By RVR OVR (Tom) on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 06:23 am: Edit

After wheeling saturday, it appears that my front right wheel is pointing a bit outward and my steering wheel is off center. I would love to fix this myself. I did a search and found some stuff on alignments, it's not enough.

Can somebody either post or volunteer to talk me through on the phone or something how to do an alignment on my Disco 1. Need to know what tools are needed and what the process is. From what I gather, it seems really easy (just tighten or loosen two nuts), but I wanna be sure.

Or, should I just have the Firestone do it for 50 bucks?

Thanks,

Tom

By Scott Tschantz (Scott) on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 06:49 am: Edit

Tom It was just one of those days I am having the same problem along with a few others I should have left when you did.

Scott

By Ron on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 07:07 am: Edit

Tom,

Make sure it is not broken rod end or bent tie rod or drag link. If that checks out ok, you just loosen the clamps and spin the drag link to adjust the wheel and the tie rod to adjust toe in/toe out. Do the tie rod first. To check you can either run a string around the truck and eyeball it or use a tape measurer to measure between the wheels (ie measure the front and the back and the same spot on the wheel and adjust accordingly).

Ron

If you can get the rods to spin then everything else is pretty easy to figure out.

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 07:13 am: Edit

Thanks, Ron.

Scott -- What happened next? Yes, for some reason that wheeling on Saturday just didn't seem right...The evil anti-rover gods must've been out for the day.

Tom

By Ron on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 07:15 am: Edit

Tom,

If that is not good enough explaination give me a shout. Basically you just turn them one way to make them longer and the other to make them shorter.

Ron

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 07:17 am: Edit

Ron - how do you adjust the steering wheel? will it just straingten out during the process?

Tom

By Ron on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 07:21 am: Edit

The drag link.

The one that goes from the wheel to the bottom of the steering arm.

Make it longer the wheel turns one way when centered, make it shorter the wheel turns the other way.

Sit there and think about it for say 5minutes before you get started and it will all make sense, not too complicated.

Ron

PS do the tie rod (aka track rod) first though as it effects the situation too.

By Ron on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 07:22 am: Edit

The one that goes from the wheel to the bottom of the steering arm.

When I say wheel I mean the tire wheel not the steering wheel.

ROn

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 07:24 am: Edit

OK, I think this is enought to get me going. I will stare at it some tonight and figure it out. Goes along with what I was thinking. Of course, if it is bent, a call to Rovertym may be necessary.

TOm

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 07:37 am: Edit

check your email.

By Alex Schubow (Alex) on Monday, August 13, 2001 - 04:48 pm: Edit

My guess is you bent your drag link. Like you said, just get the RT one to replace it. No big emergency to fix this, the worst it will do is annoy you, and you would be surprised just how fast you get used to driving with your steering wheel off center.

Alex

By Eugene on Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - 06:47 pm: Edit

>If you can get the rods to spin then everything else is pretty easy to figure out.

I just tried this today. No luck.

That track rod adjuster doesn't have any place to apply a wrench on. And given the thread is a little bit rusted... WD-40 + chanel locks is not enough.

How do you guys do it? Propane torch?

By Ali on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 02:11 am: Edit

Eugene,

The alignment shop uses pipe wrench to turn either of the two track rod or drag link!

By Ali on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 02:12 am: Edit

Tom,

I have a lifetime alignment through Firestone. I think it was $100 or so few years back. I recommend this for people who do lots of off-roading. This will pay for itself quickly and good for as long as you own your rig. Do keep in mind that I'm talking about Mastercare Firestone Company. These are located nationwide. There're others 3rd party franchise like GBR (not Great Basin Rover!) Firestone and smaller mom & pop firestone franchise.

By Ron on Thursday, August 16, 2001 - 03:35 am: Edit

Eugene,

BIG pipe wrench. Also removing it from the truck and putting one end in a vice helps.

Propane helps.

Also PB blaster is good. Liquid wrench if you are going to apply heat (the others are flamable!)

Ron

By Ali on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 02:33 am: Edit

Tom,

I remember looking at your steering rods and don't remember seeing anything bent. This was after the rock crawling area. Before you start doing an alignment, check to see what's bent. As high as your rig is, I doubt you hit the rods. If nothing is bent, then the problem is elsewhere.