Do I need a specialty shop for an alignment, I Have a 3 inch lift.

I have a lift in my 2001 Tacoma, V6 4X4

I was told most non-specialty shops can not align a lifted truck properly.

This is the type of lift I have installed, its an Eibach coil spring suspenion lift with these parts:

95-04 Tacoma: Bilstein 5100 height adjustable front + Bilstein (set so the truck is about 3 inches above stock, if I recall)

5100 rear shocks

*(2) F4-BE5-D558-H5 Front height adjustable Bilstein shocks
RSBIL-R
*(2) BE5-6253-H5 Rear shocks
*(4) 9.8108G Bushings

Eibach Front Coil Springs
*(2) 112-620 coils

Custom Add-A-Leafs
*(2) D10045K73 Rear ToyTec add-a-leafs
*(4) Anti friction pads
*(2) Spring center pins w/nuts
Front Diff Drop Kit
*(2) Main diff-drop spacers
*(2) 1/2" x 8” Bolts
*(2) 1/2” Nuts
*(2) 1/2" Flat washers
*(2) 5/16" Lock washers
*(2) 5/16” Flat washers
*(2) 8mm x 40mm Bolts
*(2) Skid-Plate Spacers (1” x 1” x 1/2”)

I could take it to a Firestone pretty easily for a affordable alignment but I wonder if I am better off bringing it into a specialty shop that charges about 20% more..
or is it standard type alignment that a Firestone Complete Auto Care can complete?


Thanks
Jon

 

Who aligned it after the lift was installed or you just installed the lift and need it aligned?

Personally, I would call around and just explain what you have and what you need. Most shops are competent enough to answer questions over the phone - well, maybe... lol. Firestone might do it... still on stock UCAs? Give them a call.

What I've learned about alignments... doesn't matter if its a race car custom alignment shop, a 4WD specific alignment shop, Firestone or the mom/pop shop at the local gas station... if the tech doesn't know or care about their work, nothing matters. Its all about the tech and how they do their job.

 

As @Area51Runner said. It's often hard to find an alignment shop that knows enough or gives enough of a shit to do it correctly.

I ran 5100s with Eibach 620 coils, but I have SPC upper control arms. It's a good lift, I liked the ride. But it does lift quite a bit if you don't have armor, winch etc to weigh it down. I'd suggest getting aftermarket UCAs if/when you can.

But otherwise, there's nothing about your lift that would make it particularly difficult to align.

 

You just need a tech that has been on the rack for more than a year.

 

Holy detailed list batman...

 

better detailed post rather than having to play 20 questions to try and answer the opening post

 

Like this one that couldn't even reiterate his question after he was asked to reiterate his question? - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lift-kit-and-wheels.639952/

And this one? - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2-motofab-leveling-kit.639726/

Ty @prerunnerSD but really, any reputable shop can align your truck.

 

@prerunnerSD

A couple bits advice. Our (1st Gen) trucks are getting old. A lot of (less reputable) shops will use that to try to sell you on parts you may not need. Inner tie rods, outer tie rods, lower ball joints, upper ball joints, lower or upper control arm bushings... I am NOT saying you wont need one or more of these items, and I am NOT saying all shops will try and pull this nonsense. But this is why taking it to a reputable shop is important. Also, if they say you need a part, immediately ask why, and watch their reaction, and also tell them you want the old parts.

I've had a ("reputable") local shop tell me I need inner tie rods... only my truck wasn't even on the rack yet... also... little did they know, I do all my own maint and my inner tie rods weren't even 6 months old.

 

I have a 1st gen and a 3rd gen both lifted on Eibach coils with stock UCA and Firestone was able to align both trucks without any issues. In fact, I bought the lifetime alignment from them and I've already broken even when I needed to replace one of the front shocks on my 3rd gen.

 

I gotta just shake my head !!

Quite a few places I got we are sorry our computer does not have your specs we can`t do your alignment.

It all comes down to the tech doing the work not matter how good the tooling.

Here in the Northeast seized parts are the normal .

 

Gotta have someone that knows how to do it, and know what you're looking at when they hand you the printout.

 

Thanks for all the info!, I was just thinking I might need a special consideration for when they do the alignment and I figured of course they would say they know how to do it so I wanted a bit of knowledge to arm myself with.

 

Well I took my truck in for an alignment and the mechanic told me he COULDN'T do the alignment because I had to much play in the suspension system. He basically said I need whole new upper and lower control arms with upper and lower ball joints replaced because he said there was to much play.

Is this just a ploy to get me to pay him $1275 for the work? I should have taken a video of what he showed me, he showed me the "play" around the lower ball joint areas, also I have a lift so I am not sure that effects it some.

I am sure its been like that for awhile as I just drove cross-country and all over SO-California no problems.

Thanks
Jon

 

This is the exact lift I’m doing. Except I’m hoping to get closer to 2.5 up front. Would you have any pics of your truck lifted by chance? I’m afraid I’ll run into same issue with alignment after my lift being I’m still on factory parts.

 

I have been to alignment shops that try and sell componants etc by saying things have too much play, just to see if they can sell the parts/labor. It probably happens to us (older trucks/firt gen) because they figure it's old and if the truck owner doesn't know any better, they can get away with it.

I know this because do all the work on my truck. I had an alignment guy tell me I need new inner tie rods when I had just replaced them less than 6 months earlier and when I told him to show me, my truck wasn't even on the rack yet and the boots were still on the ITREs... there was no way for him to know they were bad if they were bad... and I knew they weren't bad anyway.

That being said, if the front end has been neglected, it's entirely possible to need 12-1300 (shop rate) in repairs.

My advise is to take it to another shop. Don't tell them what the first shop said. And see if the second shop tels you the same as the first shop.

Why were you looking for an alignment? Is it pulling, shaking etc.

 

Yeah, always do the “show me” thing when they’re telling you that you need a bunch of parts.

For starters, you almost NEVER need new upper or lower control arms. Thats crap. You might need new bushings, but don’t let the shop charge you for the extra parts just because they are too lazy to use that press in the corner to press in new bushings. New control arms come with bushings. It saves them a few minutes of labor, and they charge YOU the added cost in the parts. Don’t fall for it.

Ball joints, bushings, tie rod ends are all thigs that do wear out, and if your truck hasn’t seen new ones of those in a while, it’s conceivable they do need to be replaced. But for the most part, all those things are pretty easy DIY projects. There are many threads with iinstructions, and we can talk you though it, too.

Once you do the work, then get it re-aligned.

 

It all comes down did you see the play in the parts that you were told need replaced ??

Any shop that tells you that parts need replaced needs to show you just why

Some techs when the alignment is beyond there skill will say sorry you need to replace parts I can`t do this until it is done.

I have seen the Tie Rod locking/jam nuts seized in my part of the world Also the Cam Bolts as well.

Finding a Good Alignment Shop is hard for lifted trucks even more so.

Not seeing your truck who knows

 

This is my truck, you can't really tell its lifted IMH.. Its subtle.

 

Yes the upper and lower control arms needing replaced that seemed weird. the truck is holding up fine after 230K miles. I am going to get a second opinion and take a video of what they show me.

 

I meant up close in person looking at the front end.

You might not think it looks lifted but it is easy to see.