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Please look at this alignment - steering wheel shake and right pull

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by dal3_gribble, Sep 11, 2019.

  1. Sep 11, 2019 at 11:07 AM
    #1
    dal3_gribble

    dal3_gribble [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hi guys-

    Here's my setup:

    2018 RWD DCSB with 30k miles
    Front: 5100s with stock springs
    Maxtrac 4" spindles
    Rear: 2.5" AAL with extended 5100s
    285/75R16 Cooper AT3 XLT, brand new on 16x8

    As some of you know, the lift spindles essentially put the steering geometry and components in their stock positions. The lift occurs from moving the hub mount down 4". So I'm not dealing with too much lift on stock UCAs or anything like that.

    The tires are perfectly balanced, everything is hub centric and there is zero tire vibe at any speed. However, when I'm driving down rough highway, the steering wheel shakes slightly even though there is no tire vibration. I can feel in my hands and see a light side to side steering wheel shake when I'm on rough stretches of highway; I do not feel it in the floorboards like a tire vibration. When I drive my Fiance's Grand Cherokee on the same stretch, I can confirm it is a rough patch of highway but her steering wheel doesn't shake.

    Here's my initial alignment after the spindles were installed:

    IMG_20190911_105248.jpg
    I complained about a light right steering wheel pull on the highway, which I thought could contribute to the steering wheel shake and the shop did this; it didn't help with the light right pull or wheel shake.

    IMG_20190911_105256.jpg
    Does anything stick out with this alignment that could contribute to right pull and or steering wheel shake on rough highway? I also wouldn't mind a slightly heavier center steering wheel.

    Truck for reference

    IMG_20190811_193637_1.jpg
     
  2. Sep 11, 2019 at 11:17 AM
    #2
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

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    I could be wrong but it looks like your rear numbers are pretty far off side to side which might be a result of the lift you have in the rear, I had a similar issue when I installed new leaf springs and my axle sat further forward on the driver's side about an inch more than it did on the passenger side. Caused my truck to pull right especially at highway speeds. I'm still looking at fixing it but I think I just need to loosen the u-bolts and try and get it more even side to side.

    Alignment shops don't usually do anything with the rear on our trucks so this would probably be something you'd have to specify or maybe have a shop do it if you don't want to try it yourself. Also your front numbers look pretty uneven side to side which is likely also contributing to the pull. What kind of lift do you have?

    edit - disregard last part just saw your lift info in the above post. Did the shop say anything about why they couldn't get the same numbers side to side? They will likely blame the lift in which case I would try a different alignment shop, one that specializes in trucks with aftermarket parts. We have a 4x4 shop here in town that does alignments and they do a great job with mine (Kings with SPC UCAs).

    Places like Firestone always do a crappy job on my truck.
     
  3. Sep 11, 2019 at 11:30 AM
    #3
    dal3_gribble

    dal3_gribble [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The tires have maybe 1k miles on them. I think I'm ok there.
     
  4. Sep 11, 2019 at 11:31 AM
    #4
    dal3_gribble

    dal3_gribble [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hmm, interesting. Thanks for input. I'll look into rear axle measurements.
     
  5. Sep 11, 2019 at 11:32 AM
    #5
    splitbolt

    splitbolt Voodoo Witch Doctor

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    Doesn't the Maxtrac spindle also increase track?
    If so, have you added spacers to the rear wheels?
     
  6. Sep 11, 2019 at 11:33 AM
    #6
    dal3_gribble

    dal3_gribble [OP] Well-Known Member

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    They do increase side to side 0.75", and indeed I did add rear 0.75" spacers to even out track width. Good question.
     
  7. Sep 11, 2019 at 11:35 AM
    #7
    seelyartacus

    seelyartacus Well-Known Member

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    FNWheels six shooter matte bronze, Falken WildPeak M/T 295/70/r17, All-Pro Expedition leafs, Fox Factory 2.5 w/ res (front/rear), Icon billet UCA w/ sphericals, custom sliders, 4.56 re-gear, RCI bed rack , Tepui RTT, Prinsu Designs Cabrac, CBI T3 alum front bumper, CBI T3 rear bumper with dual swing away and tire carrier, 20in light bar, Warn VR10s winch, Factor 55 fairlead, flatlink, and hitch recovery point, All-pro alum skid, Rotopax, CMC, Timbren bump stops, rear Rigid Duallys, Rigid Dually ditch lights, ARB awning with LED lights, Currie F9 rear axle housing w/ Strange Engineering 3rd memb and ARB air locker., rear diff beather relocation, ARB compressor under hood, Bussman panel, 3d printed switch panel,OVTune ECU
    Camber side to side in the front. 0.7* difference will contribute to the pull
     
  8. Sep 11, 2019 at 2:08 PM
    #8
    Ronzio

    Ronzio Well-Known Member

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    The rear is non adjustable...I would think you need more caster that would tighten the steering up a bit.
     

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