Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer

'98forests10 · 06-19-2009, 12:26 AM

Well, ever since I've replaced my sway bar bushings, my truck pulls to the right some. I noticed that my drivers side wheel camber is off a bit and the top of the tire is tilted in towards the body by a few degrees. Since I need an alignment at dealership (its the closest), should I just have them crank the t-bars 1 1/4" to level it? They quoted me $140. Fair enough price...but is it worth it? Better to do by myself?

992drjimmy · 06-19-2009, 05:39 PM

yikes thats insane. alignments are usualy 35-40 bucks. Turn them up your self. I think its 19 0r 21 mm bolt

***orangesonoma*** · 06-19-2009, 05:40 PM

i dont think they will crank your bars for a lift...dealers are funny like that

mrmodder7 · 06-19-2009, 08:40 PM

Thats a pretty insane price for an alignment. Go to a mechanic and get it done. A small one might even crank it for you.

'98forests10 · 06-19-2009, 11:25 PM

The price that they told me ($140) was for a torsion bar crank and an alignment all together, with labor and all that. Alignments around here go for $50-60 and I live about 12 miles from the closest place that will do one, being the dealer. Being farther away, I don't want to crank my bars and have my tires be extremely warn by the time I'm there.

95BlazerLT4wd · 06-20-2009, 06:39 AM

drive to the shop, jack the front of your truck up and crank em urself then tell em u need an alignment, it will take all of 5 minutes to crankem and 12 miles insnt gonna even be noticable on the tire.

Gator4x4 · 06-20-2009, 03:16 PM

u aint even gota jack it up man hell jus crank em a lil then take it to a mechanic and have it alligned

'98forests10 · 06-20-2009, 03:43 PM

Thanks guys. Anyone know the stock 4x4 height in the front? Both driver and pass. sides measured 32" on mine. What would be the best place to measure from? Top of tire to bottom of fender, or from ground to frame?

Gator4x4 · 06-20-2009, 04:05 PM

ground to frame or ground to bottom of fender i have new torsion keys mine measures 33" 1/2 from bottom of fender to ground before it was around 31" 3/4- 32"

Archametes · 06-21-2009, 09:12 PM

Can someone post a pic of exactly what bolt to adjust for the torsion bars?

Sorry to sound dumb, but while I'm pretty good at motor stuff I'm still new to these Blazers. Most of all the vehicles I've owned have been small 2dr cars...

Thanks, Mike

992drjimmy · 06-21-2009, 10:38 PM

folow the torsion bar from the loser control arm. The adjuster is under the truck just behind the doors. No need to jack up. Although i would spray some lube on the bolts then turn them in checking your height.2- 2.5 truns is probably all youll want to do as not to bind cv boots. You probably wont even visually be able to see the alignment is of and no way will you tear up your tires in 12 miles. In a few thousand miles you may notice inner or outer tread start to feather if you dont align.

'98forests10 · 06-21-2009, 10:41 PM

Thanks for the help. Doing the brakes tomorrow and might do the crank if there is time. Another kind of red-flag is that my pass. tire is true and straight (aligned) but my drivers side is the only one that is way out of alignment. Could I have a bad ball joint? Checked shocks and they are all good. Could it just be a simple alignment problem or something bigger? What else should I check?

992drjimmy · 06-21-2009, 10:46 PM

Yes could be a bad ball joint, or simply out of align. They will check the ball joints when you go fo align. If bad they cant align. They will rape you if you have the dealer change them. Not toohard to do your self. Figure an hour per joint. If you do the lower BJ you need a 36mm because ive always had to slide spindle off the half shaft to get it off the ball joint.

SnoMan · 07-15-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 992drjimmy

Yes could be a bad ball joint, or simply out of align. They will check the ball joints when you go fo align. If bad they cant align. They will rape you if you have the dealer change them. Not toohard to do your self. Figure an hour per joint. If you do the lower BJ you need a 36mm because ive always had to slide spindle off the half shaft to get it off the ball joint.

kind of ironic.... i think 992doorjimmy is physcic.

Daveman2 · 07-15-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Archametes

Can someone post a pic of exactly what bolt to adjust for the torsion bars?

walk to the doorhandle, and look under the car where the long torsion rods go to, you should find it there.

SnoMan · 07-20-2009, 06:43 PM

How hard is it to remove stock keyes and put in aftermarket keyes?

89-S-Dime · 07-20-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by orangesonoma

i dont think they will crank your bars for a lift...dealers are funny like that

nyteRyda · 07-22-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by SnoMan

kind of ironic.... i think 992doorjimmy is physcic.

Or psychic could be the real word!!

992drjimmy · 07-22-2009, 03:42 PM

hmm... Wish i was.. LOL

SnoMan · 10-27-2009, 07:17 PM

This may seem like a stupid question but would it be safe to use and impact wrench to crank the bolts?

