Tire shop saying my tie rods are "bottomed out" Cant fully align after lift?

Hey Guys,

So I recently installed a Toytec aluma performance lift 3", ordered new wheels and tires, sent to the shop, Shop called and is saying I am out of adjustment on my front tie rods, they cant adjust any further so my toe is still out beyond spec. Is this common? What have others done to fix this?

 

Is it out of adjustment on one side, or both? Ever been in an accident?

 

I guess its both, I guess they have it adjusted the same on both I believe they said its off .07 id hope its not .7.. I will be picking it up shortly an get the reading sheet to confirm.. Truck has a clean carfax I don't believe its been in an accident.

They told me i need aftermarket tie rod for more adjustability..

 

Ok, sometimes it’s only one side, and can work around it. Just look at how much thread is showing on each inner tie rod and post up if you want.

 

I got to be honest, I know where the tie rod is, but that's about it..Not to familiar with how they work or adjust. What would be considered the inner vs outer? Id assume the area closer to the steering rack? Sorry I am no mechanic..

 

Count the exposed threads on both sides

 

Green arrow is tie rod, the red circle is threaded part on inner tie rod. See how there is a good bit of thread? Yours won’t have but a thread or 2 showing if bottomed.

 

Okay thanks! I'll look

 

When you get Bilsteins??

 

Told you I quit, golf is my new hobby.

 

Hmmmm. Should we play golf on Sunday?

 

Guess it is out .7 a. It concerning..

 

Don’t get bothered, sometimes it’s hard to get a good alignment. If the shop isn’t already done, ask them to measure between the top of the steering knuckle and tire on both sides, should be same. Wanna see the most expensive Tundra alignment ever(I think, and I do my own alignments)...

 

Not sure if this will help but did you change your UCA's? They are required for the Aluma series Toytecs.

 

Looks like I have some thread showing

Yes I have SPC UCA

 

Do you think I need an aftermarket tie rod?

 

You need to take the truck to a better alignment shop that knows how to adjust the SPC's

 

Here's the readings

 

No, and I don’t even know what you would use. You need a different shop. The SPC uppers are difficult for alignment techs. That is not bottomed, and doesn’t look like it was loosened or adjusted.

 

Were you thinking that it wasnt a tie rod issue as well? That's why I asked about the UCA's.

 

That’s no good. You should be near perfect with SPC uppers and a good alignment.

 

First I was thinking he might've still had stock arms. But with SPC's, I'd say there's a higher likelihood that the alignment shop doesn't know what they're doing than a tie rod issue.

 

It just suspect to me because in all my research on lifts.i never heard anyone say they needed aftermarket tie rods to get alignments in check.. figure I would have come across that.. which is why I'm asking here before I blow money an time on something I dont need

 

what kind of alignment shop did you go to?

 

Did you happen to give the alignment tech the sheet that came with the SPC's?

 

Yes I thought he still had stock arms as well....that was the first thing that came to mind before asking.

 

Find a different shop, they never adjusted that at all.

 

This is TownFair tire.. I got the wheels ect here.i talked to them about the lift and the control arms an was basically told oh yeah they know about all that stuff . I may have to call around..

 

I had the same issue with Town Fair, they told me they couldn’t adjust anything and to take it to a dealer. I went there the same day I installed the lift. They got the truck up on the lift, started to work, then rolled the truck back out and told me I had to take the skid plate off since they didn’t have tools to do that and couldn’t remove it. Seriously? I still had the tools in the truck from the install, crawled under the truck, in the snow covered parking lot mind you, and had it off in seconds, at which point they took it back into the shop. Then proceeded to work on it for over an hour and came out to tell me they couldn’t get it aligned properly. Luckily no charge, but what a waste of 3 hours on a Saturday afternoon. Next day, went to local VIP, adjusted everything no problem and done in 30 minutes.

 

Yeah I took it to a local overlanding shop that deals alot with suspension an Toyota an they got it fixed no problem. The tie rod was just frozen an needed to be broke loose ( as I had suspected). Got a refund from Townfair for the alignment..