GU Alignment

G'day Eric,
I'm just deciding what to do with my alignment too. I live in a small country town, otherwise I'd be going to a truck alignment place as they have the gear to cater for bigger equipment.
I have a Beaurepaires outlet here and they reckon they can do it for me. I've done 127,000klm and am on my 2nd set of lifted springs. I have not yet changed the caster bushes. Patrol has 4" front and 5" rear Lovells, but due to hefty everyday weight (3050kg b4 i load it up), it only sits 3" above standard height.
I've never had an alignment and am now becoming more conscious of her wondering at speed on the black-top.
Alignment first, then caster bushes (once I know whether to get 2 or 3 degee offsets) and then maybe new shockers (the Konis have been on since truck new).

Any reputable alignment place should be able to get the aligment right for your particular vehicle, not just set to some "standard specs" which may be all-wrong for your truck.

Hi Eric,

ANY change in ride height WILL alter static settings so changing springs WILL change alignment even if there is only a small change in ride height. Changing non-pressurised shocks (ie oil only shocks) will not alter ride height and will not alter settings. Changing pressurised shocks may change ride height a little and therefore alter alignment. So with new springs, realignment is essential to maintain optimum performance and tyre wear. Standard settings are a starting point. Further adjustment should be made over time according to handling characteristics and tyre wear. If you are a fairly experienced and sensitive driver it is a good idea to go back for readjustment after you have made an assessment of handling, and discuss things with the experts (though these can be hard to find!!). Assess things like understeer/oversteer, turn-in, steering stability at speed and steering effort and let the guy doing the work have some feedback from you. If you are not experienced and sensitive then admit it and let the experts have their way! Also remember that even good quality springs will "settle" a bit and realignment may be necessary after a few hundred K's due to this.

Jeez, when I read over this before sending it, it sounded like a real lecture. Sorry!

Guys,
You are talking alignment on a solid front end vehicle, easy adjustments are possible on toe-in only.
Caster bushes or plates can be used, I saw some new front control arms the other day, 3rds production, which look very nice, $$$$$. Nolathane caster bushes have a habit of chewing out, Ive heard, and adding to some other wear in front end. Hard to beat original bushes.
This can adress the caster change due to the lift.
The pulling off the left is an inherant problem in these Patrols some much worse than others. There is a CAMBER kit which swaps King pin bearings for eccentric bearings allowing adjustment. I think truck places can do the same with Shims Shim-Align???
One things for sure getting it right requires a specialist, probably a truck centre, and be prepared to pay.
Ive got a 2"lift, caster not an issue, camber(pull to left) isnt too bad on this GU so I just fitted a return to centre steering damper (4-Way, Opp Lock), once adjusted by trial and error it working well.
Now to answer you question, Im assumimg you have std OME lift of 50mm, then really things shouldnt change much and specs alignment guy uses are still the same. The real issue is if the vehicle is out of specs what is the alignment guy going to do about it. Basically he cant "set" the vehicle to the standard if its out without significant mechanical work.
rambling, rambling........

JR