F/R Locked TRD Sport DCLB Build & Colorado Wheeling

I watched a DCLB on 255s do the tilt a whirl! Worked fine.

Doesn't hurt to try the chute, but you'd almost certainly belly out.

Fun trail that is often overlooked!

 

Dang, would definitely be interested in watching someone w/ 33s do that obstacle! Totally agree, it was a super fun trail. We'll definitely be back to run it again.

 

Nice build

 

Thank you!

 

After the recent trip to Moab, @LunarTaco13 noticed my truck was tracking oddly and that it might need alignment. Specifically, my front was tracking more to the left than the rear was. See below pic:

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When I initially bought the truck I purchased a lifetime alignment from Firestone for like $170, which worked great while the truck was in its stock form, but ever since installing the lift & aftermarket UCAs, they have never been able to dial the alignment in properly to fit the 33s. I have taken my truck to RSG Offroad here in Denver for the last 1.5 years and those boys have been dialing her alignment in perfectly, but I now live across town from them and figured why not try Firestone again since it would be free and much closer to me. I also figured that my JBAs would be easier for them to align since they have no adjustability (unlike the SPCs).

So I made an appt at Firestone yesterday & took her in. They got her aligned quickly, but the test drive home was comical. The tires rub so bad on the cab mount now that I literally could hardly turn full crank either direction. Backing up was especially difficult, haha. I've got an appt with Tru Automotive, another local Toyota specialty shop here in Denver Friday to get it fixed.

Firestone isn't a bad company, but I don't recommend ever taking a rig that needs a very specific alignment to properly run bigger tires to them.

 

I had the same experience. I took the time to learn how to do my own alignments. I was tired of spending so much, so often.

Hopefully you get sorted out this next go around.

 

Dude it’s crazy how much you can spend on alignments…. You have any resources you used to learn how to DIY align that you could share? I just don’t trust that I’ll dial it in to a good spec w/o a professional alignment machine.

 

Right here on TW:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-do-an-alignment-at-home.252256/

 

Thanks man - will take a read!

 

I can totally relate to the whole spending millions on alignments thing.

I have all my work done at a shop that specializes in lifted Toyota trucks. My truck has a much less severe version of what you pictured. The owner of my shop referred to it as “dog tracking” and said an alignment won’t fix it because it’s an axle issue caused by the aftermarket lift and how it affects the truck. You probably already knew that but figured I’d throw it out there just in case!

It is fixable but I can’t remember what the fix actually is, I just remember it’s expensive so I just left it alone on my truck because I can’t even notice it and the truck tracks fine.

https://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/dogtracking-bent-frame-understanding-the-thrust-angle/

 

Thanks for sharing this article! Super helpful. I just went down to the truck and grabbed my alignment specs from Firestone (see attached pic). Right now, my thrust angle is 0.61 according to their measurements, which seems high based on my research.

 

Just did some reading over lunch and found this thread - it has some helpful tips & commentary. Seems like the thrust angle a common taco problem, even from factory.

Some of the messages I found helpful / interesting below:

and

 

Well, boring update... My alignment woes continue. Tru Auto got the rear thrust angle fixed by using a come-along to shift the axle back to 0.03°, which is awesome, but I think they got confused and thought I was only wanting the thrust angle fixed when I was actually hoping for a front alignment too. I picked it up as they were closing Friday, so there wasn't time to ask them to fix the front then, but they are getting me in quickly to add some caster so that I'm not rubbing on the cab mount anymore. It's a bummer that I have to take it in again, but I appreciate them getting me in and fixing the mistake.

 

The hug of survival after The Intimidator dude!

 

Dude such a relief when we made it thru

 

Quick plug for the new Tenmile_Tacoma instagram. Would greatly appreciate any follows! I made the instagram in hopes of engaging with a broader audience, (hopefully) making some cool new connections within the automotive off-road community, and as a fun creative outlet for sharing the adventures with the truck. Would also appreciate any constructive feedback on the type of content you’d like to see on the account!

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3yCi0Dpqgr/?igsh=MXQ3aWE2Nmx5NW5iMQ==​

 

Anyone hitting up Easter Jeep Safari this year (March 23-31)? We've got a trip planned down to Moab the weekend of the 29th - 31st and I'm curious what folks experiences with the event have been. It looks pretty sweet based on the content I've seen on their website & on Youtube.

EDIT: I officially signed up for one of the organized trail runs at EJS. I signed up to run Fins and Things on 3/23 at 10 am. Hopefully the Jeepers don't give me too hard of a time for showing up with a Toyota .

It was $75 to sign up, which I thought was kinda steep considering you can run this trail for free, but based on their website FAQs the money goes to "paying BLM and State land fees, most of that money is used in our area to provide bathrooms, parking areas, trail marking, signs and maintenance and new camping areas such as the ones along the river". Paying money to support public lands is always something I'll be willing to pay for.

I'll provide an update on the experience on here afterwards.

 

The alignment FINALLY is dialed again. I guess third time is the charm, haha. Tru Automotive got her aligned perfectly - the thrust angle was fixed the first time around & on the second alignment they got the front aligned to not rub at all during full lock & while under compression (at least on road / going in and out of the driveway). I took some pictures of the alignment specs before & after. I am mostly posting here so that I have an account of the current alignment spec so I can tell the next shop to please align to them.

Before (Original alignment done by Firestone, thrust angle way outta whack):

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After (After Tru Auto aligned it twice, the first alignment fixing the thrust angle & the second alignment fixing the front tire rub on cab mount):

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Do you have spindle gussets and cam tab gussets? If not, you're just going to knock that alignment out again next time you wheel.

 

Unfortunately, I don't currently have either, but those are both something I'd like to get done on the truck sooner than later. I really wanted to get the cam tab gussets done first, but wasn't planning to do spindle gussets until I move up to 35s. Couple questions - why do you think the spindle gussets will help keep the alignment dialed in? As for cam tab gussets, I know there are a lot of different MFGs making kits for this OR you can just weld the stock ones. Do you have a recommendation on MFG or just doing the simple welding of the stock tabs?

EDIT: the kit I have been eyeing is KPO's cam & cam tab upgrade kit. I like their design of using the octagon plate within the cam tabs to lock the cam bolt into the place. Any thoughts on this kit?