and your steering wheel is not centered.
 

discograham

Well-known member
Feb 18, 2010
47
0
holly springs, NC
I agree with buddy, I would get it checked somewhere else. If the front and rear wheels are aligned, and the rest of the alignment done properly it should not pull to one side.

If the new shop fixes it or finds an issue you can then get a refund from shop 1, or have them pay your bill for shop 2.
 

p m

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Apr 19, 2004
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Either way it does not sound like he knew what he was doing if the truck now pulls and your steering wheel is not centered.
+1.
It seems, alignment shops are about to pass quick-lube places in the "who's dumber" race.

That said, my D1's rear axle was a little off from the factory. The truck drove straight, in spite of that.
 

fishEH

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Jan 26, 2009
6,930
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Lake Villa, IL
+1.
It seems, alignment shops are about to pass quick-lube places in the "who's dumber" race.

That said, my D1's rear axle was a little off from the factory. The truck drove straight, in spite of that.

Same here. My rear axle is kicked to the passenger side a bit. Because Land Rover.
 

p m

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It is amazingly easy to align a Rover front with 30 feet of cord.
Blows my mind as well what BS the alignment shops come up with.
 

K-rover

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Jan 15, 2010
2,183
72
Raleigh, NC
My D2 has 3" lift no adjustable panhard bar MT's and 180,000 miles on it. Its mainly a trail truck, but It tracks straight as an arrow even at 75 mph. Last time I had it aligned was 2 years ago.

I would take it back to someone else, or take it back to the same place and have them fix it until its right.
 

Loydster

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
685
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thanks for the replies guys. I am taking it to the local rover guy today and will get his recommendation for an alignment shop. My current guy is a great mechanic but not a rover guy. In 10 years of using him this is the first thing that had me wondering.
 

cupgt

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2011
573
1
Upstate SC
I'm getting mine aligned tomorrow. Never been done since Ive owned the truck and its had 3 different spring set ups, all steering arms replace, new adjustable panhard, adjustable trailing arms, etc...I have gotten it pretty straight with a tape measure but I'm in no hurry for premature tire wear. $50 bucks is cheap insurance.
 

jymmiejamz

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Dec 5, 2004
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Los Angeles, Ca
For some reason a lot of Disco's have fucked up rear alignments, but I've never really looked into repairing it since it doesn't cause any problems.
 

Keanan

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Apr 15, 2010
219
1
Redlands, CA
Yeah the rear axle could be out of spec but since it's not adjustable what are you going to do?

An alignment is really easy. You can get fancy and use an approved alignment machine like the Beissbarth ML 4000 or you can use your trusty Stanley tape measure.

Center the wheels.
Measure between the inside of the front rims, in front and behind the axle.
Adjust the tie rod until the the rims are equal distance front and rear.
Take it on a test drive and see if it is pulling left or right. If it pulls left your drag link is too short, if it pulls right the drag link is too long. Adjust accordingly.
Double check your measurements after a test drive.
If you did your work correctly your vehicle should track straight.
 

p m

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I'm getting mine aligned tomorrow. Never been done since Ive owned the truck and its had 3 different spring set ups, all steering arms replace, new adjustable panhard, adjustable trailing arms, etc...I have gotten it pretty straight with a tape measure but I'm in no hurry for premature tire wear. $50 bucks is cheap insurance.

That is, assuming the person who's doing the alignment knows his/her job.
Comparing wheel alignment with oil changes again, $50 at a Jiffy Lube for me is a guarantee that something will get fucked up - including things you couldn't imagine getting fucked up.

In your case, which is very similar to mine; despite the form of verbs used below, it is rather what I do whenever I tweak the suspension than an "owner's manual."

(0) Make sure the tires are inflated to the same pressure left to right, and brake calipers aren't dragging, and there is no play in wheel bearings.

(1) calculate the proper length of the adjustable Panhard rod for the lift you have, and adjust it.
(2) Put the pitman arm in the center position (both by the steering wheel position and by matching the slot in it to the threaded hole in the box).
(3) if you are not sure about the adjustment of the tie rod, using the cord wrapped around front and rear wheels, adjust it to where you like it (for me - between 0 and 1/16" toe-in). See the Youtube for the explanations of string alignment method.
(4) adjust the drag link to make sure that the wheels are pointed as straight as they get with the steering box centered.
Keep in mind that, depending on whether you allow only one or both front wheels to move, you may have to recheck/redo steps (3) and (4).

Rear trailing arms:
(5a) if you have measured the stock arms' lengths (say, from the axle housing near their brackets to the frame brackets), set the adjustable arms' lengths as close to stock arms' lengths as possible.
(5b) if you have not measured the stock arms' lengths , adjust the lengths as close to each other as possible.
(6) Drive the truck. If it pulls to either side, adjust one or another heim joint in the adjustable trailing arms by half a turn at a time - more if it pulls really strongly (it is obvious, but still - if the truck pulls to the right, make the right trailing arm longer or left trailing arm shorter). Repeat as necessary.

Keep in mind that the truck can track straight yet with the steering wheel cocked from its straight position. If this happens, and the slant is outside your OCD comfort zone, repeat steps (1), (2), and (4).

Now - it sounds slow and painful; why is it better than take it to alignment show (even to one that does it right)? Because your ultimate goal is not the perfect geometry of an unloaded suspension, but the one under real driving conditions - with bushing compressed/extended under load, etc. etc.

The sequence of alignment (front to rear, or toe-in vs centering) can be varied. I never read the shop manual on this subject.

Also, I came across something bizarre that I don't have an explanation for: the truck pulling to one side when the toe-in was set incorrectly (about 3/16" out).
 

p m

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Take it on a test drive and see if it is pulling left or right. If it pulls left your drag link is too short, if it pulls right the drag link is too long. Adjust accordingly.
Not always: your drag link may be short or long, yet the truck will track straight - but with the steering wheel cocked.
Keanan said:
If you did your work correctly your vehicle should track straight.
That's about it!