1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

How to do an Alignment at Home

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

  1. Feb 20, 2017 at 6:47 AM
    #181
    ebayollis

    ebayollis MY DIXIE WRECKED

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2010
    Member:
    #42709
    Messages:
    120
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    josh
    spruce pine nc
    Vehicle:
    2017 tacoma trd sport ddbl cab 4wd auto
    I put a 3" lift on my '17 trd sport and took it to the alignment shop and you can still see a visual, very slightly, positive camber. Even though the shop says it's in spec
    I have factory UCA and was wondering which way would I need to move my LCA to give it a slight negative camber
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2017
    Firebird and Blackout14 like this.
  2. Mar 2, 2017 at 3:58 AM
    #182
    Firebird

    Firebird Notorious Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2015
    Member:
    #161981
    Messages:
    917
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Phoenix
    Lewisberry, PA
    Vehicle:
    1993 FZJ80
    :anonymous::popcorn:
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
  3. Apr 6, 2017 at 6:38 PM
    #183
    Taco Luvr

    Taco Luvr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2016
    Member:
    #175295
    Messages:
    355
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD 4X4 OR
    King Ext, TC UCA, 1.5 AAL, VTX Rogue SL, BFG KO2 285/75R16
    I had a local shop install a set of King extended coilovers and Total Chaos UCA's a couple of days ago on my 2016.

    The guy got the camber and toe in an acceptable range, but he told me the caster is maxed out at 2.6* and 2.7*.

    Obviously, I don't think he is correct, seeing as how there are people with more caster on this forum.

    What could he be doing wrong–and what can I do–to get more caster? If I am understanding correctly, I may be able to eliminate this annoying tire rub I am getting if I can increase my caster.

    Am I dealing with a lazy tech, or are the new UCA's blowing his mind and he doesn't know how to make the proper adjustments?

    Any input is much appreciated!
     
  4. Apr 9, 2017 at 1:12 PM
    #184
    wolfofworld

    wolfofworld New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    Member:
    #141519
    Messages:
    4
    Gender:
    Male
    AZ
    Vehicle:
    08 Tacoma V-6 SR5 4X4
    I put a 3" front 2" rear lift/level kit on my 2008 Tacoma 4x4 sport and I am getting tire rub on inside rear of tire on tight turns. The minute I installed the front lift you could see the positive camber, tires were pointing up and away big time. Big O did the alignment and showed a correction of 1.1 1.0 camber 1.2 1.9 caster and .03 .02 toe. I did my own alignment check pulling up on plastic grocery bags so it turns easy, then with strings get the truck straight and put lines on the concrete so the protractor could mark 20 deg. on the floor. And my readings show 1.1 1.0 camber 3.4 3.6 caster toe was 1/16 tighter in the front of wheel while measuring the string halfway up the rim. I measure front of rim and back of rim on both sides of truck knowing the string is straight off the back wheels. Why the tire rub and how do I get better numbers? Upper control arms? thanks.
     
  5. Apr 9, 2017 at 4:40 PM
    #185
    Justinlhc

    Justinlhc Not looking for a relationship

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2015
    Member:
    #158945
    Messages:
    3,513
    You didn't measure caster correctly. There is no way you had 3.4-3.6° of caster after a 3" lift on stock control arms.

    Yes, you need aftermarket control arms.
     
    wolfofworld[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Apr 9, 2017 at 5:51 PM
    #186
    tetten

    tetten Cynical Twat Waffle

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    Member:
    #141581
    Messages:
    2,504
    First Name:
    Andy
    Socal
    Check your caster cams, if they aren't maxed out you might be able to squeak a bit more out of them.
     
  7. Apr 9, 2017 at 5:56 PM
    #187
    tetten

    tetten Cynical Twat Waffle

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    Member:
    #141581
    Messages:
    2,504
    First Name:
    Andy
    Socal
    What is the tire rubbing on? Your options are either get aftermarket UCA or wheel spacers but spacers may shift the rubbing elsewhere.
     
    wolfofworld[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Apr 10, 2017 at 12:11 AM
    #188
    wolfofworld

    wolfofworld New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    Member:
    #141519
    Messages:
    4
    Gender:
    Male
    AZ
    Vehicle:
    08 Tacoma V-6 SR5 4X4
    It's rubbing on the inside rear of the tire and it looks like it's hitting the frame on tight parking turns. Spacers is a great idea but I might get some after market upper control arms. I never thought this lift would be such a pain.
     
