Went and got an alignament today....

Was told they could not completely align due to bent axle and that I needed
Offset ball joints. They got it as close as they could for me.

They were not pressuring me to get these, but did quote $120 for the Balljoints, and a total of $620 parts and labor.

Has anyone had this problem and did Offset Ball joints work?
What should I do to prevent any long term problems also?

 

Can you post your alignment readings?

Offsets do work, to a point. Only a couple degrees at the most.
Offsets will change two axes unless installed all the way one way or the other.

 

i had too much camber too, was blamed on a bent axle.

Turned out the ball joints were rooted...

 

This is as close as they could get:

Camber: L-(-1.2) R-(-0.9)
Caster : L 6.7 R 6.6
Toe : L 0.09 R 0.11

He said that I needed the ball joints that are 1.5

 

Do you remember doing anything that would have bent your axle?

Are your ball joints worn?

 

If your ball joints are bad they may just need to be replaced with stock, although I would imagine with those specs that ball joints are really toast. Have you tested them for play?

 

Um, yea, was out at Palo duro Canyon Last Saturday, could of been any number of things....

I do not know if ball joints are bad.

How do I test for play?

 

Looks like they could have gotten your toe a little more equal side to side...

 

Jack the front tire off the ground.
Place a jack stand under the axle next to the jack.
Lower to put some weight on the jack stand.
Place a long pry bar under the tire.
Have someone pry the tire up and down while you watch the lower ball joint for up and down play.
Axial (up and down) movement in the lower ball joint should not exceed 0.050"

Have someone grab the tire at top and bottom to wiggle the top in and out while you watch the upper joint for side play.
Radial (side-to-side) movement in the upper ball joint should not exceed 0.060"

Even if the upper joint checks good, change both if the lower checks bad.

 

So will bad balljoints prevent an alignment from being able to get totally aligned?