I dummied up, now yell at me and tell me what to do..

About 3 months ago I had a Toytec BOSS 2.0 lift, new rims, tires, etc. all installed by a local off-road shop. Now mind you, this is my first vehicle ever having this amount of work done to so I didn't have any previous experience with this shop but they offered the best price and had solid reviews. Anyhow, I know once they finished the install it was taken to another business to be aligned (thanks to the Toyota app I stalked my truck's movement on the map) and then I got it back. I've been happy overall with everything, except I've noticed that the toe angle on the alignment is off because my steering wheel is just a wee bit crooked while driving straight. I should've immediately called the shop and gotten the issue rectified. Now it's been 3 months and I think they could say that I messed it up in the interim.. So should I still take it back to them and just pay to have it fixed or take it somewhere else?

p.s. I'm also wondering if a standard alignment shop is trustworthy enough to work with SPC UCA's and their adjustability?

 

Howdy. Does the truck track straight down the road? If so, sounds like they didn’t reset your steering wheel after they did the alignment.

 

If I remember correctly, sometimes the wheel is slightly off center to make up for the road crown. Not all shops do it but some do and not saying that’s what’s going on with yours but could be. It is annoying when it’s like that. The shop is probably unlikely to do anything since some time has passed.

 

How about you just call the shop and talk to them? If you don't think they're knowledgeable about SPC UCAs then print off the instructions and give them to the tech. It's not that complicated

 

Wait, what. 2021's come with online gps tracking?!

Also yeah just call them lol. Worst case they don't believe you but they give you a deal on a 2nd alignment. Or you say fuck it and go to an off road alignment shop cause you have SPC's.

 

Geez call the shop. Not hard.

 

Mannnn I thought u were gonna say u ran out of fuel, cracked the block and hydrolocked the motor. This isn't bad at all.

 

how are the tires wearing?

 

Everything tracks straight and tires are wearing fine it appears. I’m thinking they just didn’t fix the steering wheel.

 

total mileage ???

miles after work done ??

next new tyres up front

go back to orig shop..........have work done

just let them know U want the wheel straight.......no need to hang on last time it wasnt

long run its BETTER to establish a consistent good relationship with a GOOD shop

 

Go by the shop talk to the guys see what they can do. If nothing, pay somebody else for an alignment for piece of mind and call it a day.

 

Well they can't say YOU messed something up because the truck drives straight, you just have a crooked steering wheel which is VERY common after doing an alignment and easily fixed. If you messed something up like driving up a curb or rough off-roading etc, then the truck would pull, tires would be wearing unevenly etc. Yes you should have taken it back but a good shop will quickly fix the problem and send you down the road.

 

Steering wheel itself should never need to be touched.

Crooked wheel is more likely caster, not toe.

If it's 'slight' as you describe, it may be intentional to compensate for road crown in your area as @hyrule_trd suggests.

There is nothing magic in the UCAs, they just have a greater range of adjustment. I would 'assume' that a shop that an off road store would go to for an alignment would have a good history with them of doing good work. But............

Can you show the numbers from the print out you received of your before/after alignment numbers?

And since you want to be chastised, why would you wait 3 months to address an issue of concern to you? Now you'll have no financial recourse with either shop, since an alignment can be knocked out of whack within minutes of leaving a shop if you hit the right object.

 

Toe is always what is adjusted to fix a crooked wheel. This is assuming that your wheel is not slightly crooked because you are holding the wheel in an opposite direction to correct a pull but you said the truck tracks straight. Caster/camber is adjusted with either a more positive camber angle on the passenger side or more negative caster angle on the passenger side, all within .5* difference side to side. Caster is usually chosen to compensate for road crown because it is the least tire wearing angle. After this is done then toe is adjusted. Would be helpful to see a printout

 

easy fix. call the shop.

 

Super easy fix you can do yourself. Which way is the steering wheel leaning when driving straight?