Alignment Help

[RPC]

I installed Bilstein 5100s and FJ springs all around on my 2008 V8 SR5 a few years ago and immediately took it to my mechanic for an alignment. Here’s the print out:

They said something about having maxed out “the setting” due to the lift- I assumed they meant camber- but this damn thing has mildly pulled left since the install/alignment and I’m ready to fix that once and for all. Drives me nuts.

Anything anyone notices about the post alignment report that might indicate the reason for pulling left?

If not, what else I should be looking into?

Original owner, 102K miles, never wrecked/curbed/etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Whamola]

I installed Bilstein 5100s and FJ springs all around on my 2008 V8 SR5 a few years ago and immediately took it to my mechanic for an alignment. Here’s the print out:

They said something about having maxed out “the setting” due to the lift- I assumed they meant camber- but this damn thing has mildly pulled left since the install/alignment and I’m ready to fix that once and for all. Drives me nuts.

Anything anyone notices about the post alignment report that might indicate the reason for pulling left?

If not, what else I should be looking into?

Original owner, 102K miles, never wrecked/curbed/etc.

Thanks in advance.

Almost every alignment I've had has left me with the wheel at center being off. I think it's the play in the wheel giving a false sense of what is actually dead on. I'm not sure, but out of 4 alignments, only one has the car going straight at 12 o clock.

 

[BackOff]

RPC
Your caster is really low, may affect the wandering effect.
Road crown and low caster may pull to the side of the road.
These lifted t4r seem to like 3 to 3.5 or more degrees caster.




Whamola
The steering wheel off center is a easy fix, tie rods.
Center the steering wheel, loosen the locknuts, adjust rods so tires are straight, retighten locknuts.
Can even DIY it with string lines and a measuring tape.

 

[randy88fj62]

Upgrade your stock control arms. Cheaper than wearing out tires.

SPC, JBA, there are many options that help bring your alignment numbers back in.

 

[RPC]

I’ve been checking back in here regularly but didn’t realize I’d been logged out so haven’t seen the last several replies…

Appreciate everyone’s input.

Almost every alignment I've had has left me with the wheel at center being off. I think it's the play in the wheel giving a false sense of what is actually dead on. I'm not sure, but out of 4 alignments, only one has the car going straight at 12 o clock.

No, it’s not the steering wheel centering. I can let go of the wheel and the truck begins to pull to the left regardless of what road/freeway I’m on, speed I’m going, etc.

Upgrade your stock control arms. Cheaper than wearing out tires.

SPC, JBA, there are many options that help bring your alignment numbers back in.

Just the upper control arms are needed to enable greater alignment, is that right?

*I don’t mind spending the $ but would limit replacing anything unnecessary that’s not value-added regarding improving the alignment.

 

[randy88fj62]

Yes, UCAs will fix your caster angle.

 

[aemravan]

just to make sure you're not under false impression on high caster UCA fixing caster: Yes, the caster will resolve the "wandering" issue, however, there's a chance you're pulling left situation is still separate from the low degree of caster you have.

Now bad is it pulling?

 

[RPC]

Appreciate the replies.

[MENTION=582805]aemravan[/MENTION], Unsure how to quantify degree of bad, but on 100% of roads it will tend left. If I let go of the sterling wheel it won’t “jerk” left or show urgency to jump left, but will immediately start tracking left. If I bring it back to center and let the wheel go, it’ll do the same thing over and over. Always left, always with the same slow but steady desire to head that way. It’s enough to get annoyed on road trips that I have to “hold” the steering wheel in position to keep it from wanting to tend left vs just having to keep a light touch on the steering wheel like in my my other vehicle.

If possibly not tied to the lift, any other ways to diagnose a left tendency? Maybe it has nothing to do with the small lift?