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Serious alignment issues

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by superedtundra, Jun 13, 2017.

  1. Jun 13, 2017 at 4:04 PM
    #1
    superedtundra

    superedtundra [OP] New Member

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    Hi I have a problem. I lifted my truck about a 6 or 7 and 4 in back. 37 x 13.50 r22 tires. American force rims, camber upper a arms bds lift, king 2.5 coil over with bypass shocks. Did some trimming for rubbing issues up front. Have TRD supercharger. The tires in the front wear really bad on the outer edges. I did an alignment by a supposedly good place and they said they would not be able to get it fully right with the camburg upper control arms. They said I'd need adjustable upper a arms to get it right. The parts are like another 750+ after I already paid for brand new ones. They weren't really able to help me. I have a print out of their receipt and picture of the truck. Pls help. These tires are over 500 a piece after install.20170613_154722.jpg 20150619003900_001.jpg 20170613_154722.jpg 20150619003900_001.jpg
     
  2. Jun 13, 2017 at 5:22 PM
    #2
    831Tun

    831Tun heartless Bastrd

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    It looks like you need a new alignment shop. They should be able to match side to side. It looks like you have too much caster too. If they reduce the caster I think they can get the camber right. Dave Ekstrom (Coach builder) just told me 2-3 degrees caster for me to run his tie rods. Looks like you're in 5-6 range. There's an alignment spec around here somewhere. Maybe @joonbug can help find it?
     
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  3. Jun 13, 2017 at 5:41 PM
    #3
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    Some alignment shops are familiar with and specialize in lifted trucks and modified suspension.
    Most shops aren't and don't.
    Which sorta shop did you use? Answer could help you resolve this problem.
     
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  4. Jun 13, 2017 at 5:59 PM
    #4
    laniermax

    laniermax New Member

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    As suggested above, find a shop that specializes in off-road trucks and Jeeps. I've had very good success with the 4WheelParts shop here in ATL. They did a fantastic job aligning my truck after another shop screwed it up.
     
  5. Jun 13, 2017 at 6:59 PM
    #5
    superedtundra

    superedtundra [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for the quick comments guys. Well this company was highly recommend to me the guys that installed the kit. But another guy said they f'd him over and he'd never use them again. I am really not sure where else to go and I honestly know nothing about doing alignments. I'm pretty mechanically inclined and could eventually figure it out but I need this truck to tow my boats and what not. I can't afford to have 500 dollar tires going out after 9,000 miles. I trusted in the shop that is good and does a lot of lifts but it's hard to trust ppl that just want your money.
     
  6. Jun 13, 2017 at 7:03 PM
    #6
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    @jberry813 can read alignments probably better than anyone
     
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  7. Jun 13, 2017 at 7:29 PM
    #7
    Les7311

    Les7311 Look up, what do you see

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    Go on eBay and query SPC ASJUATABLE CONTROL ARM FOR TUNDRA.

    They are under $500
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #7
  8. Jun 13, 2017 at 9:37 PM
    #8
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    it should be easier for the shop to do alignment with aftermarket UCAs
     
  9. Jun 14, 2017 at 6:06 AM
    #9
    jberry813

    jberry813 The Mad Scientist Staff Member

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    With RWD vehicles, the front tires drag under acceleration and toe out. For this reason you want to be about 1/8" toe in. Yours is the opposite and is set to 3/32" toe out. Meaning under acceleration you are going to be even more toe out and drag even more. This will affect tire life.

    Also you should always have different numbers between driver and passenger side to compensate for road crown. More negative camber and more positive caster on the passenger side (assuming you drive on the right side of the road and not in the U.K. or austrailia).

    Positive caster helps the steering return to center faster and track straighter, but requires more effort with turn initiation. Camburg UCAs actually locate the upper ball joint/uniball farther back towards the cab which would give you even more caster. You are already sitting at 6* which is frankly kind of high, even for my taste (and I love positive caster). The thing about positive caster is that it does not directly affect tire wear, but indirectly it does. The more you have, the more the tire rolls over when turning. In a turn, your camber will increase (positive) and this wear the outsides of the tires.

