Once your new Bullet Proof Steering System is installed you need to properly and accurately adjust your Tie Rod and Drag Link as well as a Trac Bar if you have one to align your front end to insure maximum tire life and handling.
ALIGNING THE FRONT END AND ADJUSTING THE BULLET PROOF™ STEERING
After you have installed your Bullet Proof Steering System™ you need to align your front end perfectly in order to maximize tire wear and handling characteristics. A slight amount of critical toe in is required to "force" the vehicle to "track" correctly down the road to reduce wander, pulling, etc. Too much and tires will wear abnormally and steer undesirably. Taking your vehicle to a competent front end shop for a professional alignment is highly recommended, however with the right tools and some care you can easily perform this task yourself at home by following the below guidelines.
First perform the tie rod adjustments as outlined in the enclosed detailed instructions you received with your system. After you have achieved the proper toe in as illustrated below and your kit included a drag link, make your drag link adjustments as outlined in the instructions supplied with your system. NOTE: If you also purchased a Bullet Proof Track Bar Kit, make those adjustments to align your vehicle side to side before beginning any of the tie rod or drag link adjustments.
Desirable toe-in setting would be between 1/16" and 1/8" measured from rim to rim in relationship to the center of the pivot point of the knuckle. That results in a difference double to that when measured from the front of the rim to the back of the rim.
ALIGNING FRONT END WITH JUST RIMS, OR RIMS AND TIRES INSTALLED With the front end up on jack stands, make a mark on the inside of the passenger and driver rims. Measure across from rim lip to rim lip at the rear of the axle. Then rotate the marks on the rims to the front and measure again at the front of the axle. Rotating the rim and measuring at that same mark will completely eliminate any variances in rim run out, even on the most bent of rims. Adjust accordingly until the difference is 1/8" in at the front and 1/8" out at the rear. This replicates the equivalent of a 1/16" toe in.
ALIGNING FRONT END WITH OUT RIMS OR TIRES ON (OR JUST BARE KNUCKLES) Affix a metal straight edge (horizontal and parallel to the ground) to the mounting face of each side of the hubs where the rim is bolted to, since that should be a flat surface and best replicates the absence of measuring the rim lip itself. A pair of inexpensive metal yard sticks work well. If the brake discs, hubs or drums are not on, affix the straight edges (with tape or clamps) to the flat mounting surface where the spindles bolt up to. Measure across from straight edge to straight edge about 8" out from the center of the axle line. Measure both front and back and adjust accordingly until the difference is 1/8" in at the from and 1/8" out at the rear. This replicates the equivalent of a 1/16" toe in.
ALTERNATE METHOD FOR ALIGNING FRONT END: Tape Measure & Tire Procedure- If you are not able to perform the above visual procedures, with the front end up on jack stands, make a mark on a lug of the center of the rearward side of the tread on the passenger and driver tires. Measure across from lug to lug at those marks at the rear of the front axle. Then rotate the marks on the tires to the front and measure again at the front of the axle. Rotating the tire and measuring at that same mark will completely eliminate any variances in rim and tire run out, even on the most bent of rims or wobbliest of tires. Adjust accordingly until the proper toe in number is achieved as indicated in the conversion chart located at the bottom of this page. (note: if you are working on an I.F.S. front end, then you need to roll the truck straight forward about 20 feet, then begin this procedure on the ground, not jacked up. After measuring the rear center to center measurement, roll the truck on the ground straight forward and measure the same marks in front of the axle)
DETERMINING PROPER TOE IN USING THE TIRE TREAD MEASURING METHOD While this is not the most accurate or reliable method of setting toe in and making final front end alignment adjustments, it is effective for temporary situations or where emergency situations may demand it. Perform the above procedure, but when setting the toe in, remember that 1/16" ACTUAL toe in at the edge of a 15" rim (where most measurements are compared) will appear to be double out at the edge of a 30" tire. The larger the tire, the greater the difference. Below is a chart to assist you in getting as close as possible. To achieve the final toe in at the top on the below chart, set the front tire toe in and back toe out difference to the measurement in white on the below chart.
