Don't forget about the other little things..such as wheel bearing, brake dragging, etc.

Now with that being said, the crown of the road is significant, even though it doesn't look like it. There could be a number of variables for this, most of which I don't believe relate directly to the car.

Who are you Guys using to do your Alignments??
Most post alignment issues are usually the machine being out of SPEC. We sublet our alignments, had been using the same place for almost 3 yr and over time became un-happy after picking them up. Last vehicle was a S-10 pick-up that we replaced everything on the front end. It drove better to the shop than it did when we picked it up. Took it too another independant alignment shop. Found that everything was adjusted backwards. Called the other shop and told them what we found. Got a call 2wks latter saying thanks for the info, we had the company come and Recalabrate the machine and it was WAY!!!!!!!!!! OFF. I asked them when was the last time the machine was calibrated and they didnt know.

This new shop I bring the car too has the machine calibrated 4 times a yr min, or any time a head falls off and goes BANG. I pick the cars up and the wheels are staight each and every time.

John

John,

You bring up a VERY good point. Modern shops are relying on the MACHINE being set up correctly.

I NEVER allow a machine to be used for an alignment. If you are too stupid to use a trammel gauge, or caster/camber gauge on the vehicle, you are too stupid (or more likely uneducated) to touch my vehicle.

I typically use a long string, an inclimometer, and plates with grease between them to set the alignment in my driveway. It is rare for the vehicle to need adjustment when taken in for an "alignment check" that some shops offer for free.

From my experiance I agree with JohnG. Some secondary roads are worse than others. I would take it to a tire shop that does alignments every day & usually the same people work the machine. Sometimes dealerships have a training program & you might have gotten a trainee. The dealership I use has a man that has been doing alignments for over 20 years & really knows his stuff. I had a problem with tire balancing, took it to a road force system shop & he found out the Ford balance was in need of calibration. Stuff happens sometines.

My car has always seemed inclined to pull to the left, no matter how many parts have been replaced or alignments done. Its not a bad pull but enough to be noticable, especially in the left lane. In the right lane, the slight left pull actually causes it to run perfectly straight, as the road crown compensates for the left pull. Its still annoying, though. I'd rather have right than left pull. Once I do the ball joints next week, I'll see if I can't get it aligned properly finally.

I wonder if the Watts linkage can cause that?

Maybe Ford considers it a safety feature so you don't drift into oncoming traffic

I once had a mechanic tell me that is true with many cars. Its either engineered into the design or its in the alignment specs. Not sure if its true.

No watts suspension on my 95....

My BFG's are unidirectional tires.I swapped them from front to back and still the same problem.
I'll call the dealer in the morning.It's warranty is 6 months/6000 miles.I'm sure I'll be using that until it expires.
I really don't know anyone in my town that is reputable in alignments.

Probably mostly due to your tires having 40,000.Doubt it would help then to put them to rear or front so-forget about it. My car drives different every day.Different at night. Doesn't matter. It tends to be tight until i drive it a little to get the kinks out.Do a u-turn.then drive down that lane again.These cars have that constant i in. correction as you drive to keep it straight.I never have that kind of steering in any other car-only this 98- up model. My 84 was different.It was 1 finger steering but everything was wasted on it so-had to turn the wheel quarter turn to make it do anything anyway-250,000 mi on that old baby. Junk in Space now. That being said-These 98-ups are good cars.I'm not complaining about it.And nothing needs changing in design.I like the car.

When my 98 was brand new, it took the dealer 3 times to get the alignment right. NTB took 7 times and rotating brand new tires to get my 97 right. Both pulled to the right.

it is true. if you fall asleep, you will not go into oncoming traffic.

I too believe this is a inherited design issue.My GM pulled right before any work was done.I needed new tires so i had 4 new T/A's, installed with an alignment. Had the same pull, so then rotated....no diference. Eventually needed ball joints and some tie rods with another alignment with the same pull. Calipers checked out fine so that wasn't the problem.I now have accepted the pull and just live with it.

There aren't any flat roads so the car is going to pull one way or the other. The Vic can be setup to track straighter when in the right lane, just like any car.

Camber on the left (drivers) needs to be more positive than the right side and caster on the right needs to be more positive than the left side. The difference in camber or caster does not need to be more than 1/4 degree.

The steeering wheel position is changed by correctly adjusting the tie rods. Most alignment shops make toe adjustments by changing one side only and the steering wheel will not be level. Just like John said if the steering gear is straight ahead with the stering wheel, then you should never pull the steering wheel to make it level. Change the tie rods equal distances.

best post in this entire thread
thx