I'm trying to decide where to take our '03 to get it aligned. I checked the local Pep Boys and they don't have the SSR in their computer for the alignment specs. I told them it was built on a Trailblazer frame, so I assumed it would have the same front suspension. Is this correct? Has anyone had negative or positive experiences with certain shops/chains?
My SSR: '06 PB #21661 Born 8/29/05, GHL "Old School" True Duals, ADDCO bars, Eibach rear, Joe's Tune
My 2 cents
The SSR alignment has been a bit troublesome for a few shops. You're right that the front suspension is trailblazer, but with a modified spindle height. They have some very tight cross camber specs to get the truck to handle, without scrubbing tires. A slightly "off" adjustment has resulted in tire wear on the inboard ribs of the tread. My vote is for dealer alignment.
Mike
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My SSR: ricochet silver 2004 all options available for o4 on it, was dealers demo mod born on 3-26-04
i just put new fronts on and the guy at the dealer put the camber dead 0 and now the tires stand nice and straight,for 21,000 miles i put up with nasty handling on uneven roads and inside tire wear,but now the handling hasn't changed to much and more comfortable to drive,just my 2 cents
ps my toe was perfect
HI LUCKY, I'VE DRIVEN LOTS OF SSRS . MOST SSRS NEED ONLY TO HAVE THIER TOE END SET. YOU CAN SET IT YOUR SELF JUST TAKE A TAPE MEASUREMENT OF THE FRONT TIRE FROM A CHALK MARK SAY 72 1/2 INCHS TO THE BACK OF THE FRONT TIRE SAY 72 3/4 . YOU NEEN A 1/4 INCH OF TOE END FOR A VEHICLE TO DRIVE CORRECTLY AT HIGH WAY SPEEDS WITH THE WIDE TIRES. THEY WILL SEPERATE AT ROAD SPEEDS CAUSING TIRE WEAR AN SLUGISH FEELING WHEEL CONTROL. THIS ADJUSTMENT ONLY TAKES 10 MUNUTES FOR CORRECT ALIGNMENT. I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TRY THIS AS YOU HAVE NOTHIN TO LOOSE EXCEPT A LITTLE TIME ABOUT 10 MINUTES. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO AHEAD AN SPEND THAT $ 100.00 OR GET A 13MM WRENCH ,A PAIR CHANEL LOCKS, AN A TAPE MEASURE AN MAKE A $ 100.00 IN 10 MINUTES. I THINK YOU WILL GET A BIG SMILE WHEN IT DRIVES SWELL. JUST AN OLE TIMERS RULE OF THUMB THAT HAS BROUGHT MANY SMILES TO MY FRIENDS. THEY WOULD ALL SAY I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD DO THAT. GOOD LUCK . # 6363 6/1/07
1/4 toe in is too much on the SSR, specification calls for 0.10 +/- 0.20 degrees. I would not reccommend setting this with chalk and a tape measure. As a quick check, ok. If you have your own alignment tools and know how to use them, fine.
Since the toe, caster and camber are all affected by each other on the front you would need to verify caster and camber after changing the toe setting. Ideally, the caster and camber should be checked/adjusted first, then the toe set, the re-verify all three settings.
Had mine done at the local Firestone store after I lowered it. I have, as do others, the alignment specs and can send them to you this afternoon if you need them. They are in the shop manual.
Yep it can be a handful - after 4 shops I went to the dealer and they very patiently got it just right. Good luck! Its a bit frustrating when its bad but when its right its great
HI ROCKET MAN , I FIGURED YOU HAD AN ACE, WITH ALL THE PROPER -.10 + .20 . IT"S ABOUT TIME SOME ONE THREW THAT OLE "RULE OF THUMB" OUT THE DOOR , BUT DON'T LOOSE THE RULER . IT WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU. WHEN YOU GO FISHING , IT'S GOOD THE TO BE FRUITFUL . THANKS SO MUCH FANATICS . # 6363 6/1/07
Your rule of thumb is fine for a very temporary fix but not a substitute.
In my business I can't afford to not follow the specifications and manuals. It gets astronauts, pilot, passengers killed - and that is totally unacceptable to me. SO that carries over into everything else I do.
