Tire Grabbing after 3" lift.

Does anyone know of a good shop in SF Bay Area that installs lift kits??? I'd like to talk to more places near me.

Thanks...

 

Hey bud, I'm having a Mod day on the 21st, if you can hold out until then I can give your lift a good look over and throw a torque wrench on everything. I can't do alignments (till I learn how to someday) but I've installed a couple suspension set ups and can usually spot a messed up install. I'm not a certified mechanic or an expert by any means, but I know how to turn a wrench the correct way(Lefty tighty, righty loosey, right?). I also don't charge anyone an arm and a leg. Lunch is usually my price, although I did make a guy keep me company once when I was installing on his truck.

 

A few people on here have good things to say about Toy Auto Clinic in Redwood City. @black_cukui

 

Well.... I'm a little humbled.....

Test drove my truck today with the manager from 4wheelparts and we determined the grabbing I have been experiencing was infact the Traction Control kicking in.... I allowed him to drive and he tried like hell to get it to trigger on hwy17 towards santa cruz ( a fairly curvy hwy) and was unable to get it to trigger. Then we went to a tight turning offramp known to trigger the TRAC system and we were able to get it to engage. When it happend i told him "thats it! Thats what Im feeling" And he immediately said "thats the TRAC shstem for sure, 100% positive". I asked about the dash lights and alarm not coming on or sounding and he said it will often engage without the lights and alarm (he has the same truck and type of lift).

Judging by his reaction and quick determination of it being the TRAC system.... I beleive'm....

After that, we drove back to the shop, I shook his hand, thanked him for his time, then split. Immediately drove to the new Bass Pro Shop in town and baught $100 worth of shit i dont need.

On the drive home i got to think'n.... How bout I try turning off the TRAC and try to get it to trigger/grab in a turn i've known to cause problems. (Dont know why I didn't think of this before) I drove through the turn with the TRAC on and got it to engage, then I drove through it a couple times with it off and was not able to get it to trigger/grab... Whala fixed......(sorta I guess)..

In the end I am glad its not some sort of mysterious mechanicle problem no-one can figure out... I guess if I want a lift on my truck I have to live with the overly sensitive TRAC system.. Like the rest of the newer Tacoma owners with lifts... I plan on driving with the TRAC on when on fairly straight roads and turning it off on curvy roads...

I may have the Toyota dealership in Roseville recalibrate the sensor.... See what they can do or say about it.

Thank you everyone for your imput as I figured this out.

 

Problem solved, I guess. Sucks after all that hate, anger, frustration, fire and brimstone all it took was a push of a button. All of our trucks drive better with the Trac disengaged IMO. You must've been hot rodding just a little bit to be experiencing those problems though, weren't you? I drive like a grandma and never experienced Trac kicking in until I was running late for work one day. Scared the daylights out of me! That said, if you achieved a full 3" of lift, I'm still thinking your alignment needs attention. Did you ever get it checked again with a printout?

 

Nope... No hot rodding needed, it takes the right turn, speed and road angle/bank. Thats what concerns me. As i told the 4WP Manager, as soon as you put your guard down... It happens...

I agree, with the notion that the alignment or sensor calibration may not be perfect. Thats why Im taking it to Toyota to have them realignment and calibrate.

I do know one thing for sure.... The TRAC is kicking in at times when it is absolutely not necessary, which makes it very dangerous. So dangerous I need to warn people about it before they drive it... Not good....

I asked 4WP for an alignment printout and they didnt have one on file, but again assured me it was within spec.... We shall see