Alignments and off-roading?

[atalarico]

Hey all, dumb question, but how many other people need alignments after what would like be considered easy to moderate off-roading? Seems like almost every time I go I need one. I have newer OEM inner and outer tie rods so I’m not sure it’s because of worn parts.

Seemed like my 3rd gen had the same issue too. Do I need to be more diligent about airing down? It’s just lazy that I don’t since I have a compressor.

I have a lifetime Firestone alignment but I hate going there because they don’t tighten my cam bolts to spec and they click after. Toytec is the only one who gets it right but at $100 a pop I can’t do that every time I go off-road.

 

[rdruss]

What is causing your alignment to go off? If is it LCA alignment bolts then you might want to consider installing Poly Performance "Taco Tabs" alignment cam delete kit. It's $100 + frght. It will eliminate off road misalignment problems due to LCA bolts "wandering".

 

[atalarico]

What is causing your alignment to go off? If is it LCA alignment bolts then you might want to consider installing Poly Performance "Taco Tabs" alignment cam delete kit. It's $100 + frght. It will eliminate off road misalignment problems due to LCA bolts "wandering".

Honestly, I haven't a clue, but I suppose I could take it to ToyTec again and just ask. They mentioned the first time I brought it in that the alignment tabs on the frame were a little bent and I should weld a little reinforcement behind them. I haven't, even though a buddy is willing to show me how to do it.

Maybe that's why?

But from the sound of it, this probably isn't normal then?

 

[04rnr]

Honestly, I haven't a clue, but I suppose I could take it to ToyTec again and just ask. They mentioned the first time I brought it in that the alignment tabs on the frame were a little bent and I should weld a little reinforcement behind them. I haven't, even though a buddy is willing to show me how to do it.

Maybe that's why?

But from the sound of it, this probably isn't normal then?

well there ya go, sounds like they told you about a possible problem and you havent fixed that problem..
Get it fixed and YES, air down... get a compressor or C02 compressors can be had for as low as $40 on ebay and go up from there, but get those tabs fixed and Im willing to bet, your issues will go away.

 

[atalarico]

well there ya go, sounds like they told you about a possible problem and you havent fixed that problem..
Get it fixed and YES, air down... get a compressor or C02 compressors can be had for as low as $40 on ebay and go up from there, but get those tabs fixed and Im willing to bet, your issues will go away.

Right, and that *could* be part of it, but it was mentioned by ToyTec more in terms of "this will make alignments hard in the future" not "this is the cause of your alignment issues". I was asking more generally though if this is the experience of others when off-roading since I also recall it happening with my 3rd Gen.

The airing down thing was a question of is there a known/provable benefit in terms of the issue that I'm experiencing. I air down for more serious trails, but considering this one is basically just a rocky forest service road up Peak 10 in Breck that tons of stock vehicles do, I figured it wasn't worth it. I have a compressor already.

So far from the answers I'm getting, it doesn't sound like most of you need alignments after easy to moderate off-roading then.

 

[BackOff]

If its just one side thats off after a trip, then probably the cams slipping.
If both sides are out of alignment equally, ie=crooked steering wheel, then it might be the rack skipping teeth.

Slow down in the bad rocks?

 

[04rnr]

Right, and that *could* be part of it, but it was mentioned by ToyTec more in terms of "this will make alignments hard in the future" not "this is the cause of your alignment issues". I was asking more generally though if this is the experience of others when off-roading since I also recall it happening with my 3rd Gen.

The airing down thing was a question of is there a known/provable benefit in terms of the issue that I'm experiencing. I air down for more serious trails, but considering this one is basically just a rocky forest service road up Peak 10 in Breck that tons of stock vehicles do, I figured it wasn't worth it. I have a compressor already.

So far from the answers I'm getting, it doesn't sound like most of you need alignments after easy to moderate off-roading then.

I wheel about every weekend, never had any alignments issues but I do airdown every time, and I dont speed or try and race lol not saying you do.
Just glad you're out there wheeling lol
:tea: