What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Old school alignment shop nearby that I just found out about...$65 and they do it all by hand, no computers or stock/factory numbers to follow. Definitely going here from now on

 

Firestone I have lifetime for 175.00 for all the alignments as many as you want for as long as I own my truck, FYI

 

Toss it in the trash where it belongs. It’s more fun without it.

 

Time to move to Chico

 

My dealer does them with the fancy machine and its the same price. Plus they give you a print out.

 

This truck stays on the pavement

 

Not sure if you got this resolved yet? I had replaced my catalytic converter, up-stream oxygen sensor, brake booster, replaced PCV grommet and valve, chased several air lines that were cracking and still was not passing CA SMOG. Finally a year later I complied everything and then followed the warm-up needed for the drive cycle found here https://antiochstarsmogcheck.com/toyota-drive-cycle-obdii-readiness-monitors/ and I went probably overboard, but I drove it for 18-minutes using cruise control at 75 mph, then same at 65 mph, then 55 mph, then 45 mph, then finally kept it between 40 and 30 mph without cruise control (always driving 18-minutes for each cycle). I drove it on the highways around here to keep from having to apply the brake. Finally it reset everything and I passed CA SMOG. Since you live in my area message me if you need any help.

 

Yeah I don't know... maybe I'm just jaded a bit - my dealer (well, used to be my dealer) they charged 109 or maybe it was 119 for the alignment and that printout. Left there with negative caster and they swore it was my stock UCAs due to my OME kit. Said I needed Total Chaos UCAs, that SPC were crap and the stock couldn't handle my springs.

Ended up taking it to a shop that only does alignments. They dialed everything in and had no issue at all with getting me back to positive caster - UCAs were fine. They set me up with proper PSI #'s and corrected a very slight off center steering wheel.

I'd definitely give a shop like that a chance before I ever go back to the dealer - at least my local dealer. Never again.

 

Even on the pavement it’s fun without it. I like the body roll for some reason. Feels like I have more suspension then I actually do.

 

Lol







Me too

 

Thanks for the help I got it figured it. I had cut the o2 sensor wires when I was tubbing for 35s. I put it back together but I didn’t realize inside one of the grey wire covers is two wires and I didn’t realize it so my connection wasn’t off but I got it taken care of finally. I passed smog last month. I did a similar drive cycle as you did that helped me find the problem.

 

I couldn't get any place local to do anything other than a stock/factory numbers alignment until I found this place, everywhere else told me they just go based one what their system tells them to do...aka no custom alignment. This place is the only one that would.

 

I have the Firestone package but they will not do custom alignments, at least not the one I go to. They will only go based off of manufacturer's numbers.

Been using it for the past year and a half but the alignments were never very good. Got my money's worth out of it though, I went to them monthly for 4 or 5 months. I've heard there is one about an hour from me that has a guy there that will do custom numbers but you have to get there when he's working and when it's not busy.

Maybe someday I'll live near a Firestone that will work with me and I can use the lifetime deal again, but until then I'm going to go to this new place. $65 isn't bad, I've heard of custom alignments costing a lot more at other places from members on here.

 

Ditto...same reason I'm going to go to this old school place from now. They actually took advantage of the fact that my SPC's are adjustable...Firestone refused to touch them because they weren't OEM parts

 

Not bad at all. I paid 170 and that was with a 25 discount. I'd gladly pay it though, as long as it's done right and they are treating my vehicle as if it's their own - no problem.

 

Honestly that's closer to what I was expecting to have to pay and was taken aback when they rang me up for $65 lol. But yeah I agree, I'd rather pay more and know it's done right, rather than having to go in all the time to get it fixed again. Plus my last set of tires were wearing oddly on the outside despite the fact that I used the Firestone alignment package (and rotated the tires) religiously.

 

The only reason to stop at Firestone is if you need to take a dump and nothing more.

 

Thanks, yea just me the wife and my 6 yr old. It’s just a work in progress, little here little there. I don’t need a 50k new full-size when my little Tacoma will get me there just the same. And it’s paid for! Lol.

 

Just curious, what numbers does your truck need? That is correct that they won't do custom alignments but if it's within factory spec they'll do it. Max is 3.3° for caster for stock spec. Even with aftermarket UCAs now, as long as I have over 2.8° I don't get rubbing with 285s on the street, maybe once in a while if I'm reversing out of a steep driveway or something but very slight. No cab mount chop or even liner cutting. With stock UCAs had no rubbing at all (excet for offroading of course)

I just got the Firestone lifetime a couple of months ago & the one I go to always do a great job, going back on Monday for my 3rd alignment. Used to go to Sears before but now they suck.

I always avoided Firestone's cause they won't give you the lifetime if you have modified suspension but really it depends on the store, don't think it's actually their policy. My truck has aftermarket coilovers & UCAs listed in my account. I got fed up with Sears, never had a problem when I had stock UCAs, the techs they have at my local Sears don't know what they are doing. Told me my caster was maxed out at 1.3°

 

That's odd...the one I bought the lifetime deal from gladly sold it to me even though I had 5100s/881s and SPC UCAs at the time. I'll have to dig out the print outs but I've always had rubbing issues even with my 32s on the pinch weld. I suspect the aftermarket wheels are to blame but I don't know what they are (PO had them put on).

Which Firestone do you go to? You're not terribly far from me...the one I hear most guys go to in LA is the one in Downey...apparently they have a couple techs working there that have lifted Jeeps and know how to work with lifted vehicles. Seems like it's hit or miss depending on which location you go to.