Camber Issues

Hey guys, so I'm about to have to put a new set of tires on my truck and I had my tires aligned about a month ago and I noticed that my truck has a couple of negative degrees of camber on each side and I can kinda notice it from a distance away looking at the truck from the front. Anyways, before I spend a ton of $$ on tires I'd like to do my best to fix or at least improve this situation. What I'm thinking is that the shocks are bad and needing to be replaced. My truck only has 104k miles on it but they are the stock Bilstein's. So what I'm asking, do you guys think replacing the shocks could correct or at least lessen the negative camber issue? More info on my truck: 2003 Tacoma Xtra cab 5spd v6 4x4 and never been wrecked. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

Okay, I know the guy who did my alignment and he always does a really good job for me. I'm not sure why I still have that -2.0 degrees or so on each side. What could it be that's causing it? I bought the truck about 2 months ago and I had it aligned and balanced and I noticed on the tires on all 4 that there is significant wear on the insides of the tread.

 

I know I'm not doubting you, I just can't imagine what. Is there any common problems that happens to Tacoma's? I'm just trying to brainstorm

 

Yeah, I started reading up on it and I'm thinking that's what it is. The guy gave me the before and after measurements and on the after sheet it got worse! Only by 0.01-0.02 degrees but I don't think he adjusted it at all. I read that there are shims that shops are supposed to carry to correct a negative camber issue. Is this right?

 

Can they un-seize the cam tab? Thank you for your patience

 

Could worn LBJs cause camber issues.

 

Yes it can.

 

Do you think it could also be bad coils?

 

bad coils would not cause the issue. Only way to correct seized alignment cams is to cut the old ones out and press new bushings in and install new cams.

 

That sounds expensive. I'll find out one way or another tomorrow or Monday.

 

Okay, so I went to the shop today and got the guy to take another look at it. He told me that he could get the camber to -1.8 on the driver side and -1.1 on the passenger side and that's the best he could do without throwing the caster way off. Now, everything is within specification except the camber. He told me that there had to have been some kind of frame damage or the truck had to have been wrecked or that something on the suspension was bent. I had no other choice but to except his answer and leave because there was nothing more he could've done for me. So my question was, if I decided to level my truck off could that correct my negative camber issues? Is there anything else I could look for?

 

I would try to figure out if something is bent first before modding the suspension. If it is off now its only going to get worse if you go higher.

 

From what I can see, there's nothing bent or out of place or looks abnormally worn.

 

Here it is. Sorry should've thought of that sooner.

 

Something is amiss with your front end....you need to get to a shop that has a bit more 'Toyota' experience...

If it is lower (or upper) ball joints, very ez to check yourself, jack up one frontside at a time from lower control arm area at ball joint, grab tire 12 and 6, wiggle, if there is play, you gots problems, more than likely the balls, then grab the tire 3 and 9 and give it another wiggle (just to check for play, no affect on camber), if it wiggles and you hear minor clunking, tie rods come to mind, both inner and outers have a tendency to wear rather quickly on these trucks, especially if offroaded a bit here and there, also it is a good way to check for steering box play...also, check the steering box mount bushings, world famous for going soft, polyurethane replacements when you get around to it....

If the cam(s) is/are frozen on the control arm bushings, then that is more than likely were you should start looking after the simple wheel jack it up check for other problems....

BTW, balls are cheap, so if the bushings need replacing, do your balls at the same time, also very ez to do...it is the replacing of the control arm bushings that can frustrate, unless you have access to a press...

realignment when done....then new tires....

good luck...