Alignment Question Please

Hello, I just picked up the truck from Firestone out here in Lakewood Colorado. First time I've been to a garage in a long time, I just don't really do my own alignments I guess. And it ended up being a pretty terrible experience, I look forward to trying a few other Firestones near me when I need another one. But anyway, I sure would like some eyes on this to see what somebody more experienced thinks of these numbers.
I have 6200s in the front at about an inch and a half of lift. I can't remember the exact perch, but I can find out if that helps. I had Alcan leaf springs built for 1.5 in of lift in the rear. Upper control arms are still stock

 

Did they mention if the lower eccentrics were seized? You need over a degree of caster or it I’ll drive like ass.

 

I'm not sure the tech that was there today knew much of anything. I'd be horribly surprised if anything is seized at 67k born and raised in Colorado. After just doing the lift myself, every bolt was more than cooperative. However, I know there are always exceptions.
Ok, so it sounds like with the caster on this sheet, I should def get another tech to check it out and discuss the numbers with me.

 

Well, actually the front desk person told me there are a few things they couldn't adjust because the tie rod was seized. I told him that that didn't sound right, and wanted to talk about it a little further. He ran back and talked to the tech and came back and said never mind your tie rod was fine.

After a little bit of reading, I understand that the tie rod only has to do with the toe adjustment.

 

There is some good news and some bad in this tech sheet.



The good is that your current alignment is unlikely to cause excessive tire wear. Camber and toe are reasonable. The bad news the caster. As was mentioned, with the caster that low it'll be a handful to drive, especially at highway speed.

Part of the trouble is the lift. Adding lift reduces caster. Could a more experienced tech get a little more caster out of it? Possibly, depending on the condition of the LCA cam bolt adjusters. But it'll never be great.

It is going to take at least a set of aftermarket UCAs to make it right because those kind of arms will add in some caster by default.

 

Thank you for breaking that down. That makes more sense, and after a little bit more internet reading I think I'm understanding.

I kind of want to go back to Firestone and have them adjust my purchase to the one-time alignment, instead of the lifetime. I'm not too happy with that experience, and think I could maybe do small adjustments myself and pay a more specific alignment shop when necessary.

I thought the new suspension components I picked out might keep me in the parameters to avoid replacing upper control arm. I don't necessarily have a huge problem doing that, but the stock ones are still in really good shape.

I drove the truck on the highway many times after the suspension upgrade, but before this alignment. And it really did seem fine to me. I haven't driven it on the highway after this, so we will see.

The way my caster is adjusted, should I expect any more wear or tear on any of the other components?

 

I think having the lifetime alignment is a huge advantage and well worth the investment. I'll bet I've used mine 20 times in the past 10 years.

My guess is you got a tech who was lazy and didn't want to put in the effort it takes to set it to where it needs to be. Basically what you got was a toe and go, which is a cop out on their part and is not necessarily the way it always is at Firestone. Getting what you want from them is a matter of being knowledgeable and up front about what you want and finding a tech with enough experience to give you what you need.

 

Haha toe and go. Yes I think so. You are right. This was basically my understanding of going into the Firestone deal anyway, I just got worked up with some of the other circumstances surrounding my entire visit that day. I will take it to a Firestone with better reviews and see what I can find out after learning a bit more, thank you

 

Well I went to another Firestone. I tried talking to them before hand. Nice enough counter guy. But not really interested in anything I have to say. He just called to say they were done. I asked how it went and he said toe and camber are great, but they can't adjust caster on this setup.

That doesn't sound right, does it? I know it can't be adjusted perfectly maybe. But "can't adjust caster on this set up" can't be accurate....

I just called Brakes Plus and he was super cool. But actually said some gen ones actually can't have the castor adjusted. Something about a split VIN.

This is all crazy to me

 

Caster is set/manipulated by the adjustable cam bolts that the LCA uses to attach to the frame. If those bolts are frozen or wont move when loosened, it would be accurate to say "can't adjust caster on this set up". If it was me, I'd ask the question why cant you adjust the caster.

There are 4 sets of cam adjusters on your truck. See if you can get some photos f yours.

When you pick up the truck, be sure to get a printed copy of the spec sheet and post a pic of it on here.

 

I took photos of all of the cam bolts beforehand. I will post them up shortly. I don't think any of them are seized. I'm going to grab the truck now, I will take a look at the spec sheet

 

Probably just don't know what they are doing. They adjusted the camber so they should be able to adjust the caster, it's the same set of bolts just adjusted differently. Your rear axle doesn't look great. Probably require a Toyota dealership but looks like the axle is rotated. Might be fine if you don't notice it pulling.

 

Crap, I didn't even notice anything about the rear. I bet it just got a little bit out of alignment when I replaced the leaf springs.... Maybe I will loosen some bolts back there and give it some good jigglin.

Yesterday's printout is basically exactly the same as the one I posted at the beginning of this post.
It really seems to drive fine and track pretty straight. Even at highway speeds, I don't really notice too many of the symptoms that people have said I might experience with zero caster.

I think I'm just going to let it go for now. I can't keep wasting time at multiple Fire Stones who aren't willing to listen or try something slightly deviated from their standards or what their computer system tells them.

Thanks everyone for enduring yet another alignment post