992drjimmy · 10-27-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by SnoMan

This may seem like a stupid question but would it be safe to use and impact wrench to crank the bolts?

Hope so, because ive done it many times on many s trucks

SnoMan · 10-27-2009, 09:16 PM

ok lol i wanted to make sure that it wouldnt risk breaking anything or stripping it. this will make things go way faster. THANK GOD FOR AIR TOOLS!!!!!!!

96superflow · 10-27-2009, 10:46 PM

still wont be fast, those torsion bar adjuster bolts are a PITA. Every one i ever cranked in needed a 1/2 breaker bar and a pipe to make it easy.

GeorgesBlazah · 10-28-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Gator4x4

u aint even gota jack it up man hell jus crank em a lil then take it to a mechanic and have it alligned

Dont listen to this. Jack the front of truck off of the ground, youll fawk something up if you dont jack it up.

96superflow · 10-28-2009, 01:18 PM

and you wont be trying to lift the front of the truck up with all the weight on it, hence why its recommended to jack up the front.

992drjimmy · 10-28-2009, 03:55 PM

Probably is a good idea to jack the fron up. I never have with themany ive cranked. Seems like it would make it harder to get to fron level side to side if youhave to mess with a jack.

SnoMan · 10-28-2009, 05:07 PM

Nah, did it with a jack and it just takes another 45 seconds lower and jack back up lol