  9. May 3, 2017 at 11:00 PM
    #189
    WormSquirts

    WormSquirts Armageddon

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2015
    Member:
    #172583
    Messages:
    2,462
    First Name:
    Braeden
    BC
    Incredibly informative post! Thank you so much!

    I do have a question for you though @jberry813

    For setting the toe, what is to prevent you from adjusting the toe so you're front wheels looked like []---\\ (obviously exaggerated). You could still get the proper 1/8" toe in, but in reality one wheel is straight while the other is in, rather than each being in 1/16". If that makes sense?
     
  10. May 11, 2017 at 3:23 PM
    #190
    drftsub

    drftsub Sale Forum Lurker

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2014
    Member:
    #144321
    Messages:
    192
    Gender:
    Male
    Santa Cruz Mountains, CA
    Vehicle:
    '13 200 Series Land Cruiser
    You absolutely can do that, once you cycle the wheel back and forth that distance will typically split between the two tires as long as you were not SUPER out of whack, but may move your steering wheel off center. This does not mean the front is square to the rear however, and the only way to verify that at home is to setup a string box that is square to the entire vehicle. On our trucks w a leaf rear suspension without "real" serviceable adjustment, its not normally done (in my experience) by the home user.

    More info on how to string a car (my experience with this is racecar stuff, but the method is the same):

    Using a pre built kit, this one is made by Smart Strings - (you can also make your own fairly easy) https://nasaspeed.news/toolshed-engineer/string-alignment/

    DIY w jack stands - http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ctrp...termining-wheel-alignment-string-your-car-004
     
    WormSquirts[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. May 26, 2017 at 1:49 PM
    #191
    snowsk8air2

    snowsk8air2 how hard can it be?

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2011
    Member:
    #63607
    Messages:
    10,166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Flagstaff, AZ
    Vehicle:
    Supercharged TX Pro
    2011 S/C and basic mods
  12. May 26, 2017 at 7:51 PM
    #192
    beertimecontinuum

    beertimecontinuum What's outside the simulation?

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2013
    Member:
    #119461
    Messages:
    9,993
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Everett
    Ky,Earth,SolarSystem,MilkyWay,VirgoSupercluster
    Vehicle:
    10 Pyrite DCSB VEEEEEE 1.618
    FoxShox, Dirt King Heims, Chevy63s, 2UZ-FE V8 Flowmaster 40, Demello Front/DYF Rear w/Swigouts, BAMF sliders, DYFAF
    Sub
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2017
  13. Jul 2, 2017 at 8:58 AM
    #193
    Murphinator

    Murphinator Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2015
    Member:
    #149903
    Messages:
    3,185
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Anthony
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    14 DCSB 4x4
    Damn photobucket, all the pictures are gone :(
     
    outlawtacoma and Zebinator like this.
  14. Jul 5, 2017 at 8:35 AM
    #194
    Zebinator

    Zebinator Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2014
    Member:
    #143381
    Messages:
    783
    Gender:
    Male
    Norcal
    Vehicle:
    06 Tacoma TRD Offroad
    outlawtacoma likes this.
  15. Jul 5, 2017 at 8:54 AM
    #195
    jberry813

    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2011
    Member:
    #49636
    Messages:
    28,464
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jason
    Lake Tahoe
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCSB Sport
    ...too much shit to list.
  16. Jul 5, 2017 at 9:05 AM
    #196
    IronPeak

    IronPeak PermaLurker

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2016
    Member:
    #180799
    Messages:
    3,232
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    AuggieX
    Back to Back
    Vehicle:
    2007 sr5 4x4 DCLB/2015 TRD sport 4x4 DCLB sold
    Bigger Taller Slower

