Out of alignment

[poweraidon]

I recently got my h3 alined and literally the next day it's out of alignment... I drove over a curb not even fast or hard. That knocked it out. The steering wheel feels really light. I don't have bump stops in the front and never had them when I first bought my h3. Could that be why it's being knocked out of alignment so easily? And how important are bump stops?


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[digglesworth]

I wouldn't run around without bumpstops if it were my truck.... How bad is the nose dive in your truck...? Sounds like some other issue. Uca bushings, ball joints, lca bushings.... Hows the steering rack bracket? It may be moving a little side to side throwing off the toe.

 

[poweraidon]

I wouldn't run around without bumpstops if it were my truck.... How bad is the nose dive in your truck...? Sounds like some other issue. Uca bushings, ball joints, lca bushings.... Hows the steering rack bracket? It may be moving a little side to side throwing off the toe.

The nose dive is alright not that bad... Before I got it aligned turning left was always really light and after the alignment and after I drove over that curb now turning right is really light. I don't know man I'm confused


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[Best4x4]

Get new bump stops for sure, as it's an active part of your front suspension. I'd inspect the UCA alignment tabs and make sure they're not missing or broken. I've also seen plenty of alignment shops leave bolts not torqued properly causing the alignment to go out of adjustment very quickly.

 

[alrock]

I agree with the above - most likely issue is loose UCA bolts. I had mine UCA slide out of alignment a while back and it didn't even take a hit. But if you have worn parts, like steering or suspension components, the alignment could have been right but the bump moved that part out of alignment due to worn or missing bushings in control arms or steering components.

 

[poweraidon]

Get new bump stops for sure, as it's an active part of your front suspension. I'd inspect the UCA alignment tabs and make sure they're not missing or broken. I've also seen plenty of alignment shops leave bolts not torqued properly causing the alignment to go out of adjustment very quickly.

These are the tabs right?

All the other ones have the white tab thing on it but not the inner one on the passenger side

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[poweraidon]

And I checked all the bolts are tight


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[Best4x4]

Thats them

 

[poweraidon]

Thats them

Does it matter if the white cover thing is missing?


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[Best4x4]

If they adjusted it properly and tightened it I doubt that's the problem. Was it a one time alignment or was it like a Firestone "lifetime alignment" ? That's the only thing I use Firestone for is their lifetime alignments, but I recently heard they're not really lifetime anymore.... I loved it when I had my Jeep's. Pay 150.00 once lift it modify it, and I could get it done time and time again for "free". I even took my Jeep in twice in one day and my local Firestone was happy to see me.

Only thing that concerns me so far are the missing bumpstops.

 

[poweraidon]

If they adjusted it properly and tightened it I doubt that's the problem. Was it a one time alignment or was it like a Firestone "lifetime alignment" ? That's the only thing I use Firestone for is their lifetime alignments, but I recently heard they're not really lifetime anymore.... I loved it when I had my Jeep's. Pay 150.00 once lift it modify it, and I could get it done time and time again for "free". I even took my Jeep in twice in one day and my local Firestone was happy to see me.

Only thing that concerns me so far are the missing bumpstops.

It was a one time alignment I asked them if they had warranties and the guy gave me a whole lecture on why then don't have warranties...I'm gonna get it realigned again and if it happens again I'll know it's something wrong with my h3

Are bump stops really that important because when I first bought my h3 (4months ago) it didn't have bump stops and I've taken it wheeling and it's my daily driver and nothing seems wrong or feels not right


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[Best4x4]

The front bumpstops act like progressive springs and are a very critical part of the IFS suspension on our H3's. It helps prevent the front end from nose diving, helps to keep it level in sharp curves, and without them I'm pretty sure you're putting a lot more stress on your front shocks and other IFS components. If your H3's front end is leveled you can use the Trail Duty 1/2 longer bump stops. Some people hate the Trail Duty ones vs the OEM ones but on my Alpha with the ARB Bumper, Winch, and extra weight of the V8 after I leveled it to 23 1/4 it would nose dive like crazy and I could barely take a curve without feeling like the H3 was going to rollover. Now on my wife's pretty stock 07 the OEM's are fine. If you're leveled I'd try the Trail Duty bumpstops.

