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How to do an Alignment at Home

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by jberry813, Dec 7, 2012.

Page 3 of 20
  1. Dec 7, 2012 at 10:42 PM
    #41
    ktmrider

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    ktmrider, Dec 7, 2012
    #41
  2. Dec 7, 2012 at 11:11 PM
    #42
    KenLyns

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    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    KenLyns, Dec 7, 2012
    #42
  3. Dec 7, 2012 at 11:17 PM
    #43
    MJonaGS32

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    MJonaGS32 MJ on a GS

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    MJonaGS32, Dec 7, 2012
    #43
  4. Dec 8, 2012 at 1:29 AM
    #44
    Mxpatriot

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    Mxpatriot Well-Known Member

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    Awesome post Jason.
     
    Mxpatriot, Dec 8, 2012
    #44
  5. Dec 9, 2012 at 9:51 AM
    #45
    mudpuppet

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    mudpuppet Must pay wife for safe passage

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    Really good post, purchased a magnetic angle finder yesterday, waiting for my Dakars to come in and will install my lift. Great write up.
     
    mudpuppet, Dec 9, 2012
    #45
  6. Dec 9, 2012 at 10:04 AM
    #46
    Texoma

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    great job
     
    Texoma, Dec 9, 2012
    #46
  7. Dec 16, 2012 at 10:40 PM
    #47
    davidjmay

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    davidjmay Well-Known Member

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    If I were to lift my 1st gen 3" using the OME kit (90004 on 883 springs), would I have to get aftermarket UCAs or would this solve the problem of alignment? Thanks in advance!
     
    davidjmay, Dec 16, 2012
    #47
  8. Dec 17, 2012 at 11:39 AM
    #48
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    ...too much shit to list.
    Kinda depends on what your alignment problem is. I have literally zero knowledge when it comes to OME.
    That said, generally speaking as you lift the a 1st gen over 2" it's becomes increasingly more difficult to get the caster at a respectable number, let alone in spec. Aftermarket UCA's can help you get the caster back into spec.
     
    jberry813, Dec 17, 2012
    #48
  9. Dec 17, 2012 at 6:27 PM
    #49
    97yota4wd

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    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

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    awesome write up.... about how long does this take you? sorry if you said it already
     
    97yota4wd, Dec 17, 2012
    #49
  10. Dec 17, 2012 at 6:36 PM
    #50
    HomerTaco

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    Wow... Great write up! :bowdown:
     
    HomerTaco, Dec 17, 2012
    #50
  11. Dec 17, 2012 at 6:37 PM
    #51
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    ...too much shit to list.
    Depends on how far out of whack your alignment is and how anal retentive you are.
    I normally do it in two steps. Caster/camber as step one, toe as step two. The first time I did it, combined probably 5 hours. It gets faster every time you do it though. Once you get a feel for how much to adjust it goes much faster. I can do both steps now in about 1.5 hours.
     
    jberry813, Dec 17, 2012
    #51
  12. Dec 18, 2012 at 1:12 AM
    #52
    DIRT YOTA

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    DIRT YOTA Aka EL ROJO

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    Wow! Nice job Jason! I feel like u r yoda from star wars and we are all young jedi's.....
     
    DIRT YOTA, Dec 18, 2012
    #52
  13. Dec 25, 2012 at 10:47 AM
    #53
    4Wheelin4Banger

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    Great write-up Jason.
    I figured you would produce something sticky someday.:eek:
     
    4Wheelin4Banger, Dec 25, 2012
    #53
  14. Mar 23, 2013 at 3:21 AM
    #54
    bulhas

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    bulhas the habs fan

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    thanks for this write up jason, I was able to dial in atleast my camber issues tonight
     
    bulhas, Mar 23, 2013
    #54
  15. Mar 23, 2013 at 3:27 AM
    #55
    169.254.255.201

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    169.254.255.201 Well-Known Member

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    Sweet write up! I don't know if I will use this ever, but I didn't even think a DIY alignment was possible..
     
    169.254.255.201, Mar 23, 2013
    #55
  16. Apr 17, 2013 at 7:29 PM
    #56
    rtn1911

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    rtn1911 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the great write-up and references. Very helpful.
     
    rtn1911, Apr 17, 2013
    #56
  17. Jun 20, 2013 at 9:18 PM
    #57
    09redtac

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    09redtac Member

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    Good job! But I have to read a Few times to catch on the calculation...thanks! My alternative way to get alignment done while getting down a few beers to refresh my memory!
     
    09redtac, Jun 20, 2013
    #57
  18. Jun 20, 2013 at 9:35 PM
    #58
    whitetacoma89

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    whitetacoma89 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for write-up. I'll read more into this when I get home
     
    whitetacoma89, Jun 20, 2013
    #58
  19. Jun 23, 2013 at 9:02 AM
    #59
    Dirty Pool

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    What the heck, I’ll join in. Great write up, and particularly paragraph one. However I have a few things to toss in beyond what is mentioned in posts #33, #36.

    First off, HF is presently saying that angle finder is only accurate to + 0.3*.:confused: Maybe they changed something? It has been my experience that it takes about $100 just to get into the + 0.1* range. EDIT 1/15, + 0.1 deg accuracy levels can now be had for less than $40. Add a laser for a few more $'s and super accurate toe measurements are a breeze

    Here is one thing that rarely gets much press. At the 1st go around and before anything else it is important for DIY folks to consider, check or at least understand the initial centering of the rack/steering wheel. If the truck's history is unknown, the rack travel should be checked and centered if necessary. The outer tie-rods should be screwed into the inners an equal amount with a difference of 1.5mm or less to start. The steering wheel should be centered in its allowable rotations relative to the "spiral cable" inside it. Both the steering wheel and the rack centers then need to be in sync. The spot to set this is the spline joint between the rack pinion shaft (control valve) and the steering column shaft (intermediate shaft #2). Once the wheel/ rack centers are in agreement this will never change, unless someone changes it. Additionally it can be assumed that this "centering and sync" is already correct on a “one owner” truck with steering untouched from the factory.

    Lastly, I do not buy the 3rd to last sentence at the end of the OP about final centering of the steering wheel in fact it's just plain wrong.
    On a 1st gen 4wd Tacoma, once alignment is complete, if the steering wheel is slightly off, it can be brought to center by turning both inner tie-rods in the same direction (red arrows) by the exact same amount (one direction or the other, looking at the rack from the rear). If one is turned a different amount than the other, Toe will change.
    Here's a pictogram. The disk at top represents the steering wheel.
    TOEADJ0044_zpse1d4b843_9b8a4bc80858fbc4e26e5d1472bba412bce33ac4.jpg

    Other than what looks like a copy error in the caster calculation numbers, that’s all I got.;)




    .
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2015
    Dirty Pool, Jun 23, 2013
    #59
    Nod69er and Jon64l like this.
  20. Jun 23, 2013 at 9:19 AM
    #60
    OH-MAN

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    OH-MAN Well-Known Member

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    Great write up and once again the voodoo of another automotive setup is made easy for us regular foks to understand, and do if we wish.
    Thanks!
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2013
    OH-MAN, Jun 23, 2013
    #60
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