Alignment Caster Issue?

Newly installed Old EMO suspension with approximately a 2" lift. Brought it to Toyota for alignment and this is "the best they can do".



Thoughts on the Caster? Shouldn't they be able to get it closer to spec with a 2in lift? I have new stock UCA/LCA and cams so it shouldn't be rust issues.

I checked the cams and they seem mostly centered... So shouldn't there be more adjustment?

I have 6 months / 6000 miles to get a second alignment.

 

Bullshit. Bring it back and ask for more caster.

 

Impossible to say if it's the "best" they can do without seeing the truck, but with these settings, it's probably going to wander to the right enough to be annoying.

 

The CASTER is more important than the Camber.

 

Brand new Moog UCA/LCAs with new cams, plus OME 2881 springs, shocks etc. Gives about a 2 inch lift.

 

Are the uppers adjustable? If so, then I would expect a better outcome. If you only have adjustment on the lowers, as is the case from the factory, you can run out of adjustment before achieving the desired outcome after a lift is installed.

The alignment they provided won't wear tires, but it also won't drive great.

 

I ran out of cash so I didn't do adjustable uppers unfortunately. Just seems like they could have gotten a little better. The drive seems ok, but I haven't taken it on the mountain highway yet.

 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not outright saying they couldn't, but without seeing the position of the adjustment cams on the lower control arms, it's impossible to say if further improvements were possible.

 

That's what's really odd to me, the cams all appear near to vertical all the way around... Which is why I call a bit of BS...

 

Camber is connected to caster. So the more they move to he tire forward the more camber goes off. That being said they should be able to get 2* caster keeping camber within spec.

 

If that's true, then they certainly could have provided a better outcome. In my time as a tech, I meant a lot of others that, even if they were a good technician overall, struggled with alignments on these trucks. Due to the design of the lower control arms, camber and caster adjustments occur at the same time, and it trips up a lot of guys when doing these alignments. It takes a fair deal of experience to get good at them and many never get the chance to gain that experience unfortunately.

 

This isn't new information to us. Simply, your alignment guy is a lazy POS. Ask that he dial in more caster!

 

I was telling the OP. Not you. My alignment guy is a badass so not sure what your talking about. They align pikes peak hill climb racecars.

 

Wish I knew who around here is good (Shenandoah Valley VA). I used the dealership since I figured they had the best chance of getting it right.

Supposedly the guy had it on the rack for over half an hour trying to get it right. I think he gave up and "called it good". I plan to take it back since they will give me another adjustment for free within 6 months.

 

Thought you were the OP. I lived in the neighborhood across COS for a while back, if I ever return, I'll be using your alignment guy.

 

Curious, because I honestly don't know, does the alignment equipment use the markings on the frame to tell the tech what to do?

 

No. Those markings are not particularly useful in my experience. You can actually see the effective changes in real-time when the truck is on the rack. That info is far more useful then the marks on the frame.

 

Ok, I thought MAYBE he had issues because my markings are painted over and hard to see. It appears he just didn't do a good job. I'm gonna take it back.

 

It was rex tire. But I just looked them up and I guess they stopped doing alignments!! I usually do mine to where I want I and ask them to just dial it in to perfect it.