Billies at 2.5 - good alignment achieved

Just wanted to let yall know i installed 5100s up front and 5125s in the rear w/ a 2in aal, got the alignment w/in specs without new UCAs. I was replacing the original shocks w/ over 100,000 miles on them, the rears were completely shot. It DOES ride stiff but i dont think it is too bad, especially coming from the oem shocks.

So far the only offroading i have done is over a curb in a parking lot, but the preliminary feeling is very good.

I also did develop the front diff bearing issues after the lift, so i will be working to order the new bushing from ECGS and replacing.

 

Post the actual specs from the print off the shop should have gave you. Glad you have a nice driving truck after the lift.

 

"Within specs" is a lot different than "good alignment". If you're over .05 camber, expect tire wear.

 

I got about 2.8 inches of lift with my setup and it came to .07 and .06 camber. I see no reason to blow 500 bucks on new uca's. I am thinking my alignment place could still take more out if they wanted. My alignment cams are not all the way pushed out on the LCA.

 

I'd do that then. I was at .07 when I had mine at 2.5" and the tires wore badly on the outside edge. I didn't care since I was replacing them but we're talking about major wear over only 2 months. YMMV.

 

Yea but what did they get your caster too?

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/210139-those-5100s-2-5-a-2.html#post4791735

I did end up going back to 1.75" and everything is fine. I'm at .4/.4 camber now, I forget what caster is but it drives fine.

 

Yeah , my caster turned out to be like 2.5 and 2.3.

Major wear... I will keep a lookout for that. I never had an alignment before the lift so I don't know what the numbers ran. I have had a broken wrist for a while now so I haven't been putting alot of miles driving to riding areas and going on trips like I normally do. I think I have a couple thousand miles and so far my tires look fine.

I would think if it was within stock limits you wouldn't have major wear, and a little more than half a degree just seems very minor.

 

This is the after specs...

 

This is an "in spec" alignment. You can get a much better ride than this. They used some positive camber in the right to compensate for the lack of caster. 1 degree will wear that right tire pretty quick. camber should be 0 and 2.5-3.2ish on the caster for a great ride.

 

You might notice more of a "wandering" feel during highway driving with less than 2.5 of caster.

 

isn't spec between 2.3 to 2.6?

I had my alignment done twice after my lift. the first time was 2.5 and 2.8 and apparently 2.8 is out of spec. Only a few days after my lift I had to swerve to avoid someone way over the center line coming at me and hit one mother of a pothole and knocked my alignment out. Had it redone and my caster was 2.5 and 2.3 I think.... don't exactly remember the specifics.

 

If you look at the specs they are 1.2-2.6 i think. That doesn't mean it will drive well though. Those are acceptable ranges from Toyota. You can align a vehicle in the green in every category and still make it drive awful. Things need to be symmetrical.

 

While I agree, my numbers look very similar to this OP's. I took to the alignment guy at the Goodyear tire service center up the road from me twice. I even explained the second time that I needed more caster than 2.1, at least 2.5 or better and he said that was the best he could do. ???? I didn't get the all you can eat alignment deal and the 2nd alignment he did for free, nor did I feel like taking the truck back and pestering for a 3rd alignment that to them was in spec. He even acknowledged what I was trying to tell him about having the lift. It's not bad enough for me to go spend $90+ somewhere else only to have to argue with them about it as well. Do you suggest I need caster at 2.5? I mean, it'd be nice an all but is it $100 and an entire day worth it?

 

To me, that would depend on the camber. If your camber is above .5+, you could have major tire wear. My caster is 2.0 and I don't see a problem.

 

I can almost guarantee that your wheel does not return to straight by itself.

 

Take the people talking about camber wear with a grain of salt. Almost all cars have a decent amount of camber, the sportier, the more camber (up to 2.5 or so on production cars). Camber will wear the insides more than the outsides overtime but there is not way you would notice wear in a few months. Rapid wear is from having too much toe in/out.

 

Camber goes both ways. You can have positive or negative just like the toe and caster.

 

They are talking about positive, not negative camber.

ntilehman beat me to it.

 

I don't understand what the better ride will be. I would assume the shop puts it in the best position for operation. However assumptions can get me some times. Wouldn't as close to zero on all counts provide the best tire wear???