After lift, try to align back to stock or other specs?

[Wile.E.Coyote]

I've got FJ springs and 5100s on my 04 sport v6 4x4 and I just bumped the fronts up to 1.75 and I plan to put a 1.5" spacer in back this weekend. I have 2 questions:

1- should I tell the alignment tech to do his best to get back to stock? It sounds like with 3" total lift in front I won't be able to get to stock specs without aftermarket control arms, but is there an alternative set of specs in the meantime?

2- does it matter for front alignment if I do it before I put the rear spacer in or should I wait?

Thanks.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I would have them try to get it as close to factory as they can. I'd be mainly concerned about balancing Camber with Caster correctly.

 

[Wile.E.Coyote]

How about the rear spacer? Is lifting the rear 1.5" going to affect alignment l?

 

[Wile.E.Coyote]

FWIW, looks like they were able to get within stock specs. And since I realized I have unlimited alignments, I'm going to re-align after the rear spacer install even if it's not necessary.

 

[having fun]

Even when you change height in the rear lift or drop, it changes the front geometry. So yes another alignment.

 

[morphious]

Based on your sheet, you are out of spec on your Caster. My lift is a bit higher than yours, here are my before and after new UCAs numbers:

Before:

After:

 

[Wile.E.Coyote]

Hmmm I'm not an expert, but I thought caster wasn't adjustable? I see yours is 4x2, is it adjustable on 2wd but not 4wd. The tech told me it wasn't adjustable so I focused on the others and just cross caster.

 

[morphious]

Yes it is, adjusting Caster affects Camber and vice versa on all models.

 

[having fun]

Personally as long as they get chamber and toe dead on, that's where your tire wear will come from.
Caster just makes it better on drivers controllability. Wandering as some call it.

I'm @0.0 on chamber L/R, 0.6 on toe L/R. Caster is off 1.3/1.6.

Drives fine, no tire wear, just a little pull to the left.

 

[Mike07SE]

Camber is a big deal on these trucks especially when lifted. Need to go back and have them fix that.