Taco Lean no I don't have it

I ain't even mad!

 

My leans about 3/4”. Annoying as hell when you look at the slanting “TOYOTA” on the tailgate. I checked when my gas tank was almost empty, than compared when tank was full. Not much difference. I had a friend stop by who worked at TMS in Torrance for years on the TAS line. He did primarily electrical and hybrid, but has been a Master ASE for decades. He wasn’t impressed, especially when I put a 4’ bubble level gauge across the rear bumper.
The weird part is the left front and right front were dead even. The tilt is only at the rear.
So I went to the dealer and spoke with the service manager(a gentleman that I had hired to be an ASM when I was the Service Director.) He informed by lots of people had complained about it when the third gen first rolled out, but Toyota has deemed it normal. That it has something to do with the handling characteristics. I still got it documented on a repair order in case Toyota does address it in the future. I also logged a call to Toyota’s National Customer Service with the concern.
I brought it up on TW a year ago, but everyone was pretty meh about it.

 

The Taco Lean has been around long before the 3rd Gen came out, sounds like the service manager was blowing smoke.

 

hold up a second......yours says “Toyota” on the tailgate? Whaaaat?

 

^^^
Maybe, but my 1st gen and 2nd gen Tacoma 4wds didn’t do that. Both were stock with the exception of slightly bigger tires. Shoot, I currently also have a 1st gen 4Runner that is more level from side to side.

I don’t think the dealer SM was making up an answer, just reiterating whatever TMS had said. The last thing a dealer wants to get caught doing is trying to fix something that is unfixable and earn the wrath of the reps and field specialists. I get that. But I agree the explanation was wonky.

edit: sorry, getting late. “Tacoma” on tailgate. My mistake

 

ok good. I was thinking you bought a Chinese knock-off Tacoma

 

Interdasting. Got any pictures of this? Not equal collapse because more mass on left???

 

Yep...Probably collapsed on the driver side; pulled apart on the passenger side.
No pics...
Guys who have done the poly bushing upgrade, report a higher driver side after completion if their running a lean spacer.

 

Thanks. JIC What good poly bushes are out there?

 

yes we are

 

Thats why the toyota tacoma is the best selling midsize truck. If this is the kind of shit your hardcore owners are gonna be complaining about the general public will love it!

 

Energy Suspension.
Here's a good how-to.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/body-mount-bushing-install-now-with-pictures.432885/

 

Yes

 

Parked at the curb you'd never notice. On flat ground the "TACOMA" on mine looks crooked. If that wording wasn't so prominent on the tailgate it would have been harder to see. Not the end of the world, but annoying. Sort of like having a painting on the wall always tilted no matter how many times you correct it.

It doesn't ruin my day. I had it documented in case there's ever is a fix, and I called NCR to give product feedback. TMS will never ever see my documented RO because it was never submitted as a claim seeking dealer reimbursement. No Problem Found ro's are great for paper trails, but no one ever acts on them once filed. I have no illusions I'm going to see a TSB on my truck, but if enough 3rd gen Tacoma owners chime in then they'll address it on the next body revision. If no one says anything then Toyota's bar of customer expectation just dropped a notch.

 

Before I put my lift on I measured from middle of wheel hub and from ground. Everything seemed pretty even. I recently installed my lift (without spacer because they didn't send it with kit) and the front driver side had the dreaded Taco lean. Installed the spacer today and everything is pretty even.
At stock height when I would drive at night I swear my headlight cutoff was slanted at the driver side. Of course it was probably just because I had heard about taco lean

 

No one has mentioned how the rear axle is biased to the passenger side of the truck. Is it possible, from this design, that the truck leans on driver side?

Taco lean is for real. Mine came as a factory option.

 

The axle is usually pretty square, the bed on your Truck is probably offset a little which is pretty common.

 

Possibly, I know parts aren't exactly square back there. Visually looks centered compared to the cab.

I recall reading these trucks have offset axle for handling. I'm sure I'm wrong though.

 

I wonder if my 89 pickup had "Taco lean". The fuel tank was on the passenger side.
RIP due to frame rust

 

I pulled measurements on my '22 access cab Sport. Its within 1/16"-1/8" from left and right side fenders. Guess I'll be installing my Bilsteins and lift springs without the Taco Lean spacer.