EXTREMELY squirrely front end

Alright guys, just replaced front coilovers, UCA, tie rods, leaf pack and rear struts. After getting aligned my front end is an absolute mess, fighting the steering wheel going over small bumps on pavement. I lifted the truck about 2 inches and currently do not have a sway bar, however its not just simple body roll. The alignment guy had to max out one of my tie rods. What could possibly be the issue? Is it a steering rack issue? Lower control arm? Should I find a different alignment shop?

 

Start with a new alignment shop.

 

Just outer tie rod ends?

 

Who's doing your alignments? If it's someplace like Firestone then I highly recommend going elsewhere, find a shop that specializes in alignments on customized vehicles. Places like Firestone only plug in factory alignment numbers into their machine and send you on your way. While the numbers might look good on paper they aren't necessarily what a lifted truck with aftermarket suspension needs

If it's still wonky after a good alignment then go from there

 

Inner as well.

 

It was actually a shop recommended to me by an offroad shop in the area that just moved out of town. I'll make a couple calls around town and see what I can find.

 

Hmm...did they give you a printout that you can post up here?

 

That he had to "max out" any of the adjustments is a red flag. Who did the work you or a shop? If you did it take it to a shop and pay a few bucks for a diagnosis. Front ends aren't as simple as folks think. There is a lot of complicated geometry involved.

 

This^. You need an experienced pro. You can mess with it for ever and still not have it right.

 

Unfortunately I was in a bit of a rush and forgot to ask

 

few can align a truck front end correctly
especially after lift
big tyres
etc

in the dirt or back woodz it hardly makes a difference

in this metro ( over 1 million) area there are ONLY 2Truck shops i would trust
another a maybe..........none are $ wheel drive shops
the ones i use can do 3/4 ton to 6-7 axle rigs

U dont mention age / mileage
always makes a difference

good luck

 

Alright guys. Took it to the off-road shop in town and they are still have trouble getting it aligned. They are saying my tie rods might be wrong. I purchased the 555 inner tie rods from low range and some Moog tie rod ends from rock auto.

 

Simple fix. Go to Toyota and get the OEM parts, they’ll be right. If they sell them the n pieces and not the entire rack as a whole.

 

I have the same inners from Low Range, a lot of people on here do too. Inners I went with OEM though because they weren't that expensive (~$40 or so).

The alignment shop should be able to tell you where the trouble is exactly. Who did the tie rod install?

 

Well, I got three alignments. One from a shop that was recommended by an offroad shop, one by an offroad shop and one by firestone. You know who was the only one who could get it? FIRESTONE. Interesting turn of events. Thank you all for you replies and ideas.

 

a good tech makes ALL the difference