5100's set at 1.75", stock coils. allignmet #s

Just installed 5100's set at 1.75" with stock coils. Already have rear TSB springs so this leveled out the truck nicely and firmed up the front suspension some which I like alot. Just got an allignment this morning as the lift threw my camber off. I went in requesting toe = 0, camber = 0 and caster as close too 2.5 - 3.0 a spossible. Everything else is stock up front.

Results after allignment are now:
Front Left: Toe = 0.0 , Camber = +0.3, and Caster = 1.7
Front Right Toe = 0.0 , Camber = -0.1 and Caster = 2.2

Truck seems to wander slightly to the right, but not what I would consider bad by any means. Just wondering if you think these numbers are good. Also, not sure why they could not get the Front Left Camber and Caster equal to the right. Camber -0.1 and Caster 2.2.

Anyone have any ideas and or think these numbers are good. let me know.

Thanks,

 

Did you measure how much actual lift you got? Setting at 1.75" doesn't mean that's how much lift you got. With any lift on the stock UCAs you can have issues getting the caster you want. You could have try again but it may be limitations of the stock UCAs as well.

 

No, I should have taken measurments before I installed them, but I am currently sitting at 21 3/4" from the center of the hub to the front fender. I drive at least 500 miles a week ( mostly highway), so I will see how she drives this week (first commuting week after the lift) and see if I feel I should bother trying to get the allignment tweaked as is or buy some UCA's.

I installed the 5100's myself and most anything else for that matter. Don't like people messing with my vehicles when I can do the job myself. So I am always wondering if the guy I paid to do the allignment did it right. I would think you would want both left and right allignment numbers to be the same. When I saw they did not match, I guess I feel they could have got both sides equal with as much Caster possible. I'm no allignment specialist by any means, but I think I would get "both sides" to match and as close to the spec. and or the customer requested numbers as possible. If 2.5 to 3.0 Caster is not attainable with stock UCA's then whatever the max is I could get on both sides is what I would set them to even if the catser on on side could be tweaked a little more.

Not sure if that makes sense and maybe I am over thinking this?? Let me know what you think.

 

I replied to this yesterday, but for some reason my response did not show up.

I'll try one more time. I did not get the lift numbers before I put on the 5100's, but after I installed them (set at 1.75) I measured 21 3/4" from the center of the hub to the front fender.

My issue with the alignment was why they could not get Caster the same for both sides. I would think if you got Caster = 2.2 on the right side, you should be able to get that number on the left. If that is not the case, then why not "match the right side with the left. In my case Left Front Caster was 1.7. They said they maxed out Caster on both sides. I was fine with it until I gave it a test ride and it wanders to the right. Even more pronounced, as I found out today, at high way speeds.

Anyway, I drove it to work today (100miles) mostly highway and the ride is too harsh for my taste at 1.75. Came home, removed the 5100's and I am setting them to .85 and will report back, alignmnet results and "my opinion" of the ride with them set at .85 I'll include change in actual lift heights as well.

 

I see both your responses.

Not sure why they couldnt get them to match....may have been a lazy alignment tech or something related to your lift. The normal height in the front is right around 20" so you got about the advertised lift amount. If you want lift without affecting ride quality, you're probably going to need to get new springs as well.

 

Did you set the coils on the shocks yourself?, that could be the issue. One might be slighly off that the other one; hence the different required numbers to get it to allign. For instance, just today, I added the spacers for a 3" lift with stock shock and coils. After the lift, I ended up with 1" higher on the right side. Then I realized that I also changed the left leaf spring that came out from a tacoma 4x4, but regular cab, which after replacing, ended up 1" lower on the left side. So I put 2 and 2 together and evything makes sense now. Because the truck dropped 1" on the rear left, is that I got 1" more on the front right. Get it?

 

Roger that about the new springs. I will see how 5100's at .85 feel with stock coils. If still not happy, then I will go with new springs to get the lift back and softer ride with (5100's set at zero).

As for breaking down and assembling the new 5100's. My neighbor is a mechanic and I used his wall mounted spring compressor. Both right and left side (coils and shocks) were put together the same way. Not sure how you could screw that up. I think I understand what you are saying, but I only did the fronts. Both left and right front ride height numbers are the same.

 

Set the 5100's to .85 and reinstalled, ride is alot better than stock springs set at 1.75 which was too harsh. Of course lost some lift... Right and left front are now measuring 21" from center of hub to fender.

My allignment numbers are still off with respect to left front and right front? New specs are.
Left Front: Caster =1.7 , Camber = 0.0 , Toes = 0.05
Right Front: Caster =1.4 , Camber = 0.6 , Toes = 0.05

I would think after dropping the 5100's from 1.75 to .85 they could get my numbers to match. Not sure if I should waste anymore time worrying about this.

I will say "from my experience" with 5100's and stock coils. At 1.75 the ride was to harsh and then set at .85 the ride is still firm, but much better. Obviously, I lost some lift but I am OK with that for now.

All said and done....If you want a "nicer ride" and get some lift. New coils would be the only way I would reccomend. I will be doing this at a later time (probably OME 884's and set my 5100's to 0). But for now I will leave it as is.