HI LUCKY, I'VE DRIVEN LOTS OF SSRS . MOST SSRS NEED ONLY TO HAVE THIER TOE END SET. YOU CAN SET IT YOUR SELF JUST TAKE A TAPE MEASUREMENT OF THE FRONT TIRE FROM A CHALK MARK SAY 72 1/2 INCHS TO THE BACK OF THE FRONT TIRE SAY 72 3/4 . YOU NEEN A 1/4 INCH OF TOE END FOR A VEHICLE TO DRIVE CORRECTLY AT HIGH WAY SPEEDS WITH THE WIDE TIRES. THEY WILL SEPERATE AT ROAD SPEEDS CAUSING TIRE WEAR AN SLUGISH FEELING WHEEL CONTROL. THIS ADJUSTMENT ONLY TAKES 10 MUNUTES FOR CORRECT ALIGNMENT. I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TRY THIS AS YOU HAVE NOTHIN TO LOOSE EXCEPT A LITTLE TIME ABOUT 10 MINUTES. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO AHEAD AN SPEND THAT $ 100.00 OR GET A 13MM WRENCH ,A PAIR CHANEL LOCKS, AN A TAPE MEASURE AN MAKE A $ 100.00 IN 10 MINUTES. I THINK YOU WILL GET A BIG SMILE WHEN IT DRIVES SWELL. JUST AN OLE TIMERS RULE OF THUMB THAT HAS BROUGHT MANY SMILES TO MY FRIENDS. THEY WOULD ALL SAY I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD DO THAT. GOOD LUCK . # 6363 6/1/07
You mean I've spent 30 years plus 100s of hours of training plus over $50.000 in hand tools when all I needed was some chalk and a tape measure. We love people like you who think they can fix there on vehicle now days. I can't tell you how many people we get that have had there car at "Joe's and Ray's garage and then end up bringing it to a dealer and then to tell us it the repair cost less here and it was done right. I grant you not all dealers have great techs and I have worked with some real hacks but they don't last long at dealers and usually end up at independent shops. GM is getting tough on training over the past few years and I think you will see a vast improvement in the way dealers deal with customers in the future
__________________
30 years GM tech
20 years GM master tech
04 Yellow
I have the alignment specs and can send them to you this afternoon if you need them.
Thanks, hdflstf, I'd appreciate it if you would send me those specs. Will these be numbers that any alignment shop can use, or do I still need to take it to the dealer? I think what sent it out of alignment (and I hope that's all) is that I backed into the SSR with my 1-ton Chevy truck. The front tires were turned to the left and that's what caught my tailpipe and essentially kept me from scraping all down the side of the SSR. My RanchHand bumper just barely scraped the driver's front fender and rippled it a little, and it bent the tailpipe on my truck until it hit the back tire. It actually moved the SSR a little, so I know there was some definite pressure exerted on the front tire. I was changing the oil two weeks ago and noticed for the first time that the inside of the driver's front tire was worn down all the way through the tread. Fortunately the wires aren't showing yet, but they will be soon. I was bummed because the other 3 tires are in good shape and I didn't want to have to buy all new tires yet (especially because I'm planning to get the Firestone Firehawks next time). But silverssr05 came to my rescue and is sending me his used fronts to tide me over till I need to get all four.
If you are more concerned with tire wear than performance and you don't drive it hard around the corners, you can have them set the camber close 0.00 (still within factory specs).
My SSR: 04 Eibach, Hotchkist, both Stabilizers, Flowmaster, Superchip, 2005 GTO spoiler, #3 Lonnie's Rockets
Alignment
I USE SEARS. THE SSR IS IN THEIR COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD GOOD RESULTS EVERY TIME. HERE IN TEXAS AT SEARS IT COSTS 69.99 FOR ALIGNMENT. TO ME THAT IS MONEY WELL SPENT.
I love it when someone posts a humorous message! The wrench,chaulk and tape measure one on wheel alignment for the SSR still has me laughing. I can almost hear the banjo playing in the background ! With what i have invested in my Black Beauty there is no way anyone other than a licensed,certified tech is going to touch my truck. Considering the price of replacement tires and, of course, driving safety itself, why would anyone do anything less? When im driving 100+ the last thing I want on my mind is a nagging question-is that front end alignment going to hold together ?
Actually, the front suspension is different than a Trailblazer. The suspension is lowered and to maintain the caster, we had to have a new lower control arm. Caster and toe are the two most important factors in on-center handling feel from the suspension. The other factor is the tuning of the steering valve. The '05s have a different steering valve with slightly less parking effort. This valve and different frame braces gives less feedback in the steering on bumps and washboard surfaces.
Actually, the front suspension is different than a Trailblazer. Different frame braces give less feedback in the steering on bumps and washboard surfaces.
Ed,
Thanks for the insight. Your knowledge on these things is priceless. By less feedback, do you mean less cowl shake By the way, I was looking through some pictures yesterday and found some of a yellow SSR and I thought, "Man have we really had ours that long?" Then I looked closer and saw it was yours. It was the first one my wife ever saw--at a rest stop in Utah--and immediately fell in love with. So thanks a lot for the $600 a month car payment
Bt the way, my wife and I actually remember that rest stop in Utah. We had people talk to us at every rest stop that entire trip. You'll be over that payment situation in a few more months.
Oh, how I wish that were true, but we've only had our '03 for just over a year now. So that means I've got a few more years to pay on it. One way to dull the pain of a big car payment is to go out to the garage, get in the SSR, turn the key and DRIVE! That's how we wound up with 18,000 miles on it in one year! I'll find those pictures again of your rest stop in Utah and post them on this thread (or start a new one) for all to see.
No, I am not kidding...
Lol
I can almost hear the banjo playing in the background ! With what i have invested in my Black Beauty 
By the way, I was looking through some pictures yesterday and found some of a yellow SSR and I thought, "Man have we really had ours that long?" Then I looked closer and saw it was yours. It was the first one my wife ever saw--at a rest stop in Utah--and immediately fell in love with. So thanks a lot for the $600 a month car payment
