Tape measure between the front tires at 9 and 3 o'clock position or as close as you can get accurate measurements...adjust tre's to get close as possible.. you'll need help with that.

 

Well assuming nothing else is amiss besides the tie rods, to do a quick and dirty alignment, drive straight ahead with the wheel straight, then measure the distance apart on the front side of the wheels, and the back side. Adjust both equally as needed to get the measurements the same.

That will put you at zero toe. It may not drive perfect, but you won't be scrubbing your tires real bad.

Or you could measure your old toe rods if you still have them in one piece, and make the new ones the same length. This doesn't always work though since not all tie rods are dimensionally the same.

 

Yeah, I counted # of threads as I took each end off. I expected all new stuff to be off, but not this far off. However, the old stuff was pretty bad. 180k on original ends....

 

Counting threads only really works if it's the exact replacement.

Often times different manufacturers have different lengths that are actually threaded.

 

It may have been a lot closer if you put them next to each other on a bench and adjusted the new tie rod to match the length of old, and then double check with the tape measure on the tires as mentioned above.

 

I just did mine a few weeks ago. One side was straight on, and the other was probably 5-10 degrees off, pointing in. My tire was screaming squealing when driving straight at only 20mph. I drove it that way for almost 50 miles and got it up to 80 before I got an alignment.

How far off is it?

 

Alignment plates are a thing now (just for setting toe).
Don't buy cheap ones, they tend to arrive bent.

https://bleepinjeep.com/product/bleepinjeep-alignment-tool/

 

So if it's pulling hard to the right do I:
Take the left TRE clockwise;
Take the left TRE counter clockwise
Take the right TRE clockwise
Take the right TRE counter clockwise
Or:
Take both TRE clockwise
Take both TRE counter clockwise.

I understand there's all manner of measurements and science involved and all sorts of parts to buy online, I just want to get the front wheels "mostly" pointed to the front. Its 5 miles to the alignment place.

 

Doesnt really matter unless you are talking about a lot of turns. Measure first, then post back.

 

So if it's pulling hard to the right do I:
Take the left TRE clockwise;
Take the left TRE counter clockwise
Take the right TRE clockwise
Take the right TRE counter clockwise
Or:
Take both TRE clockwise
Take both TRE counter clockwise.

I understand there's all manner of measurements and science involved and all sorts of parts to buy online, I just want to get the front wheels "mostly" pointed to the front. Its 5 miles to the alignment place.

I've started with the driver's side tire as straight as possible, since it's the easiest to see from the steering wheel. Align as needed from there.

 

so you dont care if your centered at the pitman arm and shlt?

 

So I was fussing around this morning with strings and tape measures and blocks of wood....when I realized I have a precision 4' straight edge. Slapped that across both wheel wells and it turns out each one is pointed "out" by about 1.5 inches. A few (many) turns of inner TRE and hell, I don't think the alignment has ever been that good. Unfortunately the alignment place won't do it now, says it needs torsion cross member bushings (I agree on that) and both lower BJ's (doubt it), neither of which I'm equipped to replace. Stealership is the only place around that can do torsion bars. Dang it.

 

I just bought a press kit for $40 to do my CABs and ball joints.

Picked up some better than stock mevotech x-factor upper control arms (with cabs and bushings already installed) and some lower ball joints. I searched and found rockauto had the best price I could find. ($73 per control arm, and $47 per BJ :? )

That's about $260 in, and now I have a press kit I needed for the leaf springs. Even with the cheapest part they can find, good luck on a shop doing it for that.

Here is a code for 5% off at Rockauto good until Jan 31, 2021, that says to go ahead and share.

 

I just bought a press kit for $40 to do my CABs and ball joints.

Picked up some better than stock mevotech x-factor upper control arms (with cabs and bushings already installed) and some lower ball joints. I searched and found rockauto had the best price I could find. ($73 per control arm, and $47 per BJ :? )

That's about $260 in, and now I have a press kit I needed for the leaf springs. Even with the cheapest part they can find, good luck on a shop doing it for that.

Here is a code for 5% off at Rockauto good until Jan 31, 2021, that says to go ahead and share.

Where did you find a press kit for that price?

Oh, and what is that code for 5%? I'm about to place an order on there for the UCA, lower BJ, and inner and outer tie rods for my '04 Z71.

 

The harbor freight ball joint press kit is actually pretty decent.

I bought one several years back fully expecting it to be junk and last maybe until I was done with the one job, but it still works fine and I hammer on it with an impact all the time at work.

The cups are kind of a pain since they aren't retained like the higher end presses, but for the price it works great.

 

Tape measure between the front tires at 9 and 3 o'clock position or as close as you can get accurate measurements...adjust tre's to get close as possible.. you'll need help with that.

Did that with my 1990 RX7 and was dead-on-balls accurate. Would be a little tougher with a truck tire but as long as you have something under the tire like a piece of cardboard, it might be the next best thing to having it on a rack.

 

I just bought a press kit for $40 to do my CABs and ball joints.

Picked up some better than stock mevotech x-factor upper control arms (with cabs and bushings already installed) and some lower ball joints. I searched and found rockauto had the best price I could find. ($73 per control arm, and $47 per BJ :? )

That's about $260 in, and now I have a press kit I needed for the leaf springs. Even with the cheapest part they can find, good luck on a shop doing it for that.

Here is a code for 5% off at Rockauto good until Jan 31, 2021, that says to go ahead and share.

Where did you find a press kit for that price?

Oh, and what is that code for 5%? I'm about to place an order on there for the UCA, lower BJ, and inner and outer tie rods for my '04 Z71.

There are plenty of kits on ebay and amazon for that.

Yeah 5% off, it goes in the "How did you hear about us"
(didn't realize the code wasn't in there. I swear I added it, not sure if a mod removed it, but:
159419337145888177 ) Its good till Jan 31. If I see its edited out, I will PM it.