    Cliff notes:
    Get an alignment. Reduce caster to no more than 4*. Reset toe to slightly negative. And if you live in the mountains or foothills or something with a lot of turns or generally drive like an asshole, I'd suggest more negative camber as well.
     
  10. Jun 14, 2017 at 6:10 AM
    #10
    jberry813

    jberry813 The Mad Scientist Staff Member

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    Also, since you have a drop bracket lift, you will never get SAI back into spec. Nature of the beast.
     
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  11. Jun 15, 2017 at 5:45 PM
    #11
    superedtundra

    superedtundra [OP] New Member

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    It isn't a drop bracket lift. It's a suspension lift. So I found a good alignment shop apparently the place recommended by the guys with lifted trucks and prerunners here. Guys with 30+ grand just in modifications The guy has been doing this forever and it's almost all he does. He said I wouldnt have the issue anymore but need to rotate front to back every 5,000 miles. It isn't my daily driver I'll probably get away with every year which is about 6 to 9k miles tops. I got a supercharger and must use 91 octane. Use my 4 cyl car for other stuff and to tow my jetski. Have work truck for work. So its not like i drive from the suburbs to the city in it every day in rush hour. Mostly use it for towing my boats, hunting or shooting and some offroading. Fun stuff. Have dirt bikes and quads for anything too extreme. Used to own a 4 seater tricked out wildcat and miss being able to do wild offroading from time to time. Sold it to afford a boat. Then spent more money into this. Lol. Only live once.
     
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  12. Jun 16, 2017 at 9:05 AM
    #12
    jberry813

    jberry813 The Mad Scientist Staff Member

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    All lifts are suspension lifts except body lifts. BDS is a drop bracket lift. It has a front and rear bracket that drops the front diff and LCAs down. Hence the name, drop bracket.

    Cool stories about your cool toys. And you're welcome for taking the time to detail an answer to your question, which was clearly a waste of my time.
     
  13. Jun 16, 2017 at 10:25 AM
    #13
    BlueFalconActual

    BlueFalconActual Field Day Inspector Extraordinaire

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    I was waiting for that response.
     
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  14. Jun 16, 2017 at 10:33 AM
    #14
    csuviper

    csuviper Moderator Staff Member

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    Some Mods :) See build thread for details
    My thoughts exactly.
     
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  15. Jun 16, 2017 at 10:41 AM
    #15
    jberry813

    jberry813 The Mad Scientist Staff Member

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    Try to help a new guy out.
    That'll teach me.
     
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  16. Jun 16, 2017 at 10:56 AM
    #16
    bobbilly

    bobbilly New Member

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    wait for it......:crapstorm::duel:
     
  17. Apr 23, 2018 at 2:40 PM
    #17
    dongkatsu

    dongkatsu New Member

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    7" bds gone due to issues and switched out the kit to Readylift 6" and up to 7"
    Hi - i'm new here but also having outside wear issue on my 7 inch bds lift on 2017 tundra. looks like inner edge of the tire looks still new. what can I do to improve tire wear? should I change the camber to negative? around -.1 or -.2? also don't mind the caster on the left. I have question to the mechanic on as to why right side is not higher. @jberry813.. also looks like most of the tire is in contact with the road but as you can see from the inner tire wear, it's leaving about half an inch that's not in contact with the road. this is frustrating :*(
    30429751_10104400571621147_428853643_n_5efbc7ec6c9d0381696b997b64d48c5a05a52a27.jpg 30777000_10104400578831697_1724709168_n_16bf22bf4f7abc473e088f8dc3649280bb5b4f91.jpg 30784468_10104400465099617_1903425021_n_30e09df871c1954d9c580fa4d04dc4ee17e9d666.jpg
     
  18. Apr 30, 2018 at 9:24 AM
    #18
    jberry813

    jberry813 The Mad Scientist Staff Member

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    You definitely want some negative camber, especially with a drop bracket lift. It will address most of the issues you mentioned. SAI and IA will never be in spec with a drop bracket lift so those will always be red.
    As for the caster, whoever aligned your truck did it backwards. You want slightly more positive caster and negative camber on the passenger (right) side of the truck. This will compensate for the road crown in countries where vehicles that drive on the right hand side of the road.
     
