wheel alignment

[dom]

Originally Posted by Ken

Just a thought, if you haven't already done it, swap the front wheels over - left to right - and see if the pull changes. Also if memory serves me correctly you will only get 'hands off' true tracking on a road that has no camber e.g. a runway.

Ken.

Yup.. Road crown gives a slight pull.

[REM]

Pearly,

The control arm bushings is the part that wears, not the arm itself. The arm, of course, could be bent.

It's tough to find a good alignment shop. I'd avoid the typical franchise shop tire shop who does alignments for $49.99. Look for a wheel alignment specialty shop.

[dBrong]

Originally Posted by pearly8

My 1994 Lincoln MK VIII was aligned about a year ago, but it still pulls to the right and has more wear on the outside edge of the right front tire.

Other MK VIII owners are suggesting that at 100,000 mi, it may need new upper control arms or other suspension parts. That seems a bit extreme to me.

How fast do such parts give out?

Let's see 2010 - 1994 = 16 years.

There are wear parts, rubber bushings, that deterioate over time. Nothing lasts forever. IMO if you keep a car more than 8 - 10 yrs - you are going to have to replace the entire cooling system (radiator, hoses, water pump, etc), shocks - struts, tie rod ends - maybe ball joints, starter, fuel pump.

All these repairs are much cheaper than 4 -5 yrs of car payments.

[pearly8]

Did most of those. Maybe front suspension (minus air shocks; did those) is next.

Interstingly enough, got new tires on front, and no longer pulls to right.