Bilstein 5100 2.5" lift alignment concerns!?

Hello, I had my stealership install bilstein 5100 shocks on all 4 sides with 1" ready lift riser blocks, in the rear with the bilsteins up front set at max setting 2.5" install went fine drives straight as an arrow down the road, looks awesome, my only 1 concern is the front right tire looks like this a bit \|
Where the top sticks out farther then the bottom but the right side is A lot less noticeable but still not right, dealer states the alignment is in spec and not to worry about it but I just put $850 Goodyear wrangler duratracs on it don't want uneven wear, any1 have any opinions thanks! Posted a pic on how it looks.

2011 Tacoma T|X Pro

 

you should be fine just watch for any vibrations. i have a 3inch lift with 5100's all around also and my fron tires look exactly like how you describe and i've had it like that for 2 years and so far the wear is pretty even

 

Thanks appreciate the info, it just aggravates me that the wheel isn't perfectly straight...

 

Get it realigned. It shouldn't necessarily be in "factory" specs. Camber should ideally be at 0, caster close to 2.4 and toe close to 0. If you can see noticeably positive camber with your naked eye, your Dura's won't be too happy.

 

Most likely your alignment is as-good-as-it's-going-to-get. The only way to get the alignment 100% correct is with an aftermarket UCA, mostly Light Racing Upper Control Arms. At 2in of lift is when some trucks run out of adjustment for alignment. I bet you your caster is lower than it should be, because that also correlates to excessive positive camber like you described. Low caster has the truck being more prone to "wander" at highway speeds and assists in steering wheel return.

 

What would make you think his alignment is as good as it is going to get? I agree that he will not have a 100% perfect alignment without UCA's, but I think it's not the smartest thing to tell someone that they're alignment is as good as it can be without at least having the shop take another look at it.
OP, do you have the alignment #'s?

 

I say this from personal experience as I have aligned many Tacomas before and dozens that have been lifted. When dealing with the adj cams these trucks have you run out of adj really fast depending on how much the lift is. When I personally did my alignment on my truck it was almost identical as to the OP's description. One side was maxed out on the cams and the camber was still off, but the other side was good. But still the caster was low being lifted without aftermarket UCA's, just like the OP's IS. Yeah it might seem like I'm assuming here, but I know from experience from actually aligning these trucks.

 

I have the 5100's all around with the front at 2.5" and 1/2" spacer on top. I was going to go with a 1 inch spacer however was advised by Toytec that anything over 3" with stock suspension components changes the geometry of the front suspension too much... not sure if this is a your problem but I check it out... I hate the angled wheel look too... good luck

 

Whenever you get an alignment you should always ask for a print out and not just take their word for it. Those numbers will tell a lot.

 

I agree that the adjustment on these trucks is not ideal once lifted, but they are as you know, all just a bit different. I also do my own post suspension altering alignments before they hit the road and go to the shop to put them on a machine. That being said and fairly unimportant, I am quite familiar with alignments. It seems to me that most likely not knowing OP or where he had his truck aligned, it is throwing in the towel a bit early to say it's as good as it ever will be without new UCA's. My last alignment after the Billies @ 2.5" was not perfect, but it was camber 0, caster 1.5-1.6, and toe 0. Not ideal, but it drives and tracks like it should.

 

Yeah if the alignment guy was decent, he would have tried to set the camber to as close to zero as possible while keeping them equal.

OP post up you alignment sheet, if you don't have one..... uggggg. Most likely trying to call them and asking for a reprint isn't possible. This is because most of the alignment machines don't save the results after the car has been removed from the lift and reset for the next person to use.

 

Never asked for a printout, I will be taking it to a place called Watkins spring near my hometown in Ny, they specialize in truck suspension and alignments hopefully they can get the wheels standing straight, another option would be to drop the bilsteins to a lower setting rather than the 2.5" I could go 1.75", would that also correct the angled look, it just looks not right...

 

I would see what the guys at Watkins say about aligning the truck with them at 2.5" if that is where you are happy. Setting the 5100's @ 1.75" should help you out though. Just get a printout and post it up here when you get done.

 

Will do, I love the look at 2.5" but I hate the angled looking tires, lol we'll see what they say, thurs. morning it's getting done will post printout then, thanks once again for your help!

 

When I first lifted my truck, the best they could do after a couple alignments was 1.8 ish caster, and 0.6 camber (top of tire out further like so \ /). It drove okay, but steering feel was really light, and the tires would have worn out on the outer edge faster. I decided to just buck up and get some Light Racing UCA's, and it's like a dream now! Well worth the price of the UCA's.

 

Had it realigned at a local truck repair and suspension shop, wheels look ALOT better than what the stealership sent me home with but still slightly angled looking, here's the printout 2011 Toyota Tacoma T|X Pro Access Cab with bilstein 5100's on all 4, up front on max setting 2.5" rear 1" riser block, I did not NEED Aftermarket Uca's but would surely look and ride better with them.

 

Yup, 2.5" lift with STOCK Ucas

 

Looks good for stock UCA's. Now let's see some pics.

 

damn i wish i could get it that straight lol. i have a 3" lift with 5100's and 884's front and AAL out back and the fronts look like \_/ with out the UCA's

 

Looking pretty good. Glad they tried harder than the first shop.