Setting and maintaining an alignment for 3rd Generation 4Runner owners can be a painstaking task, for the stock and the lifted. There seems to be a need for a specific setting to be able to tell our mechanics to run our 4runners at every ride height so that we have less issues getting our trucks set properly.

*******Therefore, please post up the *after measurements of the *caster *camber and *toe, *how it rides and responds, what *year and *lift you may have on. (Specifically how high it stands from the hub to fender)

If we find out just what works well for each inch up or down from 20 inches hub to fender, we can have something to tell our alignment mechanic to set our truck at so we all come out quick and happy. ( It's too bad I didn't think of this before i took mine to the shop this morning.)

-_-_-_-Hopefully we can get this to be a reputable reference for each of us to utilize so we can all save money on alignments, tires, gas, and also ride how it came to begin with. -_-_-_-

after 4 tries this is close as i can get

Here's mine...I'm at 22 1/4" in the rear and 22 7/8 in front from hub to fender. This is approx. 2 inched higher for me than stock was.

This was done yesterday after the installation of the adjustable upper control arms. With the upper ball joints set in the 0 position, which adds 2 degrees of caster.

2001, 3" OME lift all around with the top plate spacers in the front. My front now sits about 3/4" higher than the rear after the control arm installation. Must have freed up some bindage and I may pull the spacers out.

Attached Images

 

I know I'm bringing this back from the dead but does anyone else have any input on this. After several tries the guys at sears can't get me anymore caster. It drives straight enough but more caster would be better.



Any recommendations?

@JBurt are you lifted on stock upper control arms? The only way to add in more caster is to go to an aftermarket upper with caster built into it(Icon, Camburg, All Pro) or that allow adjustment(Light Racing). Or you could lower your lift and get some caster back that way.

Here is mine. First alignment after adding SS1.2 lift, new lower toyota arms, new upper light racing arms, new ball joints and new steering rack and tie rods.

I'm running stock UCA's. After more research it sounds like I'll wind up getting some kind of aftermarket ones. I know light racing are adjustable, but are others (toytec, camburg, etc.) that are non adjustable giving better caster?

Okay well that narrows down what the issue is, the non adjustable arms are all built with 2* of positive caster to help you get back to spec.

I don't have my print out. But I had my alignment done recently. Caster was a little off, But everything else looks good. I was replacing my driver side axle and noticed that my driver side adjuster looks to be upside down. Is it normal?

How does the other side of the driver side cam look? If it is opposite to the one shown in the picture, they will need to be made to match (but only for future alignment purposes). If they are both cam lobe down, however, it won't be a problem.

... Any suggestions on where to get alignments? Local Toyota Dealership, Les Schwabs, specialty shop, etc.

Firestone lifetime alignment, $180. The guys are awesome, know what they are doing, always do a good job, always compliment my truck, and see me about once every two weeks with the mod kick i've been on.

I have on recommendation that is possible. This is from experience with personally doing alignments on these vehicles. When actually making the adjustments, the caster on these vehicles goes in the opposite direction of what it will actually be when it sweeps. If an inexperienced tech doesn't notice this, they will do the sweep and think they have the caster maxed out, when actually it's at its minimum. I hope I explained it in such a way that it's understandable. Anyone else wanna chime in on it?

I got the lifetime alignment and was doing this (about every two weeks) getting everything the way I want it, and the third time in the manager told me I couldn't come back for a few months or they weren't going to do it. Has anyone else experienced this with the lifetime alignment? This is what I paid for, and feel I should be able to come back every day if I want to. I SPECIFICALLY asked if there were any limitations when I bought the lifetime alignment and was told there were none.