    Q1 sin C + cos C − Q2 = 0 (4B)
    (Q1 sin C − Q2)2 = (− cos C)2 (5B)
    Q2
    1 sin2 C − 2Q1Q2 sin C + Q2
    2 = cos2 C (6B)
    = 1 − sin2 C (7B)
    (Q2
    1 + 1) sin2 C + (−2Q1Q2) sin C + (Q2
    2 − 1) = 0 (8B)
    Eq. (8B) is a quadratic in sin C. Thus there are two possible roots. Let
    a = Q2
    1 + 1 (9B)
    b = −2Q1Q2 (10B)
    c = Q2
    2 − 1

    Wtf should have stayed in school dammit
     
    Biscuits, tcBob and Zebinator[QUOTED] like this.
  17. Jul 5, 2017 at 9:10 AM
    #197
    jberry813

    jberry813 [OP] Professional Fluffer Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2011
    Member:
    #49636
    Messages:
    28,464
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jason
    Lake Tahoe
    Vehicle:
    2012 DCSB Sport
    ...too much shit to list.
    Pix fixed in OP (I think). Let me know if I missed anything.
     
  18. Jul 5, 2017 at 3:19 PM
    #198
    Zebinator

    Zebinator Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2014
    Member:
    #143381
    Messages:
    783
    Gender:
    Male
    Norcal
    Vehicle:
    06 Tacoma TRD Offroad
    Exactly! My eyes were crossing.

    Awesome and thank you. Timely...

    I've been trying to see if i could eliminate rub from my 255/85-16's by messing with the caster adjustment. The left wheel was about an inch farther back in the wheel well than the right, so i wondered if something was off... Turns out something is off with my truck! Absolutely maxxing out the caster on the driver side, i still get the slightest rub at full stuff, about 20-30° wheel turn, but the passenger side totally clears. I have not made it to a home depot to get me some floor tiles, so I still don't know where my caster ended up (i'm guessing about 4° judging from how the truck really wants to go straight, now!) but camber ended up at about +1.5L, +1.0R. Toe was 4" out! YIKES. I could feel it driving in my driveway so decided I needed to fix that before i drove it today.

    My handy tire scriber:


    And far side measuring tape helper: (turns out the short side of that square is exactly at the hub!


    The only hard part was loosening the tie rod nut! what do you guys use to do that??? And, what about retorque-ing it? I have been looking for a 22mm crows foot and the only one i found was from snapon. $30!!!

    Anyway, fixing the toe only took about 45 min and I got it spot on. A little tip for getting the toe on and steering wheel straight - seems a turn of the tie rod is equivalent to moving the front of my 33" about 1/8". And, frequently re-centering the steering wheel and then sighting down the side of the tire and noticing where it's pointing and shooting for the same location on the other tire seemed to work for keeping the steering wheel centered.

    Steering wheel points dead ahead and the truck actually feels like it drives pretty normally. Not sure what i'm going to do about my 1.5° of positive caster though. Argh.
     
  19. Jul 6, 2017 at 8:05 AM
    #199
    drftsub

    drftsub Sale Forum Lurker

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2014
    Member:
    #144321
    Messages:
    192
    Gender:
    Male
    Santa Cruz Mountains, CA
    Vehicle:
    '13 200 Series Land Cruiser
    For the tie rod I use a big snap-on line wrench and a pipe wrench if needed to hold the other components.. as far as torque, I just lean on it like all hell. If you decide to go with a crows foot, try and find the line wrench ones rather than a true open so you lessen your odds of stripping it. You can also use a O2 sensor socket as it is 7/8" / 22mm

    for your caster situation, are your alignment tabs flattened? it could be possible you are not using all of the available adjustment, if not the next I would ask is if it has ever been in a front end collision.
     
  20. Jul 11, 2017 at 7:07 AM
    #200
    snowsk8air2

    snowsk8air2 how hard can it be?

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2011
    Member:
    #63607
    Messages:
    10,166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Flagstaff, AZ
    Vehicle:
    Supercharged TX Pro
    2011 S/C and basic mods
    Awesome write up and going to be very helpful after my LT install this week or next. Only question I have is when it comes to heimed uca's and adjusting them and what is affected. Would it be the opposite of the lca adjustment? Trying to get as much info before chasing my tail especially since the uca's are a bit more of a pain to adjust

    IMG_6388.jpg
     

Products Discussed in

To Top