Mechanic says lift is too much?

[bigmike91]

So my mechanic says that the way my lift is set up currently is dangerous because of the steering angles and angles that the CV axles are at... I have a 2008 4WD V8 with 5100s and OME 885s. I have seen plenty of other 4th gen runners with the same or similar set up, and I haven't read or heard anything about them having the same issues I seem to be having.

I went to get an alignment today and my passenger side inner tie rod was very very loose and they could not complete the alignment because of it. I just had all of my tie rods replaced less than 5 months ago, and also had my passenger side CV replaced less than 2 months ago. My mechanic said that everything was tight when it left the shop and he thinks the angles of my suspension are stressing my steering components.

Can anyone give me any input? Am i missing something?

 

[TOY2G]

It sounds as if perhaps inferior parts were used. When it comes to steering, stopping and running I ALWAYS prefer OEM. There are several brands of steering components out there that are very risky to use.

I am only guessing, but if the shop you took it to used cheap parts and they failed like cheap parts OFTEN do, they are going to blame your lift to avoid having to re-do the work on their dime.

If you tierods do not say "made in Japan" don't use them IMHO. you can get aftermarket parts made in Japan, I know some (not all) of the prosteer stuff is made in Japan.

 

[t-man]

So my mechanic says that the way my lift is set up currently is dangerous because of the steering angles and angles that the CV axles are at... I have a 2008 4WD V8 with 5100s and OME 885s. I have seen plenty of other 4th gen runners with the same or similar set up, and I haven't read or heard anything about them having the same issues I seem to be having.

I went to get an alignment today and my passenger side inner tie rod was very very loose and they could not complete the alignment because of it. I just had all of my tie rods replaced less than 5 months ago, and also had my passenger side CV replaced less than 2 months ago. My mechanic said that everything was tight when it left the shop and he thinks the angles of my suspension are stressing my steering components.

Can anyone give me any input? Am i missing something?

How tall are you? Pics of angles would help. Uca angle, cv angles, tie rods, etc. Take a pic of the front shocks too, the mounting perch.

 

[bigmike91]

It sounds as if perhaps inferior parts were used. When it comes to steering, stopping and running I ALWAYS prefer OEM. There are several brands of steering components out there that are very risky to use.

I am only guessing, but if the shop you took it to used cheap parts and they failed like cheap parts OFTEN do, they are going to blame your lift to avoid having to re-do the work on their dime.

If you tierods do not say "made in Japan" don't use them IMHO. you can get aftermarket parts made in Japan, I know some (not all) of the prosteer stuff is made in Japan.

My mechanic said that the tie rods he used were Toyota parts... I know with the CV axle that failed on me within a month after having that part replaced, it was a NAPA gold not a OEM. Maybe my mechanic has been using cheap parts and telling me they are Toyota. Ill have to get under the truck today when I take pictures and check them out.

 

[07V8]

I bet they are not OEM.

 

[bigmike91]

How tall are you? Pics of angles would help. Uca angle, cv angles, tie rods, etc. Take a pic of the front shocks too, the mounting perch.

Not sure how tall she is at the moment. I don't have a measuring tape with me. Here are a few pictures i just snapped:

 

[adkfinn]

>>>> no expert here but <<<<<

I don't see anything bad in those pics. In fact, your angles look better than mine. Then again, I'm new(er) to IFS and a bit, umm... :der:

 

[blind squirrel]

It doesn't look too bad from the photos. To help with the alignment you need to get new aftermarket upper control arms. Do you have a diff drop? Those cv angles look similar to mine and I have the kit installed. I have a 3 inch toytech lift.

 

[bigmike91]

It doesn't look too bad from the photos. To help with the alignment you need to get new upper control arms. Do you have a diff drop? Those cv angles look similar to mine and I have the kit installed.

View attachment 224555

I do not have a diff drop...

This is what I am saying. Everytime I take my truck to the shop he is saying it look sketch, but I have a "mild" lift in comparison to a lot of 4th gens I see...

I plan on getting new UCAs here soon but that shouldn't fix the issues that my mechanic is claiming there are.

