Alignment or Tires

[kai920]

I just recently bought an 05 4x4 Sport V8. It needed tires so I replaced all our with Falken's new Rocky Mountains AT tires. Wanted an alignment after replacing all four tires but the shop I took it to said it was within all specified ranges. Drove a couple of days and it definitely needed an alignment. Took it to another shop and had it aligned. They said toe was out of specs. Drives better now but still is pulling right a little.

In addition, I feel like I am constantly making these little adjustments when driving on the highway. Like its all over the road, but just real small minor adjustments This is my first 4x4 and first all wheel drive vehicle. Should I attribute the pulling and making adjustments to the tires, or alignment. OR is it the full time four wheel drive that I m not used to, since the front wheels are also pulling is that what pulls it around a little more. I had a Ranger with Duellers and did not experience anything like this at all, straight as an arrow.

Thanks!

 

[Doozi]

I would check your tire pressure. Those tire guys tend to fill them to a much higher pressure than I like. My new Goodyears seem to like 34psi.

~Doozi

 

[Nuke]

Even in spec, these trucks can wander in so much as a breeze. I've been told that changing either camber or toe (and I can't recall in which direction, either) can make a big difference.

However, it COULD be tire pressure as mentioned above. My experience is that you can't rely on the door placard; you need to use that as a starting point and increase or decrease pressure for what works for you. I find 32-34 PSI the best for the stock DumbFlops I currently run.

 

[gm350reratliff]

kai920- If it is pulling to the right still you could try swapping the 2 front tires with each other. Also, make sure you don't have a caliper dragging. If that doesn't work I would take it back to the shop that did the alignment. Some vehicles require a little more tweaking to get them to drive straight than others. Are the roads in your area crowned? If the roads are leaning toward the right that could be the cause of a pull as well. Like Nuke said, it doesn't take much to make these 4runners wander and feel like they are all over the road. Especially if your use to worn out american vehicles that took much larger inputs from the steering wheel to keep them straight.

 

[PaulB-2006 T4R]

You could also add a pound more of air on the right side or a pound less on the left to see if that corrects the pulling. If it over corrects then try .5 pound.

I'd also look to see if the tire shop installed all the same size tires. Good luck.

Yeah Rick my wife is always saying the police are going to pull me over for a DUI in the 4R for wondering. When I first got my 4R I checked my steering play but there was none. I now see a lot of this complaint so I feel okay. I'll just lay off the beer until I've parked the Runner.

 

[kai920]

I just checked tire Pressure and it was 35-36. I lowered them down to 32 and will start adjusting from there.

The roads aren't perfect and I'm not sure what crowned means but they definitely lean in one direction or the other. It's a constant pull to the right though, depending on the road sometimes more than others, but almost always right.

Also had the brakes done too so I'll make sure everythings good there and have the shop check the alignment again.

 

[Justinlhc]

I think just about every vehicle I've ever owned pulled slightly to the right, but our roads are all slanted(to the right)so that probably has something to do with it. My 04 4Runner drives like a dream and stays steady and tight, but still pulls slightly to the right(probably due to the streets). The wandering probably has something to do with how the toe was set. It's probably set a little too "straight". I could be wrong, but I was always told the toe should be slightly in on the front to put a slight bit of tension and keep the vehicle from wandering.


Wheel Alignment A Short Course

Like camber, toe will change depending on vehicle speed. As aerodynamic forces change the riding height, the toe setting may change due to the geometry of the steering linkage in relation to the geometry of the suspension. Because of this, specifications are determined for a vehicle that is not moving based on the toe being at zero when the vehicle is at highway speed. In the early days prior to radial tires, extra toe-in was added to compensate for tire drag at highway speed.

 

[Koz]

If it is pulling, something is wrong. Find someone who knows what they are doing.

Koz

 

[MikesToy]

I say both. Get a real alignment accdg to specs from the stealership. Then get your tires re-balanced. Make sure they put on that red machine and put the correct weights in thurrr. Just my 2 cts.