Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackWorksInc
That alignment readout is a bit lacking, I would have liked to see at least Caster if not SAI. I wonder if that's just one of those alignment "quick checkers" we have a couple in lube bay and honestly aside from getting a rough idea of Toe, they tend to be a bit off on camber and caster. The wheel being set back a half inch made me wonder what the caster settings were as you can move the wheel around a bit by playing with that (it's one of the reasons a lot of people will opt for 4° of Caster when doing lifts.)
Sticking caliper/dragging caliper is a possibility, but usually there'd be more symptoms like you noticing a burning brake smell and the 4Runner feeling like it pulls/darts when using the brakes.
This is certainty a wild ride you're on regardless of the outcome, I am really wondering what their process here is. Keep us updated!
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1st point
I'm not sure how they came up with being 1/2 inch off... because I can easily stick 4 fingers behind the tire and the first top screw on the fender where the mud flaps are located on both front wheels. If the wheel was set back 1/2 an inch, then I should technically be able to fit 3 fingers not 4, as the average finger is about 1/2"... right??? Keeping in mind the steering wheel is set straight.
2nd point
The runner has been feeling like it's been dragging ever since I went in for the recommended maintenance (to keep the factory warranty) when i did the 30,000 km maintenance and they "worked" on the brakes. The smell of burning brakes well not so much... unless I go through a puddle but that's just regular heat dissipating along the steam... The brakes do seem weaker though (take longer to come to a stop) than prior to when they worked on them...
After the 3rd dealer did the alignment I had noticed the pull during braking but it wasn't as noticeable as the pull while driving. The pull now is not that bad after the 3rd alignment within 2 weeks, but the wheel starts to turn right sharply during braking... Mind you all three alignments from the dealers did pull to the RIGHT during braking.
Third point.
The second dealer where I went to for the alignment last week ( and now want to work on the brakes), the steering wheel was dead centre after the alignment .... but with the 1st and 3rd dealer's alignment, the steering wheel was always offset towards the right....If i tried to move the steering wheel to make it dead centre, ...... as I drove it, the steering wheel would start to weer to the right, to SETTLE in the off centre position and at the same time truck would eventually start to weer right So i dont know if that's the play you're referring to sir!!
4th POINT
Before i had ANY of the alignments done, the runner had a hard time DISENGAGING from 4WD HI to 2 wheel drive..... when i got the truck new going in and out of 2wd was instant... it started to have a harder time disengaging from 4wd HI to 2WD HI a few months ago.
By that i MEAN i would push the lever forward all the way............. and the green 4wd light would stay on unless I turned the steering wheel left a right a bit or slowed down, which would then cause the truck to disengage 4WD.. After i got the first alignment 2ish weeks ago that problem got solved.
I dont know if it has any significance but it's one of the positive outcomes of the alignment...................... BUT AFTER the alignment The truck shifts back into 2WD instantly without hesitation....
But let's not forget
I did not notice the pull until I installed the 4 new tires...........
With my winter tires ironically Cooper discoverers as well (m+S) the pull was minute.
I will let you guys know what happens...