 

[Inv4drZm]

My CV angles are worse or about the same, and I have a diff drop and 3.5" suspension lift

 

[bigmike91]

My CV angles are worse or about the same, and I have a diff drop and 3.5" suspension lift

Have you had any issues with tie rods wearing out very quickly? How much offroading do you do?

 

[adkfinn]

I do not have a diff drop...

This is what I am saying. Everytime I take my truck to the shop he is saying it look sketch, but I have a "mild" lift in comparison to a lot of 4th gens I see...

I plan on getting new UCAs here soon but that shouldn't fix the issues that my mechanic is claiming there are.

[MENTION=93846]BigMike[/MENTION] - I hate to say it but, it might be time to look for a new mechanic, someone more familiar/comfortable with reasonably modified vehicles.

 

[bigmike91]

[MENTION=93846]BigMike[/MENTION] - I hate to say it but, it might be time to look for a new mechanic, someone more familiar/comfortable with reasonably modified vehicles.

I have been thinking that.... I may take it to a local 4WD place and see what they say.

 

[t-man]

I don't have a dif drop, you don't need it unless you go 3.5"+ of lift.
Those angles look great. Either he used cheap parts, next time ask for receipts or other proof, or do it yourself. You'd be surprised how easy it really is. Make sure you check inner tie rods too.
I've started replacing parts with duralast from autozone for the lifetime warranty, but anywhere with such warranty would be fine in my opinion. Oem don't mean Shit! It's not going to hold up any better on a lifted and offroaded vehicle. Period.
As mentioned, find a different mechanic as you are pretty mild to a lot of us. Only issue I end up with is the damn wheel bearings.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[bigmike91]

So my inner tie rod that is going bad has a "555" on it. From googling that I believe it is from Napa, but has good reviews from what I have seen. Anyone familiar with this?

 

[Inv4drZm]

Have you had any issues with tie rods wearing out very quickly? How much offroading do you do?

Quite a bit of offroading. Only have had the truck 1 year and only been lifted half that time, but since it's been lifted I've been to some dunes, Moab, Colorado, and some local rock crawl spots a couple times. Haven't replaced tie rods, bushings, or CVs yet. Lower ball joints should probably be done on mine though.

 

[bigmike91]

I don't have a dif drop, you don't need it unless you go 3.5"+ of lift.
Those angles look great. Either he used cheap parts, next time ask for receipts or other proof, or do it yourself. You'd be surprised how easy it really is. Make sure you check inner tie rods too.
I've started replacing parts with duralast from autozone for the lifetime warranty, but anywhere with such warranty would be fine in my opinion. Oem don't mean Shit! It's not going to hold up any better on a lifted and offroaded vehicle. Period.
As mentioned, find a different mechanic as you are pretty mild to a lot of us. Only issue I end up with is the damn wheel bearings.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

Yeah I did most of my suspenion work with a buddy. The steering was loose so I got a mechanic to replace a lot of the steering components under my extended warranty and have had issues ever since. I just measured her and she is 39" from the ground to the fender on the front, and 41" in the rear. Pretty even side to side.

 

[TotalAutomotiveLV]

It sounds as if perhaps inferior parts were used. When it comes to steering, stopping and running I ALWAYS prefer OEM. There are several brands of steering components out there that are very risky to use.

I am only guessing, but if the shop you took it to used cheap parts and they failed like cheap parts OFTEN do, they are going to blame your lift to avoid having to re-do the work on their dime.

If you tierods do not say "made in Japan" don't use them IMHO. you can get aftermarket parts made in Japan, I know some (not all) of the prosteer stuff is made in Japan.

Agreed, if you are going to stay with OE components use Toyota suppliers and not aftermarket copies.

These are also an option

 

[TrueBlue]

I'm running OME 886's and 5100's in prep for my bumper coming in tomorrow and I've had no issue over the last few weeks. I do have loose inner and outer tie rods that I'm gonna be replacing tomorrow but your mechanic doesn't know what he's talking about IMHO. Take it to a 4wd lift shop and see what they're take on it is


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bigmike91]

Agreed, if you are going to stay with OE components use Toyota suppliers and not aftermarket copies.

These are also an option

I wasn't aware Readylift made parts for the 4th gen 4Runners? Where can I get ahold of those tie rods and UCAs?