geekhouse23's "LIFE'S WAITING TO BEGIN" Overland & Home build and all the Adventures in between!

I'm listening..

 

25 year old me at the Polynesian Luau dinner show with my girlfriend and her mom. Food was good as were the beers and mixed drinks. I'd suspect I imbibed about a dozen in total. The show is going on and the dancers come out into the audience grabbing people to bring up on stage. One lady brings me up. Turns out it was the leader of the whole damn show. My drunken self is up in front of hundreds of people hulaing my ass off as best I can. I suck at belly dancing though but I rocked that grass skirt and coconut bra like nobody's business!!

 

Oil change and tire rotation at 65523. Alignment appointment scheduled for first thing on Saturday.

Had a bit of luck today also..



I checked the tire pressure when I started and when I finished. No fluctuation. I hit it with the soapy water, too, to make sure nothing is leaking. I'll make sure to keep an eye on it.

 

Truck's alignment still isn't right after Saturday. Pulls ever so slightly to the right. Spent 3 hours at Firestone while some green kid worked on it. Last time it took 45 minutes. In-n-out.

Scheduled another one for this weekend at a different location this time. Hopefully the turn around is quick.

Oh, I also took these to get the tars removed. $50 at discount and about 2 hours. Kept the wheels, one good tar and stock TPMS sensors.

Feels good to have space back in the garage.

 

Last time I went to Firestone I had to come out in the shop and tell him I wanted +4 caster and that I had already set my arms to +2 so all he had to do was move the lower arm forward. He comes out and tells me he got +5! And on the drive home was when I realized how he managed it. Bent my cam tabs. Now they've completely backed off and I'm sitting at 0 caster and my CMC (yes, chopped) is rubbing my tires at bump.

 

Geez!

This is why I don't trust chains. Example: I like Discount, but they can't balance tires for shit.

I ended up taking mine to a small shop for alignment, and got exactly the specs I asked for.

 

I only used them because of the lifetime alignments deal. Pay once and never pay again. Prior to needing caster, they did a decent job and everytime I'd go wheeling I brought it right in for a free alignment.

 

This. Lifetime here too.

 

If this was just a fluke, I get it. I'm sure there are probably some locations that are better than others.

But, if it's a lifetime of free shitty alignment, what's the value?


Speaking of this; I should really get mine realigned. Last one was summer of 2020.

 

Like I said, the kid that did mine seemed green. Last time a more seasoned tech did it and it was 45 minutes. The manager should be delegating better.

Glad I did lifetime. No payment for alignments a week apart.

 

Yeah, seems like a good deal. I just haven't been impressed enough with any chain to have them do my alignment. It seems like those guys will just get it in spec, and call It good. I'm sure there are exceptions.

Ymmv

 

One location, last year, tore my CV boot during an alignment. Took it back the next day and they swapped it out for a whole new CV free of charge.

 

I think I remember seeing those pictures. That's definitely good that they took care of you.

 

Second alignment in a week happening now.

 

Curse of Firestone.. again.

All they were able to do for me today was adjust the toe. Must've hit a pothole pretty goo because the camber and caster are still off. Because the Tacoma is "aftermarket" and there was a lack of a Master Tech, I have to go back when he's there to get things dialed in.

I was told that the technician there today lacked the confidence to get it done and I could have spent another 2 hours there or more and still had to go back.

Truck went in pulling slightly to the right. Now it pulls slightly to the left. I have to call again tomorrow and schedule a day to get the Master Tech's hands on it and get things dialed in.


Going to alloy wheels has been an absolute NIGHTMARE every time an oil change and tire rotation happens. Is there something I can do? Should I road force balance all 5 tires and install the taco tabs? Will that allow me to rotate tires without an alignment each time?? All 5 tires have been cycled onto the truck so I'm not sure if that means it'll be okay moving forward.

Irritating.

For reference: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/taco-tabs-front-alignment-kit.658177/

 

Taco tabs/bison stop cams allows for offroading without alignment.

I think the process is:
Get a good alignment
Have them, or you install the tabs
Good to go.
*might need to adjust toe later down the road, but not necessary

 

Yeah I was thinking that I could have a shop with a rack do it right then and there to dial things in immediately.

I found another thread about doing alignments yourself at home. I think taking out camber and caster and focusing only on toe might be manageable for an idiot like me.

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

 

Find a heavy truck suspension shop with some grizzled old dude that looks like a gold prospector to do your alignments. When I was IFS there was a semi truck suspension shop in Rockdale that I would have do my alignments, they were the only ones that would actually do anything. Firestone and the chains would either tell me they can't do it because I modified my truck, or they would toss it on the rack and hit it with a wrench to make noise to look like they did something.

Toe is super easy to do.

 

I'll definitely look into it. I think having a company that knows what they're doing and would be willing to install the Poly Performance Taco Tabs kit and dial in the alignment and taking the "hit" financially is a good investment. Then just keep the Firestone as a means to adjust toe afterwards. Or learn it myself.

 

With daylight savings this weekend, I'm looking forward to getting out more and more during the week and looking forward for those temps to rise again.

Here's my arsenal



Been finding good deals on reels that having to purchase a new rod or two makes up for it. Gonna keep a quick and dirty tackle box and an ugly stik in the truck so I always have a rod and some tackle ready at all times.

I was getting some tackle together and I dedicated a box to @Thatbassguy