Driver side "leveling spacer"

Hello,

I am using Eibach lift springs and a Toytec 1/4" spacer on the driver side to level my 2009 Tacoma 4x4 and I am having an issue with pulling to the right.

I have had the truck aligned with caster set at 2.5/2.6 Camber at .48/.51 and toe at .01/.01. But my SAI is at Left 10.66 and right is at 11.48

I was using OEM 17" wheels/tires with alignment and have recently installed 16" 265/75 for winter. Puling to the right is more noticible since winter wheels went on.

Alignment shop says there is nothing they can adjust to bring back the left side SAI but suggested removing the spacer which "should" bring the truck back into spec and address the pulling to the right issue.

Any else out there using the top plate spacer or adjusting there coilovers up another 1/2" have issues with SAI?

Any suggestions?

PS using oem UCA's.

 

Top plate spacer shouldn't have anything to do with it.

I had a 1/4" spacer on my 96 (years ago) and I didn't have any issues after I installed it (stock UCA's).

Check the tire pressure in all your tires.

How much total lift do you have?

The allignment specs you quoted - are they STOCK specs?

 

subbing, I'll be installing this setup in the spring...

 

First thing I checked was tire pressure. No problem there

Specs are after alignment.

Springs are 1.6" of lift in Front.

 

I've installed the same spacer and springs on my truck but don't have any pulling. Does yours pull on level road surfaces or only on roads with a pronounced crown?

 

I'll have this setup on Tuesday.

 

Anybody know if SAI is at Left 10.66 and right is at 11.48 would be the cause of my problem?

 

I don't have coilovers but have 5100s set on 2.5 with the leveling spacer on drvr side. It levels the front and caused no pulling at all on mine.

 

Yes. Has your truck been jumped, curb checked on the front or in a front end/ front side collision?

 

Nope nothing. It's never been off road either.

Alignment shop informed me the SAI difference "might" be due the spacer. They informed there is no adjustment to bring it back to oem specs either

 

They are correct, there is no adjustment on SAI. If it is out of spec that usually means one of the components is bent and needs to be replaced (e.g. a control arm, but it could be frame or spindle). The guys at the alignment shop should have been able to spot anything that was off. How is the reputation of the shop you went to? If they guarantee their work you might take the truck back and have a different tech re-diagnose.

You could also try removing the spacer, realign and see if SAI is back in spec. Another option is to get a second opinion from a different alignment shop and see what they say.

 

If the spacer makes the truck sit level it should HELP everything align not hinder

 

The alignment shop and alignment tech is said to be the "best" in my city who performs alignments on a lot of heavily suspension modified cars including some of my old cars and cars that race in http://www.targanewfoundland.com/.

The truck is a 09 Model with less then 8K miles when alignment was done there was no damage done to the truck unless something was done while the truck was shipped to my local dealer. Nothing looked bent or out of the ordinary during spring install, alignment, winter tire install.

Alignment Tech figured it was due to the lift/spacer on the driver side but was not 100% sure if that was the cause of the SAI difference.

Would this SAI difference be the cause of the slight pull to the right?

I really don't want the hassle of removing that damn spacer but I don't want the truck with a slight pull to the right....

More comments welcomed

 

I would think that if the truck sits level everything should align properly. I have coilovers now and I have one side cranked way tighter to make it sit level and my alignment guy, who knows his shit got my truck driving well. He is a German guy who does all the euro cars and said my truck drives like shit, bit I am happy lol. Of course it drives like shit compared to a well engineered German car when I don't even have aftermarket control arms.

 

What are you SAI positions?

 

I have no clue, but I am going to get it realinged next week when I put on my eibachs and 1/4 spacer. I will have the same setup as you so I will report back then.

 

Sorry for the late response- couldn't find my alignment specs.

My truck's SAI is 10.70 (L) and 10.77 (R) with the 1/4 spacer installed on the driver side. Not sure what's up with yours but it seems odd for there to be nearly 1* difference from side to side, maybe this is within manufacturer spec? This definitely could be the root cause of pulling to the right but I don't think the spacer is to blame.

Maybe your alignment tech can reduce the camber on the right side to bring the Included Angle more in spec? (IA = SAI + camber; IA should be equal side to side for correct alignment)

Some good terms/ references here:

http://www.anewtoronto.com/wheel alignment.html

 

Choptop,

Thanks for the reply.

Hum what is up with my SAI angle?

Before the spring/spacer install there was no pulling to the right just perfect straight.

Not sure what to do...

Maybe a different wheel alignment shop?

Will reducing the camber bring the SAI lower as well?

 

No problem. Reducing camber will not change the SAI, only compensate for it being slightly off (brings the right side IA into compliance with the left side IA). Your alignment specs show IA to be 11.14 on the left and 12.02 on the right (SAI + camber). These angles should be approximately equal or there may be pulling. Not 100% sure if this is the problem with your truck but it seems likely.

The limiting factor in getting matching IA will be how much adjustment can be made with factory UCAs on a lifted truck. When my truck got aligned after lifting the techs told me that camber was maxed out at .61 (stock UCAs) unless I wanted to give up some caster (currently about ~1.7). These numbers are within Toyota specs but not ideal. Right now my truck drives OK (wanders a bit more than before the lift) so I'm going with it as is until I can afford LR UCAs to get more caster/ camber adjustment.

I'm not sure how your SAI got this way- perhaps it was like that from the factory and alignment was able to compensate for the difference? You might try a different shop or take it back to the first one and see if there is any more adjustment that can be made. Last ditch would be to remove the spacer but as you can see from my alignment specs it should make very little, if any, difference in SAI from side to side.

 

I switched back to the oem 17" wheels and tires for the spring and summer and the truck does not pull to the right anymore.

Just wanted to update this for ppl searching the forums.