06-19-2009, 12:26 AM	#1
'98forests10 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 128 Location: User is: OffLine	Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Well, ever since I've replaced my sway bar bushings, my truck pulls to the right some. I noticed that my drivers side wheel camber is off a bit and the top of the tire is tilted in towards the body by a few degrees. Since I need an alignment at dealership (its the closest), should I just have them crank the t-bars 1 1/4" to level it? They quoted me $140. Fair enough price...but is it worth it? Better to do by myself?
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-19-2009, 05:39 PM	#2
992drjimmy Registered User Age: 38 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,155 Location: Decatur INDIANA User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer yikes thats insane. alignments are usualy 35-40 bucks. Turn them up your self. I think its 19 0r 21 mm bolt
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-19-2009, 05:40 PM	#3
*orangesonoma* forum idiot Age: 31 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 46,862 Location: Indian Trail, NC User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer i dont think they will crank your bars for a lift...dealers are funny like that
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06-19-2009, 08:40 PM	#4
mrmodder7 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 35 Location: Garner, NC User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Thats a pretty insane price for an alignment. Go to a mechanic and get it done. A small one might even crank it for you.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-19-2009, 11:25 PM	#5
'98forests10 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 128 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer The price that they told me ($140) was for a torsion bar crank and an alignment all together, with labor and all that. Alignments around here go for $50-60 and I live about 12 miles from the closest place that will do one, being the dealer. Being farther away, I don't want to crank my bars and have my tires be extremely warn by the time I'm there.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-20-2009, 06:39 AM	#6
95BlazerLT4wd Registered User Age: 18 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 616 Location: Dirty Jerzz User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer drive to the shop, jack the front of your truck up and crank em urself then tell em u need an alignment, it will take all of 5 minutes to crankem and 12 miles insnt gonna even be noticable on the tire.
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06-20-2009, 03:16 PM	#7
Gator4x4 Big Tymerz! Age: 21 Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 87 Location: Gastonia, N.C. User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer u aint even gota jack it up man hell jus crank em a lil then take it to a mechanic and have it alligned
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06-20-2009, 03:43 PM	#8
'98forests10 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 128 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Thanks guys. Anyone know the stock 4x4 height in the front? Both driver and pass. sides measured 32" on mine. What would be the best place to measure from? Top of tire to bottom of fender, or from ground to frame?
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-20-2009, 04:05 PM	#9
Gator4x4 Big Tymerz! Age: 21 Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 87 Location: Gastonia, N.C. User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer ground to frame or ground to bottom of fender i have new torsion keys mine measures 33" 1/2 from bottom of fender to ground before it was around 31" 3/4- 32"
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06-21-2009, 09:12 PM	#10
Archametes Evil Monkey Age: 31 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 46 Location: Hyde Park, NY User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Can someone post a pic of exactly what bolt to adjust for the torsion bars? Sorry to sound dumb, but while I'm pretty good at motor stuff I'm still new to these Blazers. Most of all the vehicles I've owned have been small 2dr cars... Thanks, Mike
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-21-2009, 10:38 PM	#11
992drjimmy Registered User Age: 38 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,155 Location: Decatur INDIANA User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer folow the torsion bar from the loser control arm. The adjuster is under the truck just behind the doors. No need to jack up. Although i would spray some lube on the bolts then turn them in checking your height.2- 2.5 truns is probably all youll want to do as not to bind cv boots. You probably wont even visually be able to see the alignment is of and no way will you tear up your tires in 12 miles. In a few thousand miles you may notice inner or outer tread start to feather if you dont align.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-21-2009, 10:41 PM	#12
'98forests10 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 128 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Thanks for the help. Doing the brakes tomorrow and might do the crank if there is time. Another kind of red-flag is that my pass. tire is true and straight (aligned) but my drivers side is the only one that is way out of alignment. Could I have a bad ball joint? Checked shocks and they are all good. Could it just be a simple alignment problem or something bigger? What else should I check?
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-21-2009, 10:46 PM	#13
992drjimmy Registered User Age: 38 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,155 Location: Decatur INDIANA User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Yes could be a bad ball joint, or simply out of align. They will check the ball joints when you go fo align. If bad they cant align. They will rape you if you have the dealer change them. Not toohard to do your self. Figure an hour per joint. If you do the lower BJ you need a 36mm because ive always had to slide spindle off the half shaft to get it off the ball joint.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-15-2009, 10:24 PM	#14
SnoMan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 120 Location: Hilton NY User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Quote: Originally Posted by 992drjimmy Yes could be a bad ball joint, or simply out of align. They will check the ball joints when you go fo align. If bad they cant align. They will rape you if you have the dealer change them. Not toohard to do your self. Figure an hour per joint. If you do the lower BJ you need a 36mm because ive always had to slide spindle off the half shaft to get it off the ball joint. kind of ironic.... i think 992doorjimmy is physcic.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-15-2009, 10:29 PM	#15
Daveman2 Road Racing Blazer Age: 22 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,561 Location: Santa Cruz, CA User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Quote: Originally Posted by Archametes Can someone post a pic of exactly what bolt to adjust for the torsion bars? walk to the doorhandle, and look under the car where the long torsion rods go to, you should find it there. Last edited by Daveman2 : 07-15-2009 at 10:30 PM.
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07-20-2009, 06:43 PM	#16
SnoMan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 120 Location: Hilton NY User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer How hard is it to remove stock keyes and put in aftermarket keyes?
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07-20-2009, 09:15 PM	#17
89-S-Dime Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,225 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Quote: Originally Posted by orangesonoma i dont think they will crank your bars for a lift...dealers are funny like that
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07-22-2009, 01:18 PM	#18
nyteRyda Registered User Age: 26 Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 541 Location: Kingston Pa User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Quote: Originally Posted by SnoMan kind of ironic.... i think 992doorjimmy is physcic. Or psychic could be the real word!!
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07-22-2009, 03:42 PM	#19
992drjimmy Registered User Age: 38 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,155 Location: Decatur INDIANA User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer hmm... Wish i was.. LOL
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10-27-2009, 07:17 PM	#20
SnoMan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 120 Location: Hilton NY User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer This may seem like a stupid question but would it be safe to use and impact wrench to crank the bolts?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2009, 09:12 PM	#21
992drjimmy Registered User Age: 38 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,155 Location: Decatur INDIANA User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Quote: Originally Posted by SnoMan This may seem like a stupid question but would it be safe to use and impact wrench to crank the bolts? Hope so, because ive done it many times on many s trucks
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2009, 09:16 PM	#22
SnoMan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 120 Location: Hilton NY User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer ok lol i wanted to make sure that it wouldnt risk breaking anything or stripping it. this will make things go way faster. THANK GOD FOR AIR TOOLS!!!!!!!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2009, 10:46 PM	#23
96superflow Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 725 Location: Moyock/Greenville, NC User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer still wont be fast, those torsion bar adjuster bolts are a PITA. Every one i ever cranked in needed a 1/2 breaker bar and a pipe to make it easy.
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10-28-2009, 12:52 PM	#24
GeorgesBlazah Slap my meat on your pita Age: 24 Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,215 Location: south jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Quote: Originally Posted by Gator4x4 u aint even gota jack it up man hell jus crank em a lil then take it to a mechanic and have it alligned Dont listen to this. Jack the front of truck off of the ground, youll fawk something up if you dont jack it up.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2009, 01:18 PM	#25
96superflow Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 725 Location: Moyock/Greenville, NC User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer and you wont be trying to lift the front of the truck up with all the weight on it, hence why its recommended to jack up the front.
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10-28-2009, 03:55 PM	#26
992drjimmy Registered User Age: 38 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,155 Location: Decatur INDIANA User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Probably is a good idea to jack the fron up. I never have with themany ive cranked. Seems like it would make it harder to get to fron level side to side if youhave to mess with a jack.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2009, 05:07 PM	#27
SnoMan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 120 Location: Hilton NY User is: OffLine	Re: Need an alignment and considering t-bar crank at dealer Nah, did it with a jack and it just takes another 45 seconds lower and jack back up lol
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