Just installed 5100’s, alignment question

where my lobster 2!

 

So I guess the answer is, having caster 1.7/2.5 is not the greatest but I should of received a better alignment

 

Agreed. Just because it falls within the outer limits of factory spec doesn't mean they tried to make it right. Just remember how rusty a frame can be and yet be acceptable...

 

The camber bothers me more. If the toe is good and camber is good and it drives straight, then no worries. But camber 0.7 might cause uneven tire wear.

 

I might as well do the drivers side too.
Turn the rear something less than almost all the way out. (About 7:30)



Then turn the front almost all the way in. That should be pretty damn close.

 

That will pull to the left for sure.

I just did a lift on a 2010 that couldnt turn the front 2 eccentrics and I had to balance caster and camber pull, but this is bad on both regards. Plus yours doesnt look that rusty.

 

This will be good info to tell alignment shop how to do it right when I go back. Thanks!

 

Agreed, that will also be addressed when I go back to the shop

 

Let us know how that conversation goes.

 

Finally some numbers I’m happy with! Truck drives good and can’t really feel speed bumps. Can’t wait to take to the desert for the real test!

 

Nice! That looks really good. So, how did the conversation with the shop go? Did the cams end up something like I suggested?

 

Everyone but the assistant manager was really cool and wanted to help. The AM wanted to enforce his driveway warranty policy but eventually caved after I was able to take all the info gathered by other threads and advise from all you here in this one and school him on what a quality alignment is. I’ll take some pics of the cams for comparison. Finally got my steak, lobster and baked potato!

 

AWESOME!

When you take the pics, you only need 4 pics. Front cams viewed from the front and rear cams viewed from the rear.

 

passenger side:
Rear

front


Driver side
Rear

front

 

COOL! That’s pretty close to dead nuts on with what I suggested. Glad you were able to convince them to do their job right. Suddenly I have a craving for steak and lobster. Mmmmmmm.

 

Awesome job OP! Good attitude, asking the right questions and perseverance paid off.

If I go for an alignment in the future I will ask them "if vehicle is already within loose factory specs, will you adjust camber, caster and toe anyways in an attempt to make it as good as possible?" And just see what they say. If needed might add that I don't want a toe 'n go.

 

So what can I learn from this:
-Understand what a good alignment looks like. Don’t let a shop do a “toe and go” job.
-Realize there is no such thing as a standard alignment setting for anything lifted (even if I have a small lift). There is a general rule though. 0ish camber and toe with 2+ positive caster (little bit more on passenger side vs driver is good). Increase caster the higher you lift.
-Use UCA’s if higher than 2in lift to get desired caster
-higher camber to one side will pull on that side and lower caster on one side will pull on that side
I’ve learned more than I probably what to know about alignments now but nice to have in my back pocket when I go for a bigger lift

 

How common is this, meaning shops half-assing an alignment job? I have a 2015 and if I do anything to the suspension it will be exactly what the OP did (5100s set at the second notch—.85 inches of lift) I don’t want to lose the rake, just want a little more clearance on the front.

 

It seems like it's way more common that shops just do a toe and go, than shops that actually take the time to do it right. One TW member was even told by a shop that Toyota didn't make the caster and camber adjustable on Tacos.

If the cams are seized, I get it, but the customer should be told mid way through the alignment, "Your cams are seized. We can't dial it in. Do you want us to stop there and pay us to fix it, or do you want to fix it yourself, or do you want us to just set the toe in and send it?"

 

Good to know, thanks @Muddinfun and @whatstcp. when I install my 5100s I’ll go to a guy that owns a full service shop I know instead of going to one of the tire chains. I haven’t had trucks for almost 2 decades and my cars haven’t really needed alignments.