Rear End alignment needed??

Hi guys, Ive been searching for awhile and couldn't find a answer to this.
But I just got done adding a custom 1/2" spacer to my rear end with new longer ubolts and what not. And am wondering if a rear end alignment is needed?
Is it a must do, if you mess with the rear end at all?

Also the new ubolts I got from my local 4x4 shop/store only had ones that where alittle bit wider. I think 2-5/8" instead of 2-3/8" or 1/2. So I just bent then in alittle to make make them fit/work.. Will this be ok?
I assume so, just being paranoid because its not perfect. lol thanks!

 

You can't align the rear end of our trucks, or most trucks to be exact. Don't ever let a shop charge you for a 4 wheel alignment on your Tacoma.

 

That's what I figured! just making sure. lol... thanks for the response

 

You're rear can come out of alignment and you can re-align. Happened on mine. Pretty easy fix. Correct term may be Thrust angle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NvH2Vpnm28

 

Yes, thrust angle can be performed, but not the same as an alignment. And, the shop should check for this when they performed the work. Not really all that common to have to mess with thrust angle if the work is performed correctly.

 

I think i will be fine. How can you tell if its off?

What about using alittle wider ubolts? Will it be ok?

 

I had a shop realign my rear maybe thrust angle .. but its definitely better than before...

 

When I installed my add a leaf I didn't take my time tightening the U Bolts and I noticed my truck wasn't tracking straight. So I got a length of string, put a loop in one end and placed the loop over my 2" hitch ball and marked where it touched the lower rear bolt on the axle just inside the brake housing and marked it with a sharpie. Sure enough it was skewed to the right by 3/4". So I raised the rear put on stands and loosened the U Bolts then shoved the axle back to the left and using the same string I checked again and it was back even. Then I correctly tightened the U Bolts alternating with each swing of the torque wrench checking with my string several times until torqued to spec and that worked to correct my tracking problem.

 

huh.. maybe I should check it...

 

Oh. And Ive been fighting with drive line vibes and take of shudders forever! And have tried every type of fix besides a one piece drive line. But today after checking all my angles and I figured out that for some reason I barely needed to lower the Carrier Bearing in order to get all my u-joint angles within 3 degrees. So I lowered it a 1/8" and sure enough all vibes gone! Well almost.. I barely have a vibe at 20mph but it can barely be felt.
Take off shudder is gone, and now I just wish I can get rid of the stupid rattle chatter that the Carrier Bearing makes when I hit that 20mph mark and it vibrates alittle.