Wyoming B.S. Thread

I've had this happen before (happened on my last trip actually when I swerved to avoid an oncoming car that turned left in front of me on a 2 lane highway). I don't know that all of these could be an issue for you, but they are the things I considered as "possible" for me:

• something could have gotten bent (tie rods, rack, control arms, etc)
• UCA could have changed slightly (mine are adjustable)
• bushings on LCA could have gotten tweaked
• rack could have shifted a bit
• the joints on the OTREs and ITREs could be tweaked

But, I agree with you that the number of threads showing on each OTRE is probably the least likely thing to change. Those can't rotate if the nuts are locked and they are connected to the LBJ .

 

You don't have to rotate the otre to change the toe you know. It just needs to be ever so lightly loose at the nut and the itre can rotate to change toe at any time. That's unlikely to happen while driving, but I thought you ought to know that in case you do your own alignment so you're not taking the whole thing apart to do it

 

Yeah, that's why I mentioned the nuts being tight. I was focusing on the OTREs b/c that's what Mike mentioned originally:

 

Honestly the lca mounts could have bent. They are like metal paper especially the rear ones.

 

I have had the lock nuts on the OTR appear to be tight against the inner but the inner was loose. Those nuts often seize. I doubt that is your issue. My bet is the steering rack shifted a bit. Mine does it often. I can't seem to find any bushings that are stiff enough to prevent it. I've seen the TC bushings are better than the Energy Suspension ones but haven't tried them yet.

 

The obvious answer is go wheel it again and knock it back straight.

 

The TC ones are way better than the ES ones. But still will move.

 

The rack does not look like it has shifted position. It seems like there would be witness marks that are exposed if the rack were to move from side to side. I am pretty sure I used an ES bushing kit on (not TC) when we installed the new rack about 4 years ago (45K).

Could the rack shift position internally? It seems like that could cause this as well.

Wow, I had no idea a hard swerve would be enough to cause this.

I very much doubt I bent any components since it still drives straight and true, but I suppose it is possible.

Well I certainly hope that isn't the case, it seems like I would have bigger issues if I had bent the LCA mounts.

I'll work on that and let you know how it turns out.

 

As you gusset stuff you just push the force down the line somewhere. A hit like that might have bent a cam tab or a spindle without gussets, but now it bends or moves something else. Just the nature of the beast.

When I've done that before and checked, the toe is still good. So both wheels moved the same amount. It would almost have to be the rack. It theoretically could jump a tooth internally, but I think at that point your rack would be destroyed.

As long as your toe is still good, I would leave well enough alone. It'll just move next time you wheel.

 

Thanks Brett. This is reassuring. And I know you are correct, reinforcing stuff will transfer the stress down the line.

I can see how the rack could shift internally a little. And that is all it would take to move the steering wheel a little. I do suspect you are correct in that an alignment rack would find the toe to be off. If it is, even slightly, then there would be some extra tire wear. And since, as you say. I have free alignments (and the time ), I will probably take it in. Who knows, maybe they will tell me I sheared an alignment cam.

 

The rack shifting in the bushings is totally possible. That's why where the D bushing is has massive rub marks on it. Least all of mine do. The rack moves a ton just to turn the wheels with stock bushings and while the poly helps for sure, it's not solid(for good reason) and it'll move. The bushings will deform and then before you know it it can move on bit hit.


If you're at 45k on your bushings I'd think about new ones, and seriously get the TC ones. They are much firmer.


Now jumping a tooth...eh. Idk. I think you've have a larger steering issue if that was happening. Your Rack would likely be fucked or near death at that point.


I still think the LCA mounts are way too weak. The only person with a 1st gen I know of that has never had alginment issues is JD. And he basically welded up crossbars for the LCA mounts. But he's a prerunner so he can do that since CVs are in the way. Once it was a solid area he never had issues and he beat the shit out of his truck.


I know J.D. Fab makes that massive LCA mount kit for 2nd gens, there was talk of a 1st gen kit but not sure it saw the light of day. be a bitch to install that's for sure..

 

What's the story about the dude that ruined his rockers?

 

everything is a big hit when you weigh 6000lbs

 

Are you body shaming his rig?

 

https://youtu.be/DpA2bMJlDpI?t=148

 

Sounds like my kinda person, bring him along more

 

Only that nose dive off of that ledge, but I think the skids took the brunt of that impact.

I'll have you know that she was 'only' 5700 this trip.

 

Did it happen at that spot you had to prove to Monte that you dropped down? Or at the sloppy spot here?

 

Mostly just inexperience. And I think he got 'sped up' seeing the success of all the others. If he had been further up the order (middle or front position) it might have been a different outcome.

 

Monte, did you get your Kenda Klevers installed? 33x10.5r17 right? I am considering a 2nd set of wheels. I was very impressed with Ryan's.

@Blackdawg
@Reh5108