  19. Apr 30, 2018 at 9:28 AM
    #19
    dongkatsu

    dongkatsu New Member

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    7" bds gone due to issues and switched out the kit to Readylift 6" and up to 7"
    @jberry813

    Thank you so much for your reply!! I went ahead and changed my spec this past Wednesday from your old posts. this is the setup I have at the moment and seems like its touching the inner tire. I have also tested it with a chalk to see if the tires are touching evenly side to side. turning feels much better. Also do you think Coachbuilder steering kit would help? I heard that bds lift kit has issues with their tie rod being too short so when turning it wants to fight back or not enough angle that outer tire will start digging into the ground/dragging. I heard Coachbuilder fixes it. Below is my new spec.
    31130824_10104411808242867_1524348494_n_098cddeec56a31dd513b071aa3f232c1149bee94.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2018
  20. Apr 30, 2018 at 10:12 AM
    #20
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    None yet
    So would this steering kit be helpful with lifted Tundras? I'm at a 6" kit I bought truck used and it came lifted also have stock UCAs plan on changing out as well
     
  21. May 17, 2018 at 8:26 AM
    #21
    dongkatsu

    dongkatsu New Member

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    7" bds gone due to issues and switched out the kit to Readylift 6" and up to 7"
    *Update. I'm taking my truck to get minor surgery done by suspension specialist in my area. i've been battling with outside tire wear for months and have called a lot of dealers that sells lifted trucks in my area. One of the dealer have recommended me to take it to the guy they were referring to. Apparently this guy fixed every issues that dealers were having issues with suspensions parts and alignment and fixed all the crap customers were dealing with after custom shops installed lift kits.

    I did meet the guy this past weekend and has shown me what's causing the outside wear. 1st: stock uca and lca arent in parallel. he believes that the stock is useless and it's too short for bds lift kit. 2nd: cam bolts aren't bolted right. 3rd: He didnt mention too much about cb steering kit after talking about it but i'm just going to buy it. There were some more issues that he found and will be fixing other small issues.

    I have a good feeling that this guy will fix my issues. i've seen a lot of his work from building race cars (drag racing mostly i think) to literally fabricating suspension parts. Also deals with a lot of jeeps and he personally has lifted IFS truck (dodge ram)

    *crossing my fingers!! :)

    PS: from OP, i see that his caster is high. i discussed with the mechanic and he says it shouldn't be too bad as long as you get the adjustable uca. i'll see what #s he will be setting my truck at and post it here.

    @ARamirez73 <-- i believe steering kit will but still need someone who knows about alignment. Even if you have a shop to put aftermarket uca and tie rods they arent going to function if you dont have the right shop that knows how to dial in the alignment #s.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2018
  22. Jan 28, 2023 at 9:52 AM
    #22
    Beast2016

    Beast2016 New Member

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    What are your thoughts I’m running negative 0.7 camber would that amount wear my tires bad???
     
  23. Feb 6, 2023 at 9:41 AM
    #23
    MrMitch96

    MrMitch96 New Member

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    Howdy,

    I purchased my 2014 from a toyota dealer(in 2019) and it had 295/70/18 already on it. They don't rub and my truck definitely sits higher than stock which means I either have a level or lift kit of some sort on the truck(I don't know what to look for to confirm).

    I'm coming to the end of life on my 2nd set of tires on the truck since purchase and both sets have been unevenly worn. Most of the wear being on the outside, but this 2nd set is a little chopped. I get an alignment every 6 months and rotate tires every 5k miles when I get my oil changed. I drive 90% of the time on the highway.

    So my question is... if I want to keep my same ride height and same sized tires... is there something I should look into replacing that would help keep my alignment aligned before buying next set of tires? From this particular forum, it sounds like maybe whoever owned the truck prior to me did not get aftermarket upper control arms installed. Is there a recommended brand or type I should look for? Anything else I should consider?
     
  24. Feb 6, 2023 at 11:38 PM
    #24
    Beast2016

    Beast2016 New Member

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    Can you post pictures of the truck
     

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