How do you align the front wheels on a Craftsman GT3000?

valhalla3 · Jun 22, 2020

Everything I have seen online about this is saying you have to straighten the bent tie rod. But my tie rod is not bent. Could it be the axle parts that got bent in some way? They don't really look bent but something is causing each wheel to point differently.

Will it hurt the wheels or the bearings in them if they continue to not be aligned? I can see that one of the front wheels sometimes seems to be pushed so it is trying to slide straight on the grass a little, rather than the way the wheel is turned.

LLigetfa · Jun 23, 2020

If the bushings on the tie rod ends wear out, it will affect the alignment. Consider replacing them.

Fcubman · Jun 23, 2020

How are the wheel bearings/bushings?

summers5 · Jun 23, 2020

Tires are supposed to be set 1/8 to 1/4 toe-in by the manufacturer and have adjustable tierod ends. It sounds like in your case the wheel bushings are worn and the tire has enough wiggle to do this. It will wear the tires out prematurely if not corrected. It could have something bent but what your describing is most common with these.
There are bearing kits you can buy and do away with bushings, most are sealed bearings because the grease zerk will be blocked unless you modify the rims. Hope this helps some.

valhalla3 · Jun 24, 2020

Thanks everyone for replying. I did get bearings to replace the bushings. I put them in the wheel that was about to fall off from worn bushings and have not put them in the other side yet. BUT..... the alignment problem existed before any of this and did not change at all when I put the bearings in the one side. The side with the bushings has a little wiggle room but not much. It definitely does not have anywhere near enough room to bring the wheel to where it needs to be. I think the wheel might need to come back about an inch.

I noticed that each end of the tie rod has what would appear to be a ball joint covered with a rubber seal or something. This allows each end to move quite a bit so I don't see how the wheels could ever be aligned because they can move with these ball joints. Or am I not seeing this correctly?

summers5 · Jun 25, 2020

Sounds like there not adjustable from what your describing i dont have any first hand experience with them but sounds like there disposable like newer cars these days.
Has anyone else replaced these and give him best options to fix it?

How do you align the front wheels on a Craftsman GT3000?

valhalla3

LLigetfa

Fcubman

summers5

valhalla3

summers5

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