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Steering wheel crooked... alignment?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Tacomax4, Sep 3, 2018.

  1. Sep 3, 2018 at 4:28 PM
    #1
    Tacomax4

    Tacomax4 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey guys,
    Recently I’ve noticed in order to go straight down the road I need hold my steering wheel cocked to the left. When I let go it centers itself but pulls to the right. Is this an alignment issue? I’ve got brand new tires (less than 500 Miles). Suspension is bone stock

    Here is my most recent alignment sheet (performed last week):
    C72A415E-C5E4-47A4-9F5F-322DF3E1B939.jpg
     
  2. Sep 3, 2018 at 4:36 PM
    #2
    winkel

    winkel Well-Known Member

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    Check your tire pressure. Assuming they are even, left to right, and is still pulls, yes I'd say you need an alignment.

    I run 35 in the front and 32 in the back on mine unless I'm going to haul something. Then I'll air the back tires up a little.
     
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  3. Sep 3, 2018 at 4:52 PM
    #3
    Jeffch

    Jeffch Well-Known Member

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    Maybe a caliper sticking?
     
  4. Sep 3, 2018 at 4:58 PM
    #4
    Sacrifice

    Sacrifice Motorcycle Goon

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    its following the road crown because the alignment is perfectly even. road crown tends to be towards the right for draining hence your needing to hold left to offset it
     
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  5. Sep 3, 2018 at 5:58 PM
    #5
    08TacoTrD

    08TacoTrD Well-Known Member

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    Yeah 1st thing to check is air pressure.
     
  6. Sep 3, 2018 at 6:30 PM
    #6
    Tacomax4

    Tacomax4 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It seems like it’s happening on every road though, and compared to other vehicles it requires holding it farther left than usual
     
  7. Sep 3, 2018 at 6:31 PM
    #7
    Tacomax4

    Tacomax4 [OP] Well-Known Member

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  8. Sep 3, 2018 at 6:33 PM
    #8
    Tacomax4

    Tacomax4 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I was thinking maybe the same too, but they seemed okay. Is there any other symptoms besides a burning smell and pulling?
     
  9. Sep 3, 2018 at 6:36 PM
    #9
    Tacomax4

    Tacomax4 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I was also thinking it could be the thrust angle.... but not sure.
    Also the front tires look like this:

    956AFFF7-862A-4D65-89A0-D56C9E8EE2DB.jpg

    Not sure if that shiny edge on the outside of the tire is considered normal wear
     
  10. Sep 3, 2018 at 6:40 PM
    #10
    WATaco

    WATaco Well-Known Member

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    Rotate your tires, see if it changes. I've had this issue for a couple of years on Coopers, which seem to be well known for this.
     
  11. Sep 3, 2018 at 7:28 PM
    #11
    Bebop

    Bebop Old fashion cowboy

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    Could be a radial tire pull. Rotate tires and see what happens
     
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  12. Sep 3, 2018 at 7:36 PM
    #12
    magnetic4x4

    magnetic4x4 Well-Known Member

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    Do both front tires have that same wear on the outer edge? Whenever a car comes in at my work with a pull to the right, it usually has more wear on the outside edge of the passenger front tire.

    If it's not a tire causing the pull, it should drive straighter if you had the camber on the right side a little closer to 0 and the caster on the right a little higher than the left.
     
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  13. Sep 3, 2018 at 8:17 PM
    #13
    Tacomax4

    Tacomax4 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yes both tires have that same wear, what alignment specs would you recommend if I go back and get it realigned?
     
  14. Sep 3, 2018 at 9:04 PM
    #14
    MurderedTacoV2

    MurderedTacoV2 Booty Admirer

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    Thats a rear tire though and on a solid axle rear truck obviously the tires wear differently if you keep em on the back thats why rotations exist. I agree on the passenger tire thing though its always the inner edge for me.

    Op, Those are some soft looking tires, do some chalk tests as in drawing a line with tire chalk across treads from sidewall to sidewall and drive it a little bit (i prefer to drive straight only), not a lot but enough to wear the chalk off the tread. When the chalks almost fully gone from the tread i am satisfied. When i ran P rated i ran 30 all around with no issues.

    Edit : i am mistaken that is a front tire o_O

    I vote OP drop pressures then.
     
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  15. Sep 3, 2018 at 9:07 PM
    #15
    MurderedTacoV2

    MurderedTacoV2 Booty Admirer

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    Worse MPG (if bad enough) eating through pads on one side, pretty sure thats just about it.
     
  16. Sep 3, 2018 at 9:24 PM
    #16
    Tacomax4

    Tacomax4 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wouldn’t dropping pressures make the edge wear out even worse?
     
  17. Sep 3, 2018 at 10:13 PM
    #17
    Jeffch

    Jeffch Well-Known Member

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    Does it seem to not coast?
    After driving see if the right side seems hot. Don’t touch them but you should notice a temp difference if ones sticking.
    Does it seem to pull when using the brakes?
     
  18. Sep 4, 2018 at 5:54 AM
    #18
    Taylorbarton1

    Taylorbarton1 Well-Known Member

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    This place is worse than web md. :rofl:

    Dude, just go back to the place that did the alignment and they will take care of it. Nothing to worry about.
     
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  19. Sep 4, 2018 at 6:41 AM
    #19
    MurderedTacoV2

    MurderedTacoV2 Booty Admirer

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    If both edges have signs of no road contact then you need less air. Center contact only shows the tire has too much air because its riding only in the middle from being so inflated. Both outer edges wearing would show too low of a tire pressure so the tire caves inward making the center ride less.
     
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  20. Sep 4, 2018 at 6:51 AM
    #20
    Taylorbarton1

    Taylorbarton1 Well-Known Member

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    The outer edge is shiney due to the extra camber created when turning sharply into parking spaces and such.
     
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