Once Again, The Handling

[934x4]

Not to flog a dead horse, but what the heck. After a previous discussion on handling (Apologies to Mike, and thanks to Harper), I took the TE in for a wheel alignment at a local shop. Turns out the castor was whacked; one at +1.0 and the other at +3.0. I had it set to 4.0 on both. Luckily the wind was blowing hard here today, and after the adjustment, I took it out for a test and it rides the way it should; I can feel the wind hitting the side of the 4R, but it doesn't steer it anymore. So, for those of us who have been wrestling the mighty 4R down the highway, check it for castor angle first. $97 for the work. Much cheaper than a new set of rubber. But I will be throwing some Destination A/T's on just cuz the Dueler 684's look so wimpy.

 

[Jtraskell]

Not to flog a dead horse, but what the heck. After a previous discussion on handling (Apologies to Mike, and thanks to Harper), I took the TE in for a wheel alignment at a local shop. Turns out the castor was whacked; one at +1.0 and the other at +3.0. I had it set to 4.0 on both. Luckily the wind was blowing hard here today, and after the adjustment, I took it out for a test and it rides the way it should; I can feel the wind hitting the side of the 4R, but it doesn't steer it anymore. So, for those of us who have been wrestling the mighty 4R down the highway, check it for castor angle first. $97 for the work. Much cheaper than a new set of rubber. But I will be throwing some Destination A/T's on just cuz the Dueler 684's look so wimpy.

Good job. I did the same a couple of weeks ago based on Harpers post in another thread and got the same results, much better handling. Just wait until you get rid of those OEM tires..then the difference will be much more noticeable. I do not know about the tires you are thinking about, but if I can make a suggestion, make sure there at least 6 ply LT vs. 4 ply passenger car tires. You will not be disappointed.

 

[silversx]

any suggestions for tires? and please post a link to the thread about adjusting alignment.. is the stock alignment wrong?

i came from a lancer evolution x .. so driving the 4runner is like driving a house boat..

thnks

 

[KCcarguy]

Love my Destination AT's. They look great, handle well, and are surprisingly quiet.

 

[jwyshrek]

You guys with 2010/2011 4Runners...not sure how many miles you have, and not sure if it has been mentioned on this forum...but you do know you have a 12month/12,000mile free adjustment period right?

This means that if anything is not to spec, Toyota will fix it for free...this includes alignments, tire balancing, etc.

Just FYI...

 

[Turn_down]

You guys with 2010/2011 4Runners...not sure how many miles you have, and not sure if it has been mentioned on this forum...but you do know you have a 12month/12,000mile free adjustment period right?

This means that if anything is not to spec, Toyota will fix it for free...this includes alignments, tire balancing, etc.

Just FYI...

I did not know that. Looks like my 5K list is getting bigger and bigger. I'll add an alignment to it.

 

[jwyshrek]

From Toyota's Warranty info brochure:

"• The comprehensive warranty includes coverage of service adjustments for 36 months or 36,000 miles
from the vehicle's in-service date, whichever occurs first, except for wheel balancing and wheel
alignments, which are limited to one repair during the first 12 months or 20,000 miles, whichever
occurs first."

Actually, this is slightly different from what I got when I bought my 2005 4Runner...I believe the adjustment period was only for 12months/12,000 miles. I guess they changed it or this is a misprint.

I've found that most people who buy new vehicles don't know this (other manufacturers have the same kind of thing), because their dealers failed to mention it to them...wonder why...

 

[SeattleMike]

Not to flog a dead horse, but what the heck. After a previous discussion on handling (Apologies to Mike, and thanks to Harper), I took the TE in for a wheel alignment at a local shop. Turns out the castor was whacked; one at +1.0 and the other at +3.0. I had it set to 4.0 on both. Luckily the wind was blowing hard here today, and after the adjustment, I took it out for a test and it rides the way it should; I can feel the wind hitting the side of the 4R, but it doesn't steer it anymore. So, for those of us who have been wrestling the mighty 4R down the highway, check it for castor angle first. $97 for the work. Much cheaper than a new set of rubber. But I will be throwing some Destination A/T's on just cuz the Dueler 684's look so wimpy.

I'm glad you got it sorted. After going through all that trouble to get one, it would suck not to love driving it.

any suggestions for tires? and please post a link to the thread about adjusting alignment.. is the stock alignment wrong?

i came from a lancer evolution x .. so driving the 4runner is like driving a house boat..

thnks

I like Duratracs, but you will find 6 or 7 great options depending on where you drive and what you want to do with it.

Here is harper7's post: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ng-swaying-back-forth-highway.html#post778797

 

[Jtraskell]

As Haper said in his post in the thread Seattlemike was kind enough to link, the dealer will "check" the alignment and if it is within "specks" then that is all they will do unless you press them to push the positive caster to 4.0 or better depending on what you got, lift or? And if you have a lift I suspect all bets ar off. jwyshrek is also correct in that the dealer will only do one alignment during the warranty period and that only withing the first year and 12k.

Due to the above issues, I had mine done independently for a fair price (59.00 dollars) it was money well spent.

 

[Jtraskell]

any suggestions for tires? and please post a link to the thread about adjusting alignment.. is the stock alignment wrong?

i came from a lancer evolution x .. so driving the 4runner is like driving a house boat..

thanks

Tires are a fairly personal thing in that it depends on the use of your vehicle. If was I living back in Oregon where I grew up and did a lot of off road hunting, snow, rain and ice, Duratracs might be a good choice. Since I live in Florida now and all I have to worry about is pot holes, sink holes, semi soft beaches and very steep boat ramps, I really like the Michelin LT 285/70 R17 LTX M/S 2. They are firm, especially in the side walls which will give you a much more controllable ride as compared to the "very soft" OEM tires and they run smooth on the highway, but still have enough track and strength to get me through most sand and cypress knees I encounter.

 

[cv470]

handling and wandering

Guys I am just about due for my 15,000 service and I plan on telling them about this issue it's really bad on 4 runner but I am not techinical and so I want to waLK IN and tell the service manager the issue and point him in the right direction to fix this problem in other words I wanna sound like I know whaT i am talking about! Also I am in Teaneck,NJ anybody know of a shop that provides this service just in case? my truck is so bad on windy days I cant drive on the lane next to the guardrail!!!
Thanks Guys

 

[Jtraskell]

Guys I am just about due for my 