how long before you did your FIRST alignment?

I will start it off...
I have a 2013 gen2 DCLB 4X4 v6 with 323k+ miles (original owner)
I have never had my alignment adjusted or checked in 6+ years of driving/ownership
I have never had any strange tire wear or cupping (reported by tire shop or noticed by me)
I change my tires ever year right before winter (nov-dec) as I drive 50k miles/year
my taco goes straight down the road like a tank all day everyday

furthermore, I have never changed the front shocks, but have a set sitting in the garage waiting for some time to do the swap

who is next?

 

I would say thats impressive. My alignment has been out of spec the 3 times I've brought it in, and it only has 85k. The truck is off in the desert a lot though, and its done baja twice so I guess results may vary.

On any vehicle I've owned, I've always felt compelled to get alignment checked after tires are changed... but maybe this has been overkill.

 

I've my truck personally 3 times and through firestone 7+ times. Every time I wheel, there is always a slight pull or steering wheel is off enough to me crazy

 

I bought my truck and it had old tires. that was almost 3 years ago. Tires weren't getting worn out for some reason so when I got the new tires I had to get it aligned and balanced. It's my daily driver.

 

Are your cams seized?

 

2011 with 80K.
Aligned at least once a year, need it or not.

 

2015 TRD Sport....33K....O.E. Bridgestones.....rotate & balance every 7K.......never aligned.

 

I can't remember the last time I had an alignment done to any vehicle. I had a 1985 F150 from 1985-1995 and I know I had it done once because I was getting some uneven tire wear. As far as I can remember that is the only time I've ever been in an alignment shop. My 2007 Tacoma has 199,000 miles on it and the tires are still wearing true.

 

OP, I was going to post saying that I read about a guy the other day doing long distances up in the NW claiming no alignment and very high miles and then recognized it was you!

The thing with alignments on our trucks is specs are not specs. There are the settings many owners want to use because they have become accustomed to and like the way their truck handles, particularly if lifted; there are the "preferred" specs, which are the settings midway between the factory limits; and then there are the factory specs range. I also know people that are insensitive to the way their vehicle drives. The steering wheel can be cocked one way or another and the vehicle pulls left or right but they will say all is well.....

The factory specs. range are unbelievably broad one way or another (+ or -) and pretty much a joke IMHO. Unfortunately almost all alignment data bases are set up using Toyota's factory specs so that when an alignment check is made things often show in the "green".

Every new Taco I have checked or owned has both LCA alignment cams set to the center. Why? The answer lies in the fact that during assembly the factory does not do anything to set camber or caster but only attaches the LCAs and set the cams to the center position. They claim the frame jigs are sufficient to get it close enough on camber and caster and thus no checks or ajustments are made. However, toe is another matter. They have two big elaborate machines to set toe. One machine is in use while the other receives maintenance.

My second Taco drove and tracked terrible when brand new but would still show in the "green" and thus the dealer refused to do anything. Even now most places will show me a printout with lots of green, say everything is fine except maybe needing a minor adjustment to toe, and try to send me on my way. So did my truck need an alignment or not? From the perspective of the Toyota specs no, everything is within factory. But from my perspective yes. Now the fun usually begins...

 

Every few months due to tire wear and preventative maintenance. I cant think of a time I went more than a 9 months to a year on ANY of my vehicles without an alignment. Sure that's impressive that you dont have to touch yours for years but with my OCD and history of cars, I prefer to pay an extra few bucks and lose my "bragging" right of not aligning and reassure myself that the alignment is within specifications. Try driving in Houston with our roads and I think you'll quickly understand why alignments are as common as oil changes.

 

I wonder if the Toyota dealer does an alignment after free leaf spring recalls, due to it being a suspension component replacement

 

Impressive. I am on the other end of the spectrum. I feel checking alignment is an indicator of other issues, so I check it at about 2 year intervals or with new shoes etc. I accept Toyota’s rock, so I buy them, but I expect to maintain them too.

 

Most people don’t know anything about alignment, I being one. A few do but they are the minority. It’s something most of us just don’t give much thought to. I get an alignment when I get new tires or if I bring the truck in for rotation and balancing and they tell me I need it, which is about never.

 

When I bought it with 70,000 miles on it and bought wheels and new tires.
The alignment was way out on the truck, (previous owner didn't care)
Went down a friends wet dirt road and driveway last January and kept the forward momentum
being 2WD... hit one hole and my head struck the roof of the cab...
That knocked it out of alignment pretty good.
I am not aligning it until I get new tires or I can't stand it any longer...
So far the tires have worn in and the truck tracks pretty straight.

 

1 year in.
I bought it used not brand new