UCA's and Alignment

I really doubt it. When they try and raise the caster the camber will also change.
The type of tires you have can also contribute to poor handling.

 

Really? Why would the tires contribute the poor handling? They are BFG all terrains... which I've had on previous vehicles with no problem... ?

Thx

 

because they are heavier then stock tires

 

No I didn't mean the tires you have. Just in general that tires can make a difference.

 

Excellent read... will post my question later... tired...

 

Hi, I am bringing my truck in for alignment for the third time. I installed a leveling kit 2" up front and 1" rear. The truck has pulled right after both attemts. They printed the numbers on the second time and its still not great. What do you think at first glance???

Stock tire size on it now (winters) 265 65 17 but will have 275 70 17s when the come in.

Current numbers:
Front L R
Camber 0.50 0.55
Caster 0.81 -1.16

Rear L R
Camber -0.27 -0.18
Toe -3/32 1/32
Thrust angle -0.13

What should I tell the tech? They said they will do it until its right but what a waste of time.

 

Well its in the shop didnt know what to tell him other than the truck pulls right and it has a lift in it. I never got any numbers suggested here but think the right caster is off.

Issue fixed. Just need a knowledgeable tech.

 

very nice post OP.

 

TY!







Sig test

 

great post

 

Hey Toku, I was referred here by a Tacoma guy on the Tundra forums. I'm desperate and hope you can help!

I have a 3/1" leveling lift on my '08 Tundra with 35x12.5x20 tires and wheels. Stock tires were a 31.9.

At low speed the truck feels fine. At highway speeds 55+ the truck feels very light, steering is loose and the truck seems to be squirrely. I am running Nitto Terra Grappler A/T's. Prior to these tires I was running 33.1" M/T's with the same lift and the truck did not feel like this. Do you think I should go to an aftermarket UCA and higher caster?

My current alignment specs:

Camber (Left) - 0.6
Camber (Right) - 0.6

Caster (Left) - 2.6
Caster (Right) - 2.7

Toe (Right) - 0.11
Toe (Left) - 0.12

SAI (Left) - 12.5
SAI (Right) - 12.7

Again, I hope this isn't improper to ask on a Tacoma forum. I've been fighting with this issue for months now, multiple alignment shops and probably a half dozen days taken off work to spend time trying to "shop hop" to get it fixed. I've had some shops tell me "That's just how a truck with bigger tires will feel".

Thanks!!

Nick

 

You may need to raise the CASTER since you have 35" tires, I would like to see above 3.0* of Caster. But I can't be sure because different vehicles require different range of adjustment.

But the symptoms you're describing are normally caused by low caster.

 

I installed a 3" toytec ultimate lift and installed new LR UCA's a month or so ago and I am still having alignment issues after taking it in 3 different times. I'm running 285/70R17's in a 17x9 with -12mm off set and I'm rubbing the hell out of my wheel wells. I trimmed the plastic a bit and it seemed a lot better until recently. After trimming at first, it only rubbed when turning fully to the right or left. Now it rubs constantly whenever I go to pull into a park spot or my driveway. Damn it's annoying! I don't know if recently my alignment got even worse or what. I'm hoping to have this problem resolved next time I take it SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Also, should I adjust my UCA's before I take it in next time?

 

subd

 

I've been running with front caster at 1.4 and 1.8 for about a year now (this was the max that the alignment shop could get with stock UCA's and the 5100's set to 2.5") and I'm somewhat used to the "wandering" but still have aftermarket UCA's on my list of things to do...

Anyways, my question is will any of the aftermarket UCA's give me more clearance between the tire and UCA than the stock ones provide? With the 265/70's, I barely have 1/2" clearance to the UCA and sometimes I like to run tire chains which is not possible with such little clearance there. Does anyone have a similar setup / know what I might expect to get for clearance on aftermarket UCA's?

 

I have 275/70/17 tires and don't rub my LR UCA's , however TW member Teamfast has 275/70/17 and rubs his UCA's at full lock , it does look like they do provide some additional clearance over stock .

 

Probably not , I was just saying that they do seem to provide more clearance than the OEM ones

 

run a 235 on a wheel with a BS of 4 and maybe