LR UCA's installed, plus alignment #5= FAIL.

So I installed my Light Racing UCA's last Sunday, and made an appointment to have it aligned today. The shop where I went is highly recommended, and the owner seemed very friendly, and accomidating. Told me whatever I want for specs they will do...great! So they have my truck damn near all day, and when I get it back and drive home I feel it pulling to the right a bit, and the steering wheel is a bit offset that way as well. I check the print out and the caster on the drivers side is 2.7, and the passengers side is 2.4, so I figure it's this as the toe is 0.1 on both sides...good assumption? Also, when I installed the UCA's I placed the assembly with the SPC plate facing out, and pulled both the units all the way out. I notice now that the one on the drivers side has been pushed in about 1cm, and I'm thinking it was to get my camber to 0 on that side, as it was at 1.2 pre alignment. I took the truck back a little later, and the owner took it on a test ride, and swore up and down it drove perfect in his eyes, and to just give it a day or so...this was even before I found out about the plate/ ball joint being pushed inward. I gotta say, I am getting quite f-ing pissed about all these alignments. We don't have a Firestone deal here like in the US, so every alignment has run me $100-150. Should I just demand this guy do it again or what? When I came back the first time he seemed annoyed that I was questioning the work...

 

Alignment # 5 ?

Fabian , have you spent over $500 on alignments without them getting it right yet ?

 

Yes sir, in that neighborhood. First alignment at a specialty shop pre UCA's was $250. Second one was at Toyota, and I had to go back 3 times to get it half way decent...that was $110. The alignment today was $150. Seriously I'm getting so fed up it's unreal. I wish I had the tools/ knowhow to do this properly myself, like installing my lift/ UCA's...I hate relying on other people. I think I'm going to write the owner an e-mail explaining how dissatisfied I'm feeling, even after he promised beforehand it would be perfect...yeah right.

 

That sucks .

I think you should write the email , the shop should have no problem getting your alignment correct .

 

E-mail has been sent. The thing that is really annoying is I told them to do all their adjustments at the lower control arm adjusters, and not touch the ones on the UCA's. As it stands now with the one on the drivers side moved in, there is almost no room between my tire, and the UCA...I can barely squeeze my pinky between them, where as the other side I can fit my hand down there. I think that when I get some Duratracs they would hit the UCA for sure this way due to the tread on the sidewalls. How come nobody knows how to do shit right anymore? I just want to get the alignment BS behind me so I can get my new wheels on and forget about it...is that too much to ask these days?

 

I'd rather not say...they are a good dealership, and we got my wife's RAV4 there. The Service Manager is a good guy, and when I said I wasn't satisfied he went out of his way to try to make it right. I just think anything not stock is a bit over their heads.

 

Nothing makes me angrier than someone messing up my truck... especially if I paid them to do it!

No advice for you that hasn't been said, but good luck.

 

Well, Charlesglen is the dealership as they are like 6 blocks away from my house. I'm not trying to bad mouth them at all...just got the feeling when I went there to get my alignments that they were a bit uncomfortable working on lifted trucks.

 

Hey go to Chinook kal tire. I got my LR's adjusted by them and they know how to do an alignment on a lifted truck.

 

Or go to Heninger. They work on lifted trucks all the time.

 

Well, homie is gonna give it another try. Said to bring it by and he will do it exactly how I want this time...not by his tech this time. What is the best way to have these...like 2.4 caster on both sides or have the caster a bit higher on the passenger side due to road crown?

 

Sub'd. Is there any site that has the installation instructions so i can download??? Could not find these instructions at toytec, or google. Any ideas where?

 

Install link on this page

http://www.spcperformance.com/compo...Tacoma&year=2005+-+2011&from=USAFrom&to=USATo

 

What are your alignment specs?? I have the same uca's and no problems.

 

Sounds like Canadian alignment shops need to bone up on their skills, i dunno,

Watcha think OZ ??

 

I have no clue why they can't set it to his desired specs

 

OP, are your LCA's alright ?? Not bent or jacked up anywhere ??

 

They are like new other then some very light surface rust here and there. I just think that nobody takes pride in the work they do anymore, and are lazy. They will get it just barely into spec, collect the money and call it a day. Like if I give you $160 for an alignment, the shit better be perfect, even if it takes you an hour or more.

 

so far everyone that has worked on your Taco is tarded.....

hate to break it to you

 

Tell me about it. There was a segment on the news a few years ago...W5 I think, and it said Calgary had the shadiest mechanics in Canada. Kinda sucks. Wish I could just do it myself like I do with most things.