Front Suspension - Bent Part

My Tacoma is pulling hard to the right. I had it aligned and the mechanic said a bracket is bent that connects to the casters on the Front Suspension? Sorry not familiar with the whole suspension layout. Sounded like maybe common on stock Toyota’s? He said you could have someone re-weld a new bracket on. Anyone know what this is or the best fix? I don’t mind upgrading parts. Thanks.

 

My assumption is that it would be the spindles. They connect the upper control arm to the lower control arm and are commonly bent when going HAM offroad.


https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/14044081/?q=spindle&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=202

 

Sounds like something was hit, bent and needs welding.

 

probably this

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bent-lower-control-arm-mount.462883/

 

What happened to cause this? If you hit something hard enough to bend it it would be something you would remember doing.

 

I have been off-roading a lot lately but do not recall hitting anything really hard. Definitely hit some holes, washboards and a few rocks but I am not racing and try to go sow when it is rough terrain. I only noticed something was wrong by the pulling hard to right later.

 

Did you bend your cam tab?

Photos of lower control arms front and back?

 

Two things can happen when lightly off-roading (not hooning it over boulders) that require an alignment after. These have happened to me.

One possible thing is that the rear axle will shift on its spring mounts. The pin that sets the position of the leaf springs is not a high tolerance part and the axle can shift forward or back if you hit severe ruts or the truck suffers hard vibration. This will throw off the thrust angle.

Another thing that is common in the alignment cams will shift/rotate slightly in their pockets, changing the front angles. This can throw off camber or caster on one wheel or the other.

I have kinda succumbed to the reality that a yearly alignment is likely needed is if you do a serious amount of back country travel. In the course of any year, I hit at least one or two unexpected washouts or potholes too hard and feel like I’m gonna jump the truck. It’s just the nature of the beast.

 

Instead of asking us to guess, why don't you just ask the mechanic to show you what's bent?

 

guy at shop should have told U what was wrong

the fix

that he couldnt fix it..........HE cant no less NO ONE align a bent front end

a nominal shop charge

bring it back after U get correct parts so He can do it right !!!

 

He's probably talking about the alignment tabs on either side of the (lower control arm) cam bolts. They get flattened easily, there are alignment tab gussets available to strengthen them

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R78592iQznM

 

Sorry, I am new here and trying to post a picture of where the alignment mechanic said the problem was but when I click on photo it says upload URL photo instead of from my library.

 

Hit upload file and go find it in your gallery

 

A spindle is a shaft, but what you’re showing is a picture of the steering knuckle. It’s the hinge that your steering turns.

My pre-runner has “cartridge” bearing hubs in the front so there really is just a very short spindle as a part of that cartridge. You literally throw away your spindle when you change that bearing hub.

 

Thanks everyone that offered help. It was a bent Cam Tab which is common in Tacoma’s and a weak party of the suspension design. I had Total Chaos gussets welded on to strengthen it.

 

Glad you got it diagnosed and fixed!

 

Also, thanks for letting us know what the problem was.