Alignment issues

I've had to get an alignment done on my truck twice already at 39k miles and it's out of spec again. Stock wheels and tires, non lifted. Is it common or does mine have an issue? My steering wheel has alot of play and I'll have to hold it left when driving straight on a smooth freeway

 

Not common.

Lots of potholes in your area? Offroading some?

Who is doing the alignments? Dealer? Big box store?

 

Check your steering rack bolts and bushings. The bushings are quite soft on the 3rs gens which can make it hard to get a good alignment, and the bolts have been known to be or come loose.

 

My 2017 Off Road is a little off as well, thanks for the tips about the bushing, although I live in a place where there is more potholes than pavement.

 

Not that many potholes and very minimal off roading. Hunting trips on forest roads that a 2wd wouldn't even have an issue going through. Alignments were done by Toyota dealership.

 

Definitely not normal. 60K on mine and 2nd set of tires with zero issues.

G.

 

I'd recommend finding a smaller shop that specializes in alignments in general but trucks in particular. Some fellow local owners might be a good way to find that special place.

 

Whatever you do, do not bring it back to the dealer. They only hire incompetent mechanics.

 

I'll look around for smaller shops after new wheels and tires go on.

What are the main culprits if my alignment goes out of spec so often?

 

I think the front coils break in and sag a little. Was the inside of the tire wearing faster than the outside?

 

Inside was wearing faster

 

Both my insides were. I chalked it up to front coil sag.

 

You believe so? So could alignment be adjusted to compensate for that cause I dont want to spend $100 every 6 months for alignment.

 

Yup! It just needs an alignment if tires are wearing uneven.

 

I’ve had mine aligned 2x with 12k miles on it. Pulled to the left, then steering wheel off center, both after off-roading with lots of rocks. Dealer did both under warranty.

 

Looks like we're in the same boat

 

If you're off-road a lot it could just be getting bumped out of alignment.

 

I’ve gone off-roading 3 x since i bought the truck. Each time, I take it real easy ad go super slow since I’m on factory suspension. I never had this issue in previous vehicles, my old rubicon did well and did not have any alignment issues after 4 years of off-roading, even my Subaru was fine after light off-roading. But seems like the tacoma doesnt do as well, any aftermarket parts out there that could prevent this? Just curious before I lift it.

 

Since the last time I got alignment done 6 months ago I haven't been off road at all

 

More info is needed like who is telling you that your alignment is off and how bad is it? I always found it interesting that techs that are getting paid to do an alignment will tell someone their alignment is off even if they had it done the day before, but let warranty work come up and the alignment is always perfect.

Your suspension is pretty rigid and a pothole won't change your alignment. If that were the case, you would need an alignment everyday. Something would have to bend for that to be the case and it just doesn't work that way. Settling is what most commonly changes your angles and that occurs over time.

You claim that you have to hold it to the left so does that mean that it pulls to the right? That should be pretty evident in your alignment specs if it is caused by alignment and specifically your caster. Do you have a print out that you can post of your alignment specs?