Dealer doesn't perform alignments on TRD Tacomas?

Even though there are no rear end adjustments, most alignment shops will still only do a four wheel alignment, and really, that's not such a bad thing, as it will show you if there are any issues in the back that might affect your overall alignment, or the way it's going to drive after it's aligned. You want to know that the entire rear axle assembly is perfectly aligned with the front. That being said I would never ever have an alignment at any Toyota dealer and never at a place like Firestone. Find yourself a good independent alignment shop that knows how all the aspects of the alignment interact with each other and will actually do it right. For the last thirty years that place on the west side of L.A. was Bagge and Sons, but the owners retired without selling the business a couple years back so now it's probably Davis Bros in Culver City.

 

Cutting and rewelding the leaf spring leaves?

 

a front end shop is the place to go. But try swapping your front tires first.
When my dealership said "you need a front end alignment". I said thanks I will consider it, took it to a local front end shop....they checked the truck, said it is fine, come back when you have a problem..no charge for the check.

 

A man asks the barber. "Do I need a haircut?"

Barber should always say yes.

Turn away nothing.

I will align anything with 2 axles. Even non-Toyotas at my dealer. Big or small.

We can even do german dynamic suspension.

 

The pins that center the rear axle on the leaf springs are by no means a precision machined fit. I believe this is on purpose to allow some adjustment to account for irregularities in the overall length and arch of the leaf springs and the welding location of the spring hanger brackets. All in all, it’s a sloppy assembly, but can be adjusted, and set properly, and then tightened up by someone with the right knowledge and tools making it proper. They likely make this effort at the factory, but don’t always get it perfect.

My truck pulled to the driver side since the day I got it. My Toyota dealer did the typical check of the front and told me “in spec”, but they made no adjustment on the rear axle. I got fed up, took it to an alignment shop, and they straightened the rear angle thrust angle and the truck drove straight from then on.

Much later, when I was adding a 1” block to my leafs and had the assembly apart, I observed that the pin centering the axle on the leaf pack is pretty much just a rough casting that fits loosely into its pocket. It is not a precision guide.