 

[poweraidon]

The front bumpstops act like progressive springs and are a very critical part of the IFS suspension on our H3's. It helps prevent the front end from nose diving, helps to keep it level in sharp curves, and without them I'm pretty sure you're putting a lot more stress on your front shocks and other IFS components. If your H3's front end is leveled you can use the Trail Duty 1/2 longer bump stops. Some people hate the Trail Duty ones vs the OEM ones but on my Alpha with the ARB Bumper, Winch, and extra weight of the V8 after I leveled it to 23 1/4 it would nose dive like crazy and I could barely take a curve without feeling like the H3 was going to rollover. Now on my wife's pretty stock 07 the OEM's are fine. If you'd leveled I'd try the Trail Duty bumpstops.

I'm gonna order some tonight thanks man!


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[digglesworth]

I also have the lifetime alignment from firestone. I have one within walking distance to my house (which is good when my gf isn't around to take me to get my truck). I have another one about 15min away. I try to alternate between the 2. I've had my truck in both probably a total of 8 times. One was their fault. They didn't torque the Uca bolts all the way and one came loose causing my Uca to fall inward. The closer of the 2 shops seem like they were getting a little frustrated with me bringin it in every few months. But I'm constantly doing stuff to my truck. Adjust t-bars, get it aligned. Replaced tie rods/rack mount, get it aligned. New tires, get it aligned. I'm waiting for the day they say I've used it up...
I have the extended bumpstops and a newer set of oem ones. I switch back and forth between the two. Oem for wheeling and a little more travel. Extended ones for the street...

 

[poweraidon]

I also have the lifetime alignment from firestone. I have one within walking distance to my house (which is good when my gf isn't around to take me to get my truck). I have another one about 15min away. I try to alternate between the 2. I've had my truck in both probably a total of 8 times. One was their fault. They didn't torque the Uca bolts all the way and one came loose causing my Uca to fall inward. The closer of the 2 shops seem like they were getting a little frustrated with me bringin it in every few months. But I'm constantly doing stuff to my truck. Adjust t-bars, get it aligned. Replaced tie rods/rack mount, get it aligned. New tires, get it aligned. I'm waiting for the day they say I've used it up...
I have the extended bumpstops and a newer set of oem ones. I switch back and forth between the two. Oem for wheeling and a little more travel. Extended ones for the street...

Can they do 35in tires at Firestone? And I just ordered some tail duty 1/2 extended bump stops hopefully I like them


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[poweraidon]

So the lifetime alignment is only 150?!! Dang I payed more for last alignment with no warranty no nothing I feel ripped off


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[digglesworth]

They haven't had any issues with my 35s... I think I paid $189 for my lifetime alignment package and it's more than paid for itself since last year.

 

[Best4x4]

I think it's gone up to 175.00 but better bang for your buck vs a one time deal!

 

[derian06]

be carefully when you put those things in, I thought I had mine in perfectly before I put my wheel spacers on. I looked down there and sure enough one of my bumpstops is missing. Looks like I'm going to have to order another set from trailduty.

 

[amrg]

Are bump stops really that important

Yes they are, they prevent your tires from destroying your fenders at hard landings (worst case scenario). Offcourse If you want some more uptravel you can always trim them. I run an alpha with stock bump stops, on the I5 the extended ones were too rough (OEM are progressive, T.D. are just one rate), sure the ride on road was controlles, but I lost some comfort personally.

 

[poweraidon]

Oh yeah my last alignment they charged me a extra 50 bucks because he said the chamber and caster bolt was out of alignment... So they had to take off the wheel to get to it. Is this normal?


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[digglesworth]

Never heard of that BS....
I could see where they would consider that "extra work" but still.... $50. I think they saw Hummer and thought $$$.

 

[poweraidon]

Never heard of that BS....
I could see where they would consider that "extra work" but still.... $50. I think they saw Hummer and thought $$$.

Yeah I'm never going back there again expensive and awful service


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[chaos254]

Was it a dealer? The dealer I used to work at did that **** if the alignment was way out

 

[poweraidon]

Was it a dealer? The dealer I used to work at did that **** if the alignment was way out

No it's was at a pretty reputable (or at least I thought) shop call butler tires in my area... They do a lot of wheels and tires for high end cars and jeeps. All I know is I'm never going back again. Got an appointment set up for the firestone lifetime alignment. The guy on the phone sounded much nicer and said he'll give me a discount. [emoji16] firestone all the way


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