What caster are you running with 35's?

I have a seven inch lift up front, 6 in the back and SPC's. I went in today for an alignment to push the wheels forward some. I have the caster at 4.1 right now and starting to get some steering wheel shimmy. I'm thinking maybe going down to 3.7 what are you guys running? (FYI 0 toe, 0 camber)

 

So the idea is you max the lower eccentrics for max forward wheel, then tweak caster with upper.

At this point, any added caster, actually rotates the wheel rearward.

So stability is fine, but the idea is to prevent rubbing and find a sweet spot.

Most of the time we shoot for 3.5 or less. We've found 4.0 is too high.

Also, I'd suggest more toe, big tires push outwards so you're likely running negative total toe while driving down the road.

I usually do 1.5 total toe or more on big boys. Never never zero.

Lastly, you're in 3rd gen, if this is your 2nd gen, its time to check ball joints unloaded and take a good look at all the suspension joints.

 

THIS truck is a month old with 400 miles on it. Different truck than the 2006, check out the pic

 

Currently at 2.5⁰ positive caster.

 

2.5-2.7

 

Max caster. Just have them set the rear bolt so its pushing all the way forward, then dial everything else in.

 

The source of your wheel shimmy is likely the toe of 0. You want a little toe to keep the wheels stable.

https://accutuneoffroad.com/tacoma-4runner-wheel-alignment/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_(automotive)

 

With your lower eccentrics maxed out, what settings are you running on your UCA's? Right now I have my UCA's set on "D" just the normal 2deg setting. BTW, have you found an easy way to adjust the UCA's? What your method? To adjust the camber I just loosen the nut and raise and lower the truck to adjust. But when I take the nut off and pull the ball joint out of the slot to adjust the caster, trying to get the ball joint back in the slot is a huge struggle!!!

I'm bringing it back in on Thursday to have them do some tweaking.

 

update, I'm at 6.2 and 6.25 castor, tiny tow in, 0 camber. Seems better, going to give it couple days. This shop is amazing, no computers all manual. Spent about 3hrs working on it before I got there then another 2 hours adjusting it with the owner a little at a time then taking test drives.

 

I would not think that not having computerized alignment software is something to brag about, unless there is something about having such huge modifications precludes that, but from I've seen, the latest versions of computerized alignment racks, once they've been properly leveled, are more accurate and more importantly, much faster to dial in a great alignment.

 

The problem with the computerized systems is they have specs built in. also, with the computerized systems everytime you make as adjustment to the UCA's you have to jack up the truck by the frame to take the weight off the tires, make an adjustment, then lower the truck back onto the machine, re-calibrate the machine, take a new measurement and see where you are, then repeat until you have it tuned in. these guys specialize in custom suspensions. You tell them what specs you want and they make it happen. Or you can just say make it not rub and they will find a way. I was in the bay with them, watching them work is amazing. In the bay next to mine they had a dump truck they where realigning all 6 axles. They connect to the wheels, the sensors on each communicate with each other in real time and have adapters that connect to the LCA's to put the full weight of the truck on the sprints and can adjust the toe, camber and caster via the lower cams and UCA's. then they double check the toe with basically a huge set of calipers like machinist use. The shop is legit! If you don't like the camber or castor you bring it back and say I want to try xyz next and see how it rides and they take care of you until your happy. You only find that at small local shops who have been doing specialized alignments for 30+ years.

lol, he was telling me about this guy that came in and kept saying his tires were still rubbing. He checked and adjusted the alignment countless times. Then realized he had a couple cab mounts bent, so he told the guy if you can help me I'll loosen the cab bolts and we can adjust the cab a little and that should fix you up. And he did. Try finding that kind of service at a chain store, lol

 

the specs are so you don't go digging for specs, on factory cars.
The screen says what your vehicle is at.
I can put my truck on the rack and select Volkswagen. Or not select anything at all.
It's gonna measure the wheel regardless.

 

but you still have to reset calibrations everytime to adjust the USA's and the readings are not 100% accurate until you take the weight off of the tires so the suspension can settle. lifting by the LCA's and taking measurements is way more accurate. I have used the computerized machines myself several times. When I make major changes we roughly dial it in on the computerized rack so i can drive it to a specialty shop.

to each his own i guess. when you see a modified truck with the paint stripes down the center of the wheels you know it was done right.

 

Jacking the front is not required. Remeasure is Caster Sweep done by turning the wheel back and forth.

Alignments can still be done by hand with the right tools. It avoids $80k on a laser rack that breaks every week.

 

That's all stuff you can do with a fancy alignment machine too. Just because the machine gives you the factory specs doesn't mean you have to stick to them, all while doing it 37 million times faster.
The reason you have to jack the front end up to make caster adjustments is the SPC's, not the alignment machine. And you don't have to "recalibrate" the machine after every adjustment, you have to do a caster sweep, which takes 14 seconds.
While you can for sure get a good alignment the old fashioned way, spending several hours on something that would normally take an hour or so doesn't seem like a good business choice financially, but whatever. It ain't my shop. What did they charge you to align it?
The old fashioned way is a fun way to do it in your garage with a couple of beers and some music playing. Personally I'd never pay someone to do it that way though.