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How to do an Alignment at Home

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

Page 4 of 20
  1. Jun 23, 2013 at 9:28 AM
    #61
    kbauman92

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    kbauman92 Well-Known Member

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    awesome write up! sub'd
     
    kbauman92, Jun 23, 2013
    #61
  2. Aug 26, 2013 at 10:09 AM
    #62
    fj40taz

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    fj40taz Well-Known Member

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    good write up.. sub'd
     
    fj40taz, Aug 26, 2013
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  3. Sep 9, 2013 at 12:50 PM
    #63
    MapleMoose

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    MapleMoose Drunk Canadian

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    Is it possible to align the passenger side cambar/caster off of the drivers side specs? I removed the passenger side cam adjusters and stupidly enough i rubbed the hatch marks off when i was cleaning them
     
    MapleMoose, Sep 9, 2013
    #63
  4. Sep 9, 2013 at 4:44 PM
    #64
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Not unless your frame and suspension components are 100% perfectly symmetrical....which they are not ;)
     
    jberry813, Sep 9, 2013
    #64
  5. Sep 9, 2013 at 7:19 PM
    #65
    MapleMoose

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    MapleMoose Drunk Canadian

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    Alright. How about close enough to get me to an alignment shop?
     
    MapleMoose, Sep 9, 2013
    #65
  6. Sep 9, 2013 at 10:28 PM
    #66
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Sure. Just eyeball align it. You would be surprised how close you can get with just doing it with the naked eye.
     
    jberry813, Sep 9, 2013
    #66
  7. Oct 9, 2013 at 10:45 PM
    #67
    Justin

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    Justin Well-Known Member

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    Jay, is it that easy to do? Whenever I make right hand turns on mountain roads my traction control goes off like crazy and applies the brakes and shit. I swear it's gonna get me killed soon.
     
    Justin, Oct 9, 2013
    #67
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  8. Oct 10, 2013 at 8:17 AM
    #68
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Yep. Super easy. Just follow the instructions and use a paperclip for the "SST"
     
    jberry813, Oct 10, 2013
    #68
  9. Oct 15, 2013 at 11:27 AM
    #69
    esse10

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    esse10 Well-Known Member

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    Great write up but how do you know that the spray paint is right in the middle of the tire on both sides, front and back ? I can see where you can spray it strait by putting a 2x4 but how do you know it's right in the middle of the tire though?

    Another question that was not asked is before you make CAM Adjustments do you lift the truck up and then lift the LCA up to simulate normal driving level to make your CAM adjustments on the LCA, then lower back down and recheck the camber/caster?

    I have never adjusted those CAMS do they move fairly easy once you loosen the nut? do you spray them with anything first?
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2013
    esse10, Oct 15, 2013
    #69
  10. Oct 15, 2013 at 12:26 PM
    #70
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    ...too much shit to list.
    It doesn't have to be in the middle of the tire. You can put it wherever you want. As long as the line you scribe around the tire with a nail or whatever is centric, your reference point is identical. You are measuring from one centric point on the left tire to another centric point on the right tire. Where those scribes are makes no difference as the math you're doing is simple subtraction between the distance of the two lines (one at the front of the tires, one at the rear).

    Adjust cams without jacking up the truck. Take your measurements, adjust, and take measurements again. If you unload the suspension, you'll have to reload it again (drive it around up and over bumps) and start over.

    The cam bolts move easy...unless they are seized (fairly common with second gens).
     
    jberry813, Oct 15, 2013
    #70
  11. Oct 16, 2013 at 5:25 AM
    #71
    esse10

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    esse10 Well-Known Member

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    k, it's starting to clear up on me now.....good
    thanks for the quick reply...........YOU THE MAN

    One last question though, the caster angle moves up and down or should I say shifts as you turn the wheels? is that why you measure the caster at 20 degree angle?

    casterangle.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2013
    esse10, Oct 16, 2013
    #71
  12. Oct 16, 2013 at 8:33 AM
    #72
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Caster does not change as you turn the wheel. Caster is the angle of the imaginary line between your upper and lower ball joints (with a double control arm setup such as Tacoma's). That angle does not change as you turn the wheels as the UBJ an LBJ are pivot points for the steering.
    Caster DOES however change as the suspension cycles up and down.

    Why measure camber at 20 degrees both directions and subtract the difference and multiply by 1.5? Fuck if I know. I learned that trick when I was 12 setting up my go carts with my dad (who was a mechanic pretty much his whole life). Don't know the whole history behind why the math works that way. But google your heart out and I'm sure you can find out why.
     
    jberry813, Oct 16, 2013
    #72
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  13. Nov 15, 2013 at 12:57 PM
    #73
    JLink

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    JLink Well-Known Member

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    Great write up! I'll have to give it a try
     
    JLink, Nov 15, 2013
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  14. Dec 13, 2013 at 9:50 AM
    #74
    tacoma4

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    tacoma4 Well-Known Member

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    Has anyone used this method then had it check by an alignment shop? Seems like toe would be hard to get right since the tolerance is usually +/-.05 degrees or so. On a 265 tire that translates to about 1/10th of an inch difference max which seems like it would be hard to hit with just a tape measure.
     
    tacoma4, Dec 13, 2013
    #74
  15. Dec 20, 2013 at 3:12 PM
    #75
    Airun

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    Airun Well-Known Member

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    Well, I just got mine aligned at a shop and I'm not happy with the caster numbers. I may have to jack around with this and see what I can come up with. It drives ok, but seems a little twitchy at 60. Also I'm curious to see how the different changes affect the feel.
     
    Airun, Dec 20, 2013
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  16. Feb 1, 2014 at 9:34 AM
    #76
    jimbo33l

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    Sub'd
     
    jimbo33l, Feb 1, 2014
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  17. Feb 26, 2014 at 6:55 PM
    #77
    lotsoftoys

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    bunch of crap
    so what happens when you get your camber and cast set. you go to set ur toe and by the time u get ur toe correct, ur caster and camber changed. but u didnt know because you would have to start all over to find out. Not trying to be a dick Jason, just giving u shit. its impressive that u can do, it yourself. but its so much easier and accurate on an alignment machine....
    but i do get, that half the battle is finidng a competent tech to perform the alignment... hell i have people request me to do their alignments....
     
    lotsoftoys, Feb 26, 2014
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  18. Feb 26, 2014 at 8:42 PM
    #78
    jberry813

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    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Dick. :D

    Not everyone has access to an alignment machine (and even less of a chance to find a competent tech). If I had access to a machine, I would do it myself. I never said that a garage alignment is more accurate, faster, or easier than using a machine. The point was it can be done in the garage with patience and some basic tools. Not everyone works at Toyota (or knows someone who does). For my needs, my truck gets a jberry alignment. Not forcing anyone else to do it either.
     
    jberry813, Feb 26, 2014
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  19. Mar 1, 2014 at 7:02 AM
    #79
    jimbo33l

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    Jberry I was wondering if you can help me with a little clarification on my 2nd gen. On the adjustment for the cam washers if I were wanting to maximize caster before I install my lr uca's. To do this I would rotate the washers on the front end of the truck with the marks towards the center of the truck and the bolt would be towards the outside? And on the rearward facing washers I would wAnt full positive by having the same as the front to where the bolt is closest to the wheels and the center mark is facing toward the center of the vehicle?
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2014
    jimbo33l, Mar 1, 2014
    #79
  20. Mar 1, 2014 at 7:52 AM
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    Mach375

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    Mach375, Mar 1, 2014
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