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Wheel alignment steering tie rods

Discussion in 'Suzuki Carry' started by o8k, Sep 24, 2010.

  1. o8k

    o8k Member

    Question for anyone who may know. My front end wheel alginment, for as long as i can remember, does somthing rather funky. When i roll the vehicle forward, the front wheels lineup like they are supposed to. However, when i roll the vehicle backwards, the front wheels pigion toe out a little and rolling resistance increases lots, enough to feel when driving in reverse.

    So is this a normal amount of "play" in the tie rods? Or are my tie rods shot?
     
  2. aeroshots

    aeroshots Member

    What happens when you lift the front in the air allowing the suspension to fall relaxed and roll the wheels backwards?
     
  3. o8k

    o8k Member

    Both wheels roll smooth as butter.
     
  4. o8k

    o8k Member

    Well i found a local mechanic who i like and is willing to work in my vehicle with me supplying the parts. They put my truck up on a rack today we looked under the front end together. They said the problem was my Lower Control Arm LCA bushing (not the ball joint end), radius rod bushings, and the bushings at the top of my struts were worn out.

    Does this sound right? The LCA bushings i could definitly see were smashed on the front side of the mount to the point where they were gone.
    Has anyone else had an issue with these suspension bushings going out on them? Seems like it would be fairly common.
    Ill take some pics this weekend and post for peer review. ;D

    Thanks,
    o8k
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2010
  5. o8k

    o8k Member

    I took the LCA off, and the radius rod off, and looked at everything in close detail. Wiggled the wheel a bit and then decided the radius rod bushing could be more snug. So i put some thick washers on both sides, cranked down the nut nice and tight, then did poor man's front end alignment and bingo. Problem went away....

    Well till the bushing smash in some more... Need to drop the radius rods a bit and get some new bushings most likely, but its holding together for now...

    [​IMG]
     
  6. clint

    clint New Member

    are there one bushing or two on each side my tires seem like they need to move forward to line up better with the diff, bushings look shot
     
  7. o8k

    o8k Member

    There are two per radius rod. If you lift the truck they may not be long enough. I think mine got spongy cuz I didn't lower the radius rod mounts or lengthen them. A good thread about this can be found here: http://www.minitrucktalk.com/showthread.php?t=5358


    As for the LCA... One bushing per LCA.


    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2010
  8. o8k

    o8k Member

  9. Greg n TN

    Greg n TN New Member

    More 95 Suzuki DD51T front end alignment questions:

    o8k,

    Did you install a lift kit before you noticed the "backing up" problem?

    My truck was fine (as far as I could tell), but I installed a 2" G&R lift kit. Now when backing up, the tires tilt out so bad that they leave black marks from the outside edge of the tire.


    Attached are three pictures:
    • Two pictures (after backing up) show the tires tilted out at the top, notice the black marks from the tires riding on the outside edge.
    • One picture (after driving forward) shows the tire sitting square on the ground.

    I've read where there is no camber (I think that's the correct term) adjustment, and I've read where they say there is at the bottom of the strut.

    Advice from anyone?

    Thanks,
    Greg
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Watercat

    Watercat New Member

    Holy smokes these posts are from a long time ago. I have this same issue. Can you give me any updates on how it worked out with these bushings for the backing-up issue?
     

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