Alignment, Caster, Clearance, and Driving Report with Light Racing UCAs

Last alignment they placed both sides at 2. They said that if they went to 2.5-3 that it would mess up the other numbers and that since everything was already in the green that they didn't have to do it. Some bull about company policy. I'm going to find an offroad shop that'll do the alignment out of factory spec. Also said they couldn't do anything about the wandering at speed, that was a result of the actual lift.

 

Make sure the off road shop has worked with adjustable UCAs. I don't see why they can't get you 2.5-3 range. The local tire shop got me to 2.8 I believe.

 

I got mine done at Sears and I gave them a post it with the numbers I wanted on it. They tried telling me it wasn't going to be within specs. I told them I know but do it anyway. Didn't seem like they enjoyed being told what to do but they did..... I'm paying for it so do what I ask!

 

A lot of places would not be happy but some will work with you. Mine did but he specifically stated on the receipt, "No warranty. Customer's requested number"

 

They say it's because those numbers are out of manufacturer specs. They can only put it within manufacturer specs.

 

For legality or insurance reasons or what ?

I got my alignment with my LR UCA's outside of Toyota specs done at my Toyota dealership

 

Probably just don't want the trouble/extra work/thinking

 

If you don't adjust the BJ , there is no additional work

 

Yeah, but they had to think about the fact that it could be adjusted. Its simply too much to take in

Do most people put their camber adjustment on the UCA all the way out?

 

I put the camber on the UCA about 3/4 out and we did need to use one of the camber slide adjustments on one side due to a seized LCA cam on my truck

 

So i had one helluva time getting mine aligned, but it was solely due to the lack of skill and knowledge of the Ted Wiens Firestone techs... So the longwinded-story goes:

I first called Firestone and ask them if they have a tech that is knowledgeable with lifted trucks and aftermarket suspension components. The guy is like "yea yea, thats not a problem at all!! We do those all the time!" So the next morning, I show up with the SPC spec sheet, and my CRYSTAL clear instructions on what I'm looking for as far as final numbers. I show and explain to the tech my UCA's, why I installed them to add more caster, and now it is camber adjustable. He seemed confused, so I went over it with him very slowly this time. I told him the LCA's are just to adjust the caster, which i want right at 3.0. From there you can do most if not all of the camber on the SPC UCA's, and proceeded to show him how and where that would happen. I give him the spec sheet, and tell him i want camber and toe as close to 0 as possible, and caster at 3.0... So, I stand by as they bring the truck in, he runs the numbers, and starts to work... Well the entire time, I'm looking at the computer screen as he is doing the adjustments... Now its time for the camber adjustment, but I do not see him on the UCA's, instead he's on the LCA's fighting the caster and the camber... FML!!! From that moment, I knew i had just wasted my time and money. So, he finishes, and says this is the best i could get it. I proceed to ask him about the UCA camber adjustment, and he has this "deer in headlight" look to him like he has no idea what I was talking about. I couldn't help but chuckle and leave, knowing i had just WASTED $80. The guy says, "oh yea and it might pull to the right slightly, its common on these trucks with lifts on them"... A few more words were exchanged and i left. So in the parking lot, I'm looking at the new spec sheet from the work just performed...

Left Caster @ 3.63
Right Caster @ 3.48

WTF!?!? this is the reason it pulled to the right super hard! had to literally fight the steering wheel.

Left Camber @ -0.28
Right Camber @ +0.84

tsk tsk! not even close!

Toe - both right and left @ 1/8" - at least they got that even...

I thought about going back in, and having them redo it, but was already running late to work and knew they weren't going to make it right if they didn't have a F&%kin clue what they are doing, so i left, with a horrible feel in my gut and in my steering wheel.

So I msg of few Toyota enthusiasts i follow on IG and asked them if they knew of an alignment shop that knew how to align lifted Toyotas with aftermarket UCA's... I got responses from one to go to A Arrow alignment here in Las Vegas.

So, I show up, explain the specs, the guys there were already familiar with SPC UCA's and lifted Toyota's... HUGE sense of relief came over!!!! So about an hour or so later, they finish, they test drive, and they return. I was worried as all hell (for the above reasons), but as soon as I asked the guy how it is, he says "night and day difference and probably better than from the factory!" woot! woot! He proceeded to explain the numbers:

Left Caster @ 3.05
Right Caster @ 3.52 - to make up for road crown

Left Camber @ -0.10
Right Camber @ -0.05 - adjusted from the UCA

Toe - right and left @ 1/16"

I drove it home and it drives straight as an ARROW!! (pun intended) The steering feels solid and heavy, its doesn't wander on the highway, and doesn't want to fly away when i hit a pothole or obstruction in the road!! and barely rubs (but it does due to my spacers) Super Happy now!

Here is the spec sheet so you guys can see the before and after. (Oh and I set my UCA to position D... I was wanting to change it to E, but decided not to at last minute... oh well)

 

Shoot. Glad you got it worked out.
There is one alignment shop I trust now. He does the work himself and actually knows what he's doing. Hopefully he will be able to do it with the LRs UCAs

 

According to the guy up front and the tech it is for company policy issues. He was able to get them both to 2.0, but not much else due to being "outside the green".

I'll try the Toyota dealership and see if they'll be more accommodating.

So to help with the wandering and right pull I should ask for closer to 3 or anywhere between 2.5-3?

 

Once Mounted are the LR UCA's difficult to adjust? I'm planning on adjusting them to the neutral position as suggested in this thread and didnt get a chance to put my hands on them before I asked my mechanic to put them on today...Was going to self install but figured what would take me a day he could do in an hour.

 

This^^

Is the SPC instruction sheet available online or does anyone have one here. May be buying a pair used.

I will check with SPC customer service soon.

 

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNENuYL66lh5QtOzBCZzpbDJOYNnMg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VumGrEOYSOc

 

That sheet is Rev 2/11 ^^

Here's the most recent updated install sheet

http://www.spcalignment.com/instructions/25470-INS_WEB.pdf

 

Thanks for all the info gents, I want to have plenty of ammunition when I approach the alignment techs...Not too many people around here with experience who work on modified trucks.

 

U can also try off-road/custom shops who will work outside factory specs for you , if the usual alignment shops won't ....GL

 

Dropped off truck and had bushings and ball joints pressed in. Also asked for a custom alignment so we'll see. On my way to pick it up right now.