New suspension lift question..

I don't have a pic of the tie rods. Passenger has like maybe 4-5" of thread showing. The driver side almost bottomed out

 

Be careful. Sounds like very few threads engaged. You have the tie rod fail and big problems happen.

 

My camera broke. I took the pic of alignment sheet on my wife's phone

 

thanks for posting this thread and the knowledgeable folks that are responding

 

Yes I appreciate the knowledge you passed on to me. Its pretty sad that someone who is supposed to be a professional in there trade are complete morons..

 

I would but I'm busy building America right now.. if Firestone don't fix when I stop there later on today I will take pics

 

OP, you got a real mess going on there but you already know that. Surprising the #1 complaint everywhere following an alignment is that the steering wheel is crooked! Its also the easiest thing to avoid.

The comments of centering the rack have me puzzled as the rack is bolted down with two large bolts and it is not like the rack is mounted so that it is able to slide one way or another. It is not. The rack must be centered using equal length tie rod ends relative to equal turns of the steering wheel.

The following is what I do:

First, unlock the jam nut on both right and left tie rod ends and then turn each tie rod so that an equal amount of threads show on both. You can use a ruler or piece of paper and measure from the jam toward the rack. Try to get it close to the 1 thread variance (1.5mm difference between the right and left tie rod) that Toyota specs.

Second, turn the steering wheel to where it is level and has an equal amount of right and left turns as close as you can. You said they were unequal being roughly 1 1/4 turn to the left and 2 turns to the right so for now keep note of that. Hold the steering wheel level with the seat belt looped through it or something else to anchor. The idea is to keep someone from giving it a whirl as this will surely destroy the clock spring.

Third, unbolt the lower intermediate shaft from where it enters the rack. It is a 12mm wrench size and a single bolt. You will note that the lower shaft is splined there where it clamps on and each spline allows about 11-13 degrees of turn IIRC. I forgot exactly the number of splines but this is a good starting point for the illustration to follow.

You said that you have about 1 1/4 turn of the steering wheel to the left and about 2 turns to the right. So to get the wheel so there are even turns right and left, you have to add about 0.35 turn to the left and subtract 0.35 turn from the right. 0.35 turn is approx. 126 degrees of rotation so if one spline is roughly 12 degrees of rotation you need to reset the lower intermediate shaft about 10-11 splines (126/12 = 10.5).

This will be a little bit trial and error so first try moving the lower shaft about 10-11 splines and temporarily tighten the clamp bolt a little. Then check the number of turns of the steering wheel. But be very careful, if it looks like the steering wheel might exceed, say 1.75 or 2 turns either right or left I would stop and reset again since properly set is about 1.6 turns either way.

Finally, once number of turns equal on the steering wheel it tighten the 12mm bolt on the lower intermediate shaft and tighten the jam nuts on both tie rod ends. It can then be in for a new alignment.

AND AVOID HACK SHOPS!!

 

My guess is the tech did not pull the steering wheel, but used the intermediate shaft to 'center' the wheel as @Taco'09 describes.

When disconnected, the wheel was spun or fell breaking the clockspring.

That's likely the 'how'.

Follow @Taco'09 explanation of how to prepare for an alignment. Just doing that will improve things a lot.

However, until that caster is corrected, it's still going to feel heavy.

Best of luck getting it sorted. Congratulations on doing so much of the work yourself, and sorry the 'pro's' had to mess it up.

Dealing with Firestone, keep in mind odds are it's a franchise, and the actual owner may or may not be a technical type. Could easily be a bean counter. You'll be dealing with a manager who'll want to keep the owner sheltered. Be polite, but persistent. Unfortunately at some point of resistance or coverup (if that occurs) you'll sleep better just walking away and going to a good shop, while leaving a blistering Yelp review for them. OTOH, if they do make everything right with little hassle, leave them at least an ok review. Just don't go back there.

 

You described how to center the rack. Not about mounting the rack itself centered, rather centering the rack gear inside the assembly.

 

??? Please enlighten me. How do you mount the rack centered. There are two big bolts that hold the rack to the frame and the mounting holes neither elongated. How do you center that.

 

For sanity's sake and your own personal safety please fine a good local garage that can be trusted (word of mouth) to sort out the mess that you have.
As stated earlier - to center the steering wheel is so easy for any competent mechanic, especially if they are doing an alignment. And yes, whoever did this to you is responsible for the broken parts and the tighter feel to steering. Seek help.

 

Hi Ron (OP),
Be safe with your alignment. That being said I suggest finding a 4x4 shop that can do alignments after lifts. These guys are used to the geometry after lifts and can fine tune it for you.
Suggestion:I made a post here on Tacoma World when I lifted my truck with the area I lived in for a credited alignment shop that may have been used by Tacoma guys.
Try the North West forum. https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/north-west.40/

 

I'll definitely check that out nice and local..

I ended up getting fucked over by Firestone. I got it to the point where the regional manager is going to contact me about the issues.. Firestone is denying the damage that retard of a tech did. The manager said I can come by to get my refund and to contact claims for anymore info. I went by to get my refund. The tech was standing at the counter with the manager muggin me. Then the manager told him to leave.. I told her I want my refund back. She said you will get it once they process you're claim.. I was livid. But what can you do. I told her if she was a good manager she would atleast try to fix the issues.. but you suck at your job so bad claims had to be involved. Then proceeded to ask does the regional manager handle these claims? She said no claims department does. Then I told her well I'm sure Bryan the regional manager will be in touch with you soon happy new year.

She said to get out of her store and I'm not allowed there anymore.

Went to my main alignment shop. the guy saw the numbers and said Firestone? Yup!!! Lol he got it perfect. He said that they pulled the wheel straight one direction locked it in place and then aligned it explaining why I had 1 and 1/4 turn on my wheel.
Anyways clockspring is still broke. Wheel isn't straight but drives how it did. Any one got any info to get the wheel off to straighten it without a puller?

 

Do not overthink the words.

Inside the steering box is a pinion gear and a rack gear.

Bolt the entire rack into truck with bolts as you say. With steering shaft not connected, center rack gear inside steering box so there is equal turns of the pinion gear in each direction away from center.

Once rack is centered, connect steering shaft and accomplish a correct alignment.

These are just the basics, getting a Toyota manual and following it specifically may have more specifics they would like.

 

Sorry it is headed this way.

As for the broken parts they are denying, levelheaded talk with the regional guy, especially if you have proof from the guys that did align it.

Emphasize how unsafe they delivered the vehicle. Tie rods lengths, incorrect lock to lock amounts, etc.

An unknowing person may have been injured, killed, or been involved in an accident.

And if and when needed, expose the name of the shop and location.

 

Oh yeah. I have a great "victim" story for the manager. Its going to be glorious. All the notes are saved with everything they did wrong as of shoddy work and bad business. Even mentioned that this is a liability for there company and it is ridiculous that they are okay with returning very unsafe vehicles to customers. All there names on documented so happy new year to them. Man that tech though. He was saying he used to work at 4wheelauto so you'd think he is somewhat skilled. But nope he probably got laid off probably kuz he is shitty at his job and has no skill hence why he is at Firestone lol

Anyways I ended up watching to remove the spiral cable. So I just took the wheel off and straightened err out. Check the clock spring. Free spinning bothe directions. I've never had such a shitty experience with a company before and I've heard the nightmare stories about them and biggest mistake bringing it to those guys.