need a suspension expert

My '03 truck frequently will not track a straight line. Three mechanics have looked at it. I've had new:

1) shocks and struts
2) swaybar bushings
3) rank and pinion mechanism + bushings

Tire pressures have been changed from Toyota recommended values all the way to 38 PSI.

In heavy crosswind, it's a real struggle. Also, it wants to follow imperfections in the road surface. To me, it feels sloppy -- like ball joints.

Other vehicles -- a Prius and S10, track fine. I've previously owned a pre-Tacoma Toy truck and a Camry.

Suspension experts ..... I sure need your help. Where should I look to put this nonsense to bed once and for all?

 

what's your alignment specs look like? ..have your camber and toe checked.

 

is it pulling a certain direction?

 

It's been aligned 3 or 4 times now. I did not ask for the specs. The last time, the mechanic said he checked the real wheel alignment too.

Is there a slot in the specs that's known for being "right"?

 

It seems to follow road defects or slope. When it starts to wander, I have to counter steer just slightly until it starts to respond. Like there's some slop in the linkage somewhere.

Sorry, but I don't know the proper terminology.

 

you might have answered your own question, your steering shaft might be loose?

 

Has the truck been in an accident and when repaired is it dog trailing meaning, standing behind the truck 20 -25 ft look at the back wheels,are they in alignment with the front wheels.

 

yes thats true

 

I'll have it checked. Thanks.

 

I picked up the truck with 35K miles. No dirt on carfax and the truck has been examined by lots of mechanics. But who knows what has really happened in the used-truck crapshoot?

I'll get someone to follow me and check it. Thanks.

 

Dunlop A/T Radial Rover
P26570R16

They were new on the truck when I picked it up.

 

Ditto, my truck wanders. As far as I know this is perfectly normal for 1st gen tacos.

 

Nice site.

What tires do people put on these 1st gen 4x4's? I need tires for slow and easy off road maybe 5% of the time. Other than that, need a quiet highway tire for mileage.

 

44" Pitbull Rockers

 

I wish you the best in figuring this out....I know how annoying it can be, I actually sold my last truck (03 Tundra) because of this exact problem. Spent probably $4000 trying to fix it; tires, steering, suspension, the whole nine yards. Let us know!

To the other guys that say its normal....the 03 Taco I picked up feels rock solid and drives true compared to that Tundra...just fyi

 

Michelin LTX M/S

 

IMO the "in spec" numbers are way to lax. Then there are the inexperienced techs using the equipment.

Toe should be 0*, camber should be 0*, and most importantly, regarding highway wander, the caster should be higher than 2.0*. Ideally, the caster should be 2.5-3*.

I think you need to take a closer look at the actual results of the alignments.