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How to do an Alignment at Home

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by jberry813, Dec 7, 2012.

Page 7 of 20
  1. Oct 2, 2015 at 4:08 PM
    #121
    LiphtedOne

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    LiphtedOne Member

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    Thanks for this, Jason.
     
    LiphtedOne, Oct 2, 2015
    #121
  2. Oct 2, 2015 at 9:50 PM
    #122
    alphabravo

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    alphabravo Well-Known Member

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    There's an adjustment on the UCA?
     
    alphabravo, Oct 2, 2015
    #122
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  3. Oct 19, 2015 at 7:15 PM
    #123
    alphabravo

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    alphabravo Well-Known Member

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    Any ideas on how to check the rear alignment? I'm just installing springs/shackles/bushings and u-bolts. I know there are no dedicated adjustments but perhaps the axle can be squared up before everything is tightened down. I'm just trying to think of some point/line on the frame that I could measure to some point on each end of the axle.
     
    alphabravo, Oct 19, 2015
    #123
  4. Oct 20, 2015 at 7:02 AM
    #124
    Krazie Sj

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    Krazie Sj Resident Jackass

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    The only way you can monkey with the rear axle is by placing the axle in different pegs. And that's very very hard to do wrong. Don't worry about squaring the rear axle.
     
    Krazie Sj, Oct 20, 2015
    #124
  5. Oct 20, 2015 at 9:13 AM
    #125
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    ...too much shit to list.
    That's not entirely true. Yes, the leaf spring centering pins center the axle front/rear and left/right. However, if you tighten up the ubolts with the leaf springs loaded (truck weight resting on jackstands off the axle instead of springs/axle floating and truck weight resting on jackstands off the frame), you can actually offset the axle left/right if one spring is loaded more than the other and then torque down the u-bolts. This is particularly easy with tacomas because of the ever famous taco lean. This results in the whole truck dogleg. U-bolts should always be tightened with the springs unloaded.

    You can check for an offset axle by building a string box.
     
    jberry813, Oct 20, 2015
    #125
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  6. Oct 20, 2015 at 10:12 AM
    #126
    Krazie Sj

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    Learn something new every day!
     
    Krazie Sj, Oct 20, 2015
    #126
  7. Nov 7, 2015 at 5:59 PM
    #127
    dakotasyota

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    dakotasyota Just a Fringe of the Ging in your Minge

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    GAhh pictars no worky :(
     
    dakotasyota, Nov 7, 2015
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  8. Nov 7, 2015 at 11:28 PM
    #128
    alphabravo

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    alphabravo Well-Known Member

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    Last time I had the leaves off I didn't pay any attention to level or square or what wheel had load etc, and my springs were corkscrewed a bit when I went to put the shackle bolts in.

    So today after I finished adding a leaf I made sure that the rear of the truck frame was level and on jack stands. Then I put the axle on jack stands and leveled it as well. Then I snugged the main spring bolt, shackles, and U bolts. Then I tightened the U bolts gradually/sequentially until everything was tight. Then tightened everything else.

    Short story, everything went together straight and square. Lesson learned.

    I will try the string box later when I get the front finished. I am really curious how the rear is aligned now.
     
    alphabravo, Nov 7, 2015
    #128
  9. Nov 11, 2015 at 5:04 AM
    #129
    esse10

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    esse10 Well-Known Member

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    Has anybody actually done this at home and actually work? I mean do you do adjustments just enough to get the vehicle to the alignment shop? How do you do adjustments on the LCA Cams when the weight of the vehicle is on the tires and if you lift the vehicle the wheel/tire move or come down a little?? anybody know the steps to adjust the LCA cams?
     
    esse10, Nov 11, 2015
    #129
  10. Nov 11, 2015 at 5:22 AM
    #130
    ckeene9

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    ckeene9 Well-Known Member

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    Works great. Follow the steps and be meticulous with your work. Adjust the cams with weight on wheels.
     
    ckeene9, Nov 11, 2015
    #130
  11. Nov 11, 2015 at 6:29 PM
    #131
    alphabravo

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    alphabravo Well-Known Member

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    The OP describes using a pair of floor tiles under each wheel to lower the friction while adjusting the cams. Also I think it helps if you have a level place to work.
     
    alphabravo, Nov 11, 2015
    #131
  12. Nov 11, 2015 at 6:33 PM
    #132
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    ...too much shit to list.
    Parking on top of two sheets of paper under each tire will do the job. Friction isn't that complicated.
     
    jberry813, Nov 11, 2015
    #132
  13. Nov 12, 2015 at 2:42 PM
    #133
    esse10

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    esse10 Well-Known Member

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    Okay I know I read this DIY thread about a year ago. I guess I'm gonna have to go read those steps again. all the pictures are gone though. Anybody have the steps on how to adjust these cams on the picture? I mean what do each correspond to what adjustment?

    conrolarmadjustment.jpg
     
    esse10, Nov 12, 2015
    #133
  14. Nov 12, 2015 at 5:03 PM
    #134
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    ...too much shit to list.
    What do you mean pictures are gone? My PB account bandwidth was exceeded, but it reset.
    Regardless, to answer your question...read the first post:

     
    jberry813, Nov 12, 2015
    #134
  15. Nov 14, 2015 at 9:18 PM
    #135
    bjmoose

    #135
    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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    This worked out great!

    Instead of using paint on the tire, I stuck a layer of painters masking tape around each tire. Just seemed neater.

    Also, the +/- on that HF gauge is 0.2 - so there's no point in trying to fine tune any adjustment closer than that.

    And I found that when measuring caster, I got exactly 20 degrees of tire left/right with exactly one full turn of the steering wheel. So after the first measurement, I relied on that fact rather than reblocking and remeasuring with a wood sheet and pencil line on the garage floor.

    Props for the instructions. Couldn't have done it without 'em.
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2015
    bjmoose, Nov 14, 2015
    #135
    SconnieHailer, jberry813[OP] and dakotasyota like this.
  16. Jan 30, 2016 at 1:01 PM
    #136
    gray223

    #136
    gray223 Well-Known Member

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    I'm sure it's been talked about on here, did a search and couldn't fine anything though. But what's the recommended alignment numbers for a lifted 1st gen?
     
    gray223, Jan 30, 2016
    #136
  17. Feb 1, 2016 at 12:45 PM
    #137
    gray223

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    gray223 Well-Known Member

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    Looked though the whole thread and I guess you want:

    Toe-0
    camber-0
    castor-2.5+

    :notsure:
     
    gray223, Feb 1, 2016
    #137
  18. Feb 1, 2016 at 1:43 PM
    #138
    alphabravo

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    alphabravo Well-Known Member

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    That's pretty much what I remember from the thread as well. You might benefit from a tiny bit of toe as per the OEM spec which I don't remember off hand.
     
    alphabravo, Feb 1, 2016
    #138
  19. Feb 1, 2016 at 4:21 PM
    #139
    gray223

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    gray223 Well-Known Member

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    I think it's was like 1/16" toe in
     
    gray223, Feb 1, 2016
    #139
  20. Feb 2, 2016 at 10:05 AM
    #140
    JUJtacoma2010

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    JUJtacoma2010 Well-Known Member

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    are you able to post any pictures on fixing an "off-center steering wheel" please.
     
    JUJtacoma2010, Feb 2, 2016
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