All New Bushings, Still Can’t Align

A year ago I installed OME 882’s, Dakar’s with an AAL, nitrochargers, JBA UCAs, Toyota OEM LBJs. When I went to get it aligned they said they couldn’t get the camber within spec on the drivers side, the top of the wheel protrudes more than the bottom, but it probably wouldn’t be noticiable, they said. They also said it was most likely my LCA bushings, and less likely, a bent spindle.

Yesterday, I finally installed strongflex LCA bushings, went to get it aligned and they said once again, they couldn’t get the camber in spec and that I would need adjustable UCAs. The adjustment cams are pushed all the way outboard on that side. I don’t have much faith in their assessment so I’m seeking some advice before I start throwing good money after bad.

 

Best advice is to have a different shop check it out before you worry much. A proper alignment nerd can work wonders.

 

Are the upper control arms stock or oversized meant for a lift? Do they have adjustment built into them? Judging by the print out your other side is fine so I would make sure before doing anything else the parts including the lower ball joints were correct and you didn’t get an mis boxed set. Like the d/s one isn’t for your application. Was there any issues prior to doing this work? It was it for a standard maintenance refresh? If it wasn’t an issue prior to replacing parts double check everything. If everything was replaced for a hard curb hit or pothole then maybe something is bent. Also look under your truck and the eccentric bolts on the d/s should be as close to the frame (inside of the truck)as they can be in the eccentric swing. Also the fact that the caster is less then the other side (caster is the difference between the upper and lower ball joints and is adjusted with the same two lca eccentrics) would tend to point to a incorrect part or a bent part. Also only looking at the print out is only as good as the tech that set it up on the machine. Post back after you look at your lca eccmetrics and that will lead to the next step.

 

If they are only using the info from the alignment machine it would not tell them this info. That upper eccentric should be out towards the wheel to remedy that negative camber issue

 

Spindle may be bent. Thats a buttload of camber. Eccentrics may not correct this.

I usually start by comparing the spindle arm in relation to the tire, then compare the backing plate to the spindle.

 

You're modified and trying to get into factory alignment specs?

Ain't going to happen.

You need a custom alignment from a 4x4 shop.

My alignment shows all red on the machine but everything tracks straight wears evenly and rides to my liking.

0° camber, 0° toe, and as much positive caster as you can give me is what I ask for.

 

I'd suggest toe in for sure. As the truck drives down the road, the forces make the tires push outwards. So you have negative toe while driving. Especially with bigger tires. Otherwise thats basically what I tell people to do.

 

That's just what I ask for, it's never exactly what I get, I am fortunate enough to have a great 4x4 specialist shop for me and the guys really know what they're doing, the 0°/0°/+° is just the request, they dial it to that as a starting point then make their voodoo fine adjustments that only true understanding from experience can bring.

 

I wish I could do alignments for all of you. I even check front end first.

Just hard to find the right tech. But that goes for a number of things.

 

I wish I could do alignments for myself, unfortunately I no longer have access to a Hunter laser machine.

 

JBAs are adjustable. Maybe they were being lazy and didn’t want to do what was necessary to adjust your cams as best as they could have. Shitty part is you’ll likely never know if it was their incompetence, laziness, or ignorance.

If you can’t find success there, do some online searching or use the regional section of this forum to look for a reputable alignment shop.

 

Looks like the driver’s side front is the worst out..? I’m curious what those cams look like, both the front and rears. Can you crawl under and get clear pictures?

 

The shop did qualify their findings by saying that they mostly do OE alignments and that I should probably visit a true 4wd shop to assess.

The upper control arms are high caster meant for a lift of ~3", there's no adjustability built into them (that I know of). The car pulled a bit to the left before all this work. I bought it from a 70 year old who used to pull a camper trailer and do mild offroad exploring, maybe he bumped something.

The eccentrics are both completely outboard close to the tire.

I measured spindle arm to rim and to tire on both sides. They appear to be approximately identical (it was a bit hard to measure in there)

 

When I bought my JBAs they only offered one version for 1st gen and they are definitely adjustable for caster.

2nd going to a 4x4 shop that can accommodate a custom alignment with aftermarket parts.

 

So those bolts should be all the way toward the middle inward of the truck and then if the adjustment is where the first photo of the alignment is something has to be either incorrectly installed or something is bent. You have negaitkve camber. Those bolts all the way towards the middle and still in the neg something is bent.

 

Or they had something hooked up (wheel mounted sensors) wrong or not calibrated correctly. Does the truck pull to the right?

 

I'm guessing this truck sustained a hit at some point, bent spindle or maybe tweaked upper or lower mount points. Spindle most likely though. I've started hijacking my buddy's shop to do my own alignments on his hunter rack, it'll tell you a ton if you know how to read it, and a lot of techs just don't know.

 

If you go somewhere else post the print out some of us can read them and help you. But yes something is most likely bent. I’ll be parting my truck soon so if you need something message me. My front end is solid and refreshed within 15 k

 

Will do, thanks. Looking for a 4wd shop nearby. Just took it to the desert, pulls to the left for sure.