Alignment problems

I have a 2017 Toyota Tacoma with a 3in leveling kit and recently installed 285/75/16 tires on the stock rims. I went to get an alignment because as soon as I installed the tires the steering wheel was shaking and pulling to the right. My alignment was bad before I changed my tires but never shook. They told me at the alignment shop that they could not adjust camber and that my tie rods/sway bars needed to be replaced. Therefore my car would still pull to the sides. Right after I left the shop the shaking stopped but was still. Pulling to the right. I have attached pictures as I am not an experienced mechanic and don’t know if the information they gave me is correct.

 

Holy wheel weights!

So the problem most shops have is they want to keep the truck in spec, they won't let the camber go above spec to bring the caster up.

With spacer lifts you need to raise the caster as high as you can, then match camber. Your right caster is far too low and it will pull right and ride poorly.

The solution is to buy aftermarket control arms, this lets you set high caster without the high camber.

So typically with spacer lifts, I get 1.6 caster, 0.9-1.2 camber. Not ideal, but the goal is balance and max caster.

With aftermarket upper a arms, I can get 3.0-4.0 caster, 0.5 camber. Perfect.

 

When you lift a truck using a spacer, preload, or longer spring to change, it changes the alignment at ride height. The more you lift it, the more it changes. The adjustability of the alignment has limits that can be exceeded which then prevent your truck from being aligned within spec.

The solution is to a) lower your lift or b) install aftermarket upper control arms.

In your particular case, it looks like the shop did nothing but adjust your toe. Everything else is identical and screwed up. Go to a different shop.

By many accounts, a 3” lift is too much. It might be impossible to get it aligned within spec and you likely have very little down travel. Shoot for 2”.

EDIT: I looked closer at the pictures and it looks like your upper and lower balljoints are leaking grease due to damaged boots. Lack of lubrication plus a grit invasion will cause the joint to wear out prematurely and if there is too much play, it could prevent an alignment from being completed successfully. Take it to shop and have them check those.

 

They need to correct that caster. Like most shops, they only corrected your toe and didn't touch the cam lobes. Lazy shop.

It does look like your tie rod outers and lower ball joints need to be replaced though.

 

All they did was set the toe and let her go.

Pulls right because your caster is way lower on the right versus the left.

 

Does bad caster cause uneven tire wear?

 

No it does not.

 

Let me repeat. All of the boots in your pics appear to be ripped and/or spewing grease. If the joints are shot, it can’t be aligned, because the wheels wobble around. The shop might have sent you on the right path. Get the joints checked and likely replaced. Then get it aligned.

Out of curiosity, what have you used the truck for? It seems odd to have so many boots spewing grease on a 2017.