[Merica Mike]

Took my 01 X in for an alignment finally. Now I knew I needed some work done on the front end well before this. Loose steering wheel, uneven tire wear pulling to the left or right while accelerating or breaking, pulling to the right while driving at a steady pace. I was charged only 45 bucks for the diagnostic tests and a quote on everything that would need to be fixed in order to be able to do an alignment.

It's my first time going through this shop. They seem knowledgeable and have good customer service so far. Just received a call from them an hour or 2 ago. They are waiting on a part (didn't specify which one) and wont receive it till tomorrow morning so I wont be getting my truck back until some time tomorrow afternoon. I am curious if this quote seems a little high for the work being done but either way the work is going to be done.

 

[vambrizz]

I would try getting a quote from different places first. I got ball joints replaced at $75 a piece labor wise and I bought my own parts. Some shops don’t like that which I understand but I paid close to $500 for ball joint work. Including alignment.

 

[Wonderboy]

Looks like a fair price...no mention of tie rods or Pitman arm.

 

[NoFunBen]

It sounds like a normal price to me. I just replaced the ball joints myself and their list of time required sounds about right. With out knowing the brand of replacement parts I can't make a total comparison but the part prices are not unreasonable.

 

[Merica Mike]

UPDATE: 3/22

Finally got my truck back today. After I had to wait for a part, they then called and informed me that it was the wrong part and not what was ordered. I was given this with no explanation as no techs were available to answer questions. After taking my X for a 30 minute drive I think it was a little convenient that no techs were available, however it does drive better. But I do have questions. Maybe someone here can explain what I'm looking at and possibly answer my questions.

Also it says a different tire size than what I actually have on my X.

 

[NoFunBen]

It is good it drives better. What part are they replacing?

I am replacing my tie rods and will need an alignment after that. So I will soon be seeing this for my X.

 

[Merica Mike]

It is good it drives better. What part are they replacing?

I am replacing my tie rods and will need an alignment after that. So I will soon be seeing this for my X.

Replaced centerlink idler arm and lower ball joints. Just to be able to do an alignment.

 

[Merica Mike]

UPDATE: 3/27

Went back in to the same shop today to talk to yhe tech who specifically worked on my Xterra. The tech was supposedly on a test drive so I explained how I just spent a grand getting parts replaced to get an alignment and after the alignment my Xterra is still pulling to the right and my steering wheel has to be cocked to the left to go straight. Even after switching both front tires(left tire went to the right and visa versa) still the same pulling to the right and having to cock the steering wheel to the left. He couldn't seem to answer any of my questions. Have a feeling that the wrong tire size was used to do alignment therefore creating a misalignment. If they even did an alignment. Took them 6 days to do the work of replacing parts and doing an alignment that supposed to take a full day at most was the quote. Now I'm sitting here with the same problem I had before spending 1000 bucks. Needless to say this is really starting to irritate me. Right front tire is turning right.

RF LF
I I ---- Vertically straight

I l
RR LR

^^^^^ How I believe it should be sitting.

RF LF
\ I -- not vertically straight

I l
RR LR
^^^^^^^^^ how my right front currently sits when the steering wheel is centered.
Could this be a PML issue? I bought my x with what I believe to be a PML already done to it. Whether it was done correctly or not I have no idea. I dont know anything about PML other than reading forums on and threads in this community. I just want my x to go straight and stop wearing my tires out so quickly. Anyone have any ideas? Maybe it's a suspension issue? Brakes and rotors? I'm lost on this lol

 

[NoFunBen]

I dont think Brakes or rotors would do this. It could but you would have all kinds of brake problems that could not be missed.
It could be PML related. PML if razed too much can cause bad tire wear, but should not pull to the side.
It could be suspension.
After everything was done did they give you another printout like the first one you posted?
I don't know a lot about alignment so i am sure someone else can better answer this.

 

[RacerXXL]

On a lifted truck you run a different alignment spec than what the machine spits out for the Xterra in a specific year, 00-04.

The below spec was developed by Cyclemutt here on CX a master Nissan tech, roadrace car tech, and avid Nissan offroad enthusiast. 100’s of members of this forum, me included, have run this spec with great success and very good tire wear over the OEM spec.

Cyclemutt’s lifted alignment spec

1. Set the Camber to 0°, or as close to it as
possible.

2. Try for getting the Caster to be between 0.3° and
0.6°, set differently between the right and left
side, with the left side being less than the right.

It doesn't matter what the Caster is, just as long as
you get the most Caster you can on the right
side, then set it so the left side is less by 0.3°
to 0.6°

Camber = 0.0°L.....0.0°R

Caster = 0.9°L.....1.2°R

Toe in = 0.08"L...0.08"R

Total toe = ...0.16"

 

[NoFunBen]

With looking at this alignment information and with soon needing an alignment because I am replacing the ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, cross-link, and shocks, I think I will try to do an alignment my self.

"
1. Set the Camber to 0°, or as close to it as
possible.

2. Try for getting the Caster to be between 0.3° and
0.6°, set differently between the right and left
side, with the left side being less than the right.

It doesn't matter what the Caster is, just as long as
you get the most Caster you can on the right
side, then set it so the left side is less by 0.3°
to 0.6°

Camber = 0.0°L.....0.0°R

Caster = 0.9°L.....1.2°R

Toe in = 0.08"L...0.08"R

Total toe = ...0.16"
"

I have ordered a tool to see what the camber is, and there should be some why to find the caster with it, but I will need to research that more. Caster sounds complicated.
Online I have seen people use strings running along the sides of a vehicle to set the toe, and it does not look too hard.

But it may be harder to do then it sounds. Worth a try at least.

 

[Merica Mike]

I dont think Brakes or rotors would do this. It could but you would have all kinds of brake problems that could not be missed.
It could be PML related. PML if razed too much can cause bad tire wear, but should not pull to the side.
It could be suspension.
After everything was done did they give you another printout like the first one you posted?
I don't know a lot about alignment so i am sure someone else can better answer this.

They did give me another print out like the first one. Only a few smaller differences not adding up to too much.

 

[Merica Mike]

On a lifted truck you run a different alignment spec than what the machine spits out for the Xterra in a specific year, 00-04.

The below spec was developed by Cyclemutt here on CX a master Nissan tech, roadrace car tech, and avid Nissan offroad enthusiast. 100’s of members of this forum, me included, have run this spec with great success and very good tire wear over the OEM spec.

Cyclemutt’s lifted alignment spec

So I take my x back in tomorrow afternoon. Would it be possible to show the tech these specs and have the set my alignment to that specification or as close to it as possible? Or will they not do something like that?

 

[Merica Mike]

With looking at this alignment information and with soon needing an alignment because I am replacing the ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, cross-link, and shocks, I think I will try to do an alignment my self.



I have ordered a tool to see what the camber is, and there should be some why to find the caster with it, but I will need to research that more. Caster sounds complicated.
Online I have seen people use strings running along the sides of a vehicle to set the toe, and it does not look too hard.

But it may be harder to do then it sounds. Worth a try at least.

Let me know how it works out for you! I may end up going to another shop to see if someone else could maybe get my truck aligned correctly. Looking like I'm going to have to put my x on a flatbed and tow it when I move 6 hours away in more than a few months if i cant get it figured out.

 

[NoFunBen]

Go somewhere else.

I still don't know a lot about alignment but I was able to get my steering wheel centered with just adjusting the tie rods and watching some YouTube how to videos. But the steering not being center was my only problem.

The pulling to one side is more complicated. you could jack it up and spin both front tires to see if one has more drag then the other. if it is not that then something with the caster is off.

 

[RacerXXL]

So I take my x back in tomorrow afternoon. Would it be possible to show the tech these specs and have the set my alignment to that specification or as close to it as possible? Or will they not do something like that?

If they won’t find somebody else. I go to my guys hand them the sheet and they do it every time.

Is it going to fix your issues? Got me, I was just relating a spec that is known to wrk better for lifted Gen1 Xterra’s

 

[Merica Mike]

Go somewhere else.

I still don't know a lot about alignment but I was able to get my steering wheel centered with just adjusting the tie rods and watching some YouTube how to videos. But the steering not being center was my only problem.

The pulling to one side is more complicated. you could jack it up and spin both front tires to see if one has more drag then the other. if it is not that then something with the caster is off.

I have actually done that already.(jacked front end up and spun tires to see drag difference.) The right front definitely had more resistance. Safe to assume that would be brakes and or caliper? And if so does a simple brake job take care of that? I can do brakes. Would like to think I could do rotors as well but am unfamiliar with them. Especially on 4x4s. Red being my first.

 

[Merica Mike]

If they won’t find somebody else. I go to my guys hand them the sheet and they do it every time.

Is it going to fix your issues? Got me, I was just relating a spec that is known to wrk better for lifted Gen1 Xterra’s

I have a feeling once I get the pulling to the right figured out that those specs will be helpful getting my x riding smoother and straighter. Thank you for those.

 

[NoFunBen]

I have actually done that already.(jacked front end up and spun tires to see drag difference.) The right front definitely had more resistance. Safe to assume that would be brakes and or caliper? And if so does a simple brake job take care of that? I can do brakes. Would like to think I could do rotors as well but am unfamiliar with them. Especially on 4x4s. Red being my first.

Most likely brakes, small chance it could be wheel bearings. Is the auto locking hub unlocking? If that hub is stuck locked that would do it too.

 

[Merica Mike]

Most likely brakes, small chance it could be wheel bearings. Is the auto locking hub unlocking? If that hub is stuck locked that would do it too.

Not exactly sure how I would be able to tell if its stuck locked or not. Being locked would mean I'm in 4 wheel drive?