Pull, Pull, Pull!

Hey all! I have a '13 Taco TRD Off-Road with a 3" Toytec lift. Previously, I've noticed that I have a pretty decent pull to the right when I'm in H4 on dirt and asphalt...and most recently, on snow/ice-packed roads (I live in Colorado). The pull is just as bad on the snow as the asphalt. I've had some smart folk explain the workings of the ADD and front diff (you know who you are ), so I'm certain they're operational, as I get a solid 4X4 indicator seconds after turning the knob...and I get get a sort of torque steer effect.

What I've done to attempt to correct the issue:

1. Took it to 2 dealerships. One flashed my ECU for some unknown reason. The second had no clue and wanted to hold onto her without supplying me a loaner. The consensus was that the "geometry" of the lift kit had something to do with it. No dice.

2. Installed LR UCAs. Set my caster to ~3, and camber/toe to 0. No dice.

What's left to correct the issue:

1. Getting my tires balanced/rotated tomorrow. I don't have any indications that I'm out of balance, and the tires are visually identical. We'll see...

2. PLEASE SEE PICS. Readjust my coilovers. To account for the Taco lean, my driver side coilover is adjusted quite a bit higher (nearly twice as many threads visible) than the passenger side. Is there any possible way this could affect drive in 4X4? Can the "tighter" coilover on the driver side "push" the truck right in 4X4? Is it possible this is the "geometry effect" folks are talking about? The common sense seeker in me says, "no," but I'm spent on options.

3. Revisit dealership(s). Maybe check the front diff internals?

Or I can just get over it since this seems to be an issue many folks with lifts have.

 

Hard to tell from the photo, but if you measure the amount of exposed threads with a ruller, ~1/4" of thread difference would be considered "normal" to even out the Taco Lean.

- Is the pull present in 2WD?
- Have you tried swapping your tires left and right?
- Look in your alignment result sheet. what are the "thrust angle" measurements of the front- and rear axles?

 

someone correct me if I'm wrong but is that black fluid coming from the CVs?

OP, are your CV boots torn? unfortunately i don't have a 4x4 but with the possibility of CV fluid being all over your coil overs that theres got to be something wrong with in your differential maybe even a CV joint or something in the CVs was pulled out on accident during installation.

 

No, the CV boots still look like new. The brownish/black stuff you see on the threads is the snow/sand/salt grime picked up from the road. We've gotten some snow in the last couple of days.

 

ah makes sense but still like i said, maybe something may have been pulled slightly out of position when installing. do you get any kind of vibration when you experience the pull?

 

- Is the pull present in 2WD? No
- Have you tried swapping your tires left and right? Not yet...getting an alignment tomorrow
- Look in your alignment result sheet. what are the "thrust angle" measurements of the front- and rear axles? It's in my file box somewhere. There was a bit of a rear thrust angle...don't recall the details. Only pulls in H4, though. Drives straight as an arrow in H2.

 

Not at all. I have a very slight 2WD vibration when it's cold out (sub 35 or so), but only for a few minutes. I expect that as a result of the lift.

 

It will torque steer a little, that's normal. I have an ARB locker in the front and when it's off in 4hi mine pulls to the right a schosche if I stomp on it. When the locker is engaged, it's a straight pull. I bet you are feeling the passenger front tire pulling, and that's normal with an open diff.

 

Yeah...seems to be the case.

I just want closure that it's not the difference between the coilovers. I mean, I don't want to crank the driver side all the way down, only to discover that it's a non-issue, then have to crank it back up.

 

Get an ARB locker up front, it's the only way to know for sure! You need one anyway. Seriously.

 

It's just strange because no stock TRD OR I've been in does it. Coilovers? Lift?

 

It's just the lift. The greater the angle of the lower control arm away from horizontal, the more you will feel it. I don't know why that is, but it seems to be true. That's why my truck sits so low...the LCA's are almost flat at ride height and it handles like it's on rails in 4wd. I can still feel it pull a little, but not as bad as when I had coilovers cranked on stock arms.

 

So, correct me if I'm wrong...but difference in the spring "tension" should not really be a factor, as long as the alignment numbers are solid and there's no other issues. Agreed?

 

Spring compression on the front coilovers? Nah. All of these trucks are heavier on the driver side, if that theory panned out it would pull to the left. Just drive it man, it will be ok.

 

I haven't noticed any pull, nor vibrations out of ToyTec coilovers- and they have been on the truck for 40k miles.

Speaking of which... how many miles are these things good for?