Alignment seems ok after Zone UCA install?

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Ram7081

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I have included pics from previous alignment after installing 2" Vertex coil overs and now after installing Zone UCA. Done by two different shops. I thought it would be better. Did I expect to much?
First one - Current
Second one - Previous
 

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ram1500rsm

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They gave you a toe and go alignment. Take it back and ask them to set camber at 0 on both sides or slightly neg on both sides, 4.5-5" caster on both sides toe is ok where it's. it'll drive ok where is at right now but it can be improved because of those zone UCA's and if i paid for an alignment i'll expect a full alignment with caster and camber where i told them i'll want the values at.
 

BolletuH

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ey gave you a toe and go alignment. Take it back and ask them to set camber at 0 on both sides or slightly neg on both sides, 4.5-5" caster on both sides toe is ok where it's. it'll drive ok where is at right now but it can be improved because of those zone UCA's and if i paid for an alignment i'll expect a full alignment with caster and camber where i told them i'll want the values at.
Agreed. Your camber needs to be adjusted a bit to neutral (0.00) or slightly negative. That will help with cornering stability. You typically only see positive on a solid axle because well it can't be changed. Did your UCAs claim increased caster? Some are just built to alleviate the ball joint angle while others do that and increase positive caster. Caster is not adjustable without shimming the UCA to shift it further back or the ball joint itself having an adjustable position. Finally your toe looks like. 0.1 total toe seems to be pretty common on most trucks across the board.

I guess my question to you is what were you expecting? Are you experiencing abnormal steering characteristics or?
 
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Ram7081

Ram7081

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Agreed. Your camber needs to be adjusted a bit to neutral (0.00) or slightly negative. That will help with cornering stability. You typically only see positive on a solid axle because well it can't be changed. Did your UCAs claim increased caster? Some are just built to alleviate the ball joint angle while others do that and increase positive caster. Caster is not adjustable without shimming the UCA to shift it further back or the ball joint itself having an adjustable position. Finally your toe looks like. 0.1 total toe seems to be pretty common on most trucks across the board.

I guess my question to you is what were you expecting? Are you experiencing abnormal steering characteristics or?
Sorry for not being clear. I thought the camber would be "0". Tech said no way to get to "0" and I find that hard to believe. He is the second shop to state this.
No, no claims. They are Zone and I don't think Zone claims anything off my memory. lol
 
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Ram7081

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They gave you a toe and go alignment. Take it back and ask them to set camber at 0 on both sides or slightly neg on both sides, 4.5-5" caster on both sides toe is ok where it's. it'll drive ok where is at right now but it can be improved because of those zone UCA's and if i paid for an alignment i'll expect a full alignment with caster and camber where i told them i'll want the values at.
Tech states camber is best it can be. Second shop to state this. I assume the shops in my area are lazy (shocker). Ill try another shop.
 

BolletuH

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Sorry for not being clear. I thought the camber would be "0". Tech said no way to get to "0" and I find that hard to believe. He is the second shop to state this.
No, no claims. They are Zone and I don't think Zone claims anything off my memory. lol
Can you upload a pic of your LCA camber bolts? Maybe they have them in a wonky setting or don't even know they exist.
 
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Ram7081

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Ok, set up an appt at third shop! lol.
What should the specs be?
Thanks
 
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Ram7081

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Can you upload a pic of your LCA camber bolts? Maybe they have them in a wonky setting or don't even know they exist.
Yep! Give me a second.
 
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Ram7081

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Can you upload a pic of your LCA camber bolts? Maybe they have them in a wonky setting or don't even know they exist.
Here you go.
Level pics are the level against both front tires.
 

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Ram7081

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I took it to another shop. No charge. He said its fine. Not worth charging me for it. He said if I want it "zero'd" out he could do it. But its not worth the money. So I passed. He gave me a print out he did also.
 

BolletuH

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I took it to another shop. No charge. He said its fine. Not worth charging me for it. He said if I want it "zero'd" out he could do it. But its not worth the money. So I passed. He gave me a print out he did also.
Your camber is definitely a bit on the edge so just keep an eye on your tires. Positive camber will cause more rubbing on the outside shoulders. Compound this with toe-in and you may start noticing some feathering. Also, it looks like your cam bolts were barely touched from the factory unless the alignment tech put that white marking on there.
 
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I agree with you 100%. None of the three shops do. I have tried three different shops around here. Its frustrating. I hate they all say "its in the green, you're fine". I may just take it to the dealer. lol
 

ram1500rsm

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You're not telling any of them what You want. :) If you ask them to "check" the alignment the lazy techs will simply say all good cause the specs fall in allowed range. To hell with their assumptions. Ask for your specs and not what they think they should give you. Demand caster the closest they can put you in the 5* range. You have enough adjustment in the Zone UCAs so any alignment tech can get you there. 4.5-5" is good even if it goes to 5.2* in one side. Demand your camber to be 0* on both sides or a very slight neg -0.2" is even better on both sides.
I have 110k miles in my truck my tires wear even, no issues with vibrations or tire feathering or anything really knocking on wood. I don't give a damn what they think. Sometimes I have had have the job done 2-3 times same day because a ******* tech thinks he knows better and I'm very **** with my truck alignments. Plus I have to deal with alignments more frequently as well as I don't drive very easy when the truck hits the dirt trailsso sometimes you may hit something with the side of the tire at speed or drive right over it and the alignment gets knocked down. Toe is what gets screwed up first, sometimes is camber and toe. Little higher than stock caster gives the truck better tracking at speed offroading. Simple old tricks. Just because it's a truck doesn't mean it has to have Honda minivan alignment especially when you run the good chit in your suspension.
 
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Ram7081

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You assume but I am. I am saying I want camber put at "0". If their that dumb down. That's on them. Am I surprised after three shops? Nah. Look at soceity. I gave up for now.
 

Moparian1221

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I agree I would like to see the camber alittle closer to zero but would assume you won't have any issues from it. Keep up on your tire rotations and you should be fine. I know when I used to be in the game I'd set the caster half degree less on the left side to counter road crown and make it drive straight without input from you. But that may have been a thing more local to me
 
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