Front end alignment

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George - 19 Feb 2008 04:50 GMT

Well, I think I might finally get a front end alignment. My 99 Silverado,
4x4, 5.3L and 4L60E doesn't shimmy, shake, vibrate, or make any noises. The
tires wear evenly and my Michelin LTX's got way over 100k miles. My only
problem in 4 years of driving it, has a slight pull to the right. Here's
the question. I've heard a rumor that GM, in their infinite wisdom, has
dreamed up some sort of non-adjustable front end as delivered. When the
first alignment is due, I have to buy a kit to make it adjustable. I've
heard that the kit costs more than the alignment! Is this true? Can
someone describe what this kit is, where does it go, and can I get one from
a junk yard? This probably isn't the most unbelievable thing I've ever
heard of, but its close.

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Augustus - 19 Feb 2008 06:20 GMT

> Well, I think I might finally get a front end alignment. My 99 Silverado,
> 4x4, 5.3L and 4L60E doesn't shimmy, shake, vibrate, or make any noises.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> can I get one from a junk yard? This probably isn't the most unbelievable
> thing I've ever heard of, but its close.

http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl877h.htm

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Mport - 19 Feb 2008 13:42 GMT

> Well, I think I might finally get a front end alignment. My 99 Silverado,
> 4x4, 5.3L and 4L60E doesn't shimmy, shake, vibrate, or make any noises.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>crown. My motorcycle tires always wear more on the left because of this. My
>00' Z71 gets great tire wear but also pulls to the right slightly.

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Steve W. - 19 Feb 2008 14:45 GMT

> Well, I think I might finally get a front end alignment. My 99 Silverado,
> 4x4, 5.3L and 4L60E doesn't shimmy, shake, vibrate, or make any noises. The
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> a junk yard? This probably isn't the most unbelievable thing I've ever
> heard of, but its close.

If it is a slight right hand pull it may be just from the crown of the
road. That would be normal depending on the angle of crown and type of
road surface.

Try this little experiment. Take your truck down a road where you can
feel it pull to the right. Now LOOK far ahead and make sure the other
lane is clear and pull your truck onto the opposite side of the road. If
the pull goes away or you notice a slight left hand pull your truck is
normal.
This only works on roads that have both lanes crowned to opposite sides.
Divided highways and 4 lanes usually have each side crowned the same.
Two lane roads are usually crowned in the center. The crowning allows
rain to run off the sides. No alignment will change that.

From your description of tire wear and the rest I wouldn't let a shop
touch it.

Signature

Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York

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Certainly - 21 Feb 2008 03:44 GMT

To answer your question, I think what your trying to describe is for
camber adjustment. Been with GM for 10 years or so, and I don't know
of any kit necessary to make camber/caster adjustments. There are,
however, factory installed plugs in the eccentric slide that need to
be removed if camber/caster adjustments are desired. If you look in
above your front tires at the lower control arm, where it mounts to
the frame, you should see these. There is one on both adjustment
slots. They can just be pryed out with a screwdriver or prybar. The
'98 and older body style had stamped steel knockouts that needed to be
removed, this was a bit more labor intensive. To my knowledge, if '99
is the newer body style, the plugs should be what you have. One of the
plugs is white, the other is gray. I believe they were just an
assembly line deal to maintain a setting.

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