Alignment help

Just took my truck in for an alignment after a lift and new tires. I was not given the alignment data when I picked up my truck and I just was not thinking about it at the time so I forgot to ask. I drove home and the front two tires seemed to tuck in the same way they did before I took it in, went back to the shop and asked for my alignment data and was told it has to go back on the rack to get the data again. Does this data look good to you guys? I have no idea what I'm looking at. To me it doesn't look like it's aligned properly.

 

nope, that's no good.

do you have UCAs yet? if not, get some. then re-align with a tech experienced with offroad trucks.

 

I don't have you aftermarket UAC's, does it look like they actually even tried to align it?

 

That’s horrible. Take it to another shop or have them redo it.

 

it doesn't matter. it's a mess. start over with UCAs and a good tech. whoever did that doesn't get it.

 

I'd guess that just did an alignment check and called it good enough without making any adjustments.

 

It absolutely does matter because I paid for it, if they didn't even attempted to align it then I want my money back

 

My first question would be "How does it drive?" This is not the best alignment I have seen and isn't the worst, but it really depends on what you think. It is hard to say what was adjusted because you didn't get the before readings. What I don't like is the very low caster and I never want to see zero toe on either a front or rear wheel drive. Ideally you should have positive toe somewhere around .10 degree for tire wear. Now when I say toe, I mean total toe. We really don't care left and right because they are connected.

I don't know how much lift you added, but your caster is low. Specifically on the left. .6 on one side and 1.2 on the other, I bet it is all over the road and steering feels very light. There could be some adjustment left to get a little more caster. I would assume that unless you have been bashing it off road, you should be able to maximize the adjustment and get both sides pretty close. You should be able to get about 1.4 on both side. It won't pull, but steering will still be light and you will get wander. You would need new upper control arms to get back to the 2.5 range. I like higher caster because it improves on road characteristics, but you don't want too much.

 

Steering feels pretty straight, but it is very light like you said, I am taking it to a different more reputable shop to get a second opinion. Need all the ammo I can get before I tell them I want my money back.

 

I would ask for a refund just on the principal that you left without a printout and when you went back it clearly showing as out of spec. Sounds to me like there was a reason they didn't give you a print out because you basically got a toe set. Now keep in mind, after a vehicle is aligned, you can back it off the rack and pull it back up and you will always get different numbers. They will be close, but not the same. Your caster number is way off.

 

You did not state how lifted and how much lift. When a Tacoma is lifted your camber increases and your caster decreases. It does take a experienced detail oriented person to align a Toyota truck..

 

5100's with 888 and a deaver leaf, so a little less then 3" suspension lift. No aftermarket UCA