Rear axle alignment?

[cdacda13]

Yesterday I was told by the guy following behind me that me driver side rear tire was out of alignment. He said it looked like it was angled inwards. I said that was impossible because a RWD solid axle shouldn't need alignment. When the truck is sitting, everything looks fine. I haven't check the wear pattern yet, but the tires are pretty new so I don't know if anything will show up.
So, the questions are:
Does a solid axle need alignment? (In this case, chamber adjustment)
If it doesn't, what would cause the tire to be slant? (Assuming the rim is seated properly and lug nuts torqued to spec)
If it does, how much would it cost to do an alignment?
I really don't want to waste money taking it to a shop. And my worst fear is that the axle is bent.

[WildBillyT]

I take it you mean camber? Could it be a bent rim? I would try swapping rims before I started checking axle flanges.

[BonzoHansen]

Axle tubes/housings can get bent/damaged and possibly cause camber issues. You cannot adjust housings. You also can't go by the calibrated eye of the guy following behind you. I guess you could look for greater heat buildup on the inner part of the tread than the outer if you have an infrared thermometer to measure it. Or get it on an alignment machine. A simple check (no adjustments) is usually around $30-40 labor. Thrust angle alignments are probably around $40-60. There are no rear adjustments in f-bodies so don’t ante up for a “4-wheel alignment”. The alignment machine readings will tell the truth.

Anything that rotates (an axle, flange or wheel problem) would cause a vibration so it isn’t that. If the housing moved/out of proper position it could cause toe issues, but one tire would be toed in and the other out, causing the car to dog track. But that is not what you are talking about given that would be really hard to see.

How is tire wear? If the car drives fine and wear is good, let it go. Rotate the tires regularly and watch for tire wear.

[cdacda13]

Yea, I meant camber, I type faster than I can think sometimes.

Tire wear is normal, no unusual wear patterns. There is no vibration that I can feel at any speed. I don't feel any instability in the truck. The way the guy was describing it, it was that the tire looked to be slanted inwards. (Negative camber)
I don't think it is a bent rim because he said the angle never changed.

[BonzoHansen]

A bent rim would vibrate. Poke your friend in his calibrated eye. If the car drives fine and wear is good, let it go. Rotate the tires regularly and watch for tire wear.

[WildBillyT]

Yeah, I was just throwing pretty much anything out there. Ignore the bent rim issue.

[sweetbmxrider]

check the tire pressure maybe? maybe the road was slanted? give the suspension a glance? take a pic and let us say the guy needs a neck brace?

[cdacda13]

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

check the tire pressure maybe? maybe the road was slanted? give the suspension a glance? take a pic and let us say the guy needs a neck brace?

Tire pressure was 5 psi low on all 4 tires. But considering its about 20 degrees outside, nothing unusual.
He said it was the same way all the way down Rt 23., 46, and 3.

[BonzoHansen]

Air pressure

[sweetbmxrider]

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

Yeah, I was just throwing pretty much anything out there. Ignore the air pressure issue.

[L8APEX]

I would suggest getting out the tape measure and checking for your self. If it is indeed a bent wheel or axle, the wheel would wobble a bit, not site canted in as you drive.

Just look at matching points on both sides of the car, like the base of the wheel opening or something similar. Compare measurements from side to side. Also measure the distance across the top of the tire to the wheel well.

Measure it out and you will find the answer.

[69BirdX]

Hey if your car isnt crab walking or the tires arent wearing horrbile it cant be to bad. But it wouldnt be a bad idea checking the rims and measuring yourself.

[vjf915]

Yea its normally not a good idea to go just by looking at it, sometimes you can notice a slight difference..... but things dont always look the way they seem.

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Poke your friend in his calibrated eye.

Where in Hamilton are you located? I'm between rt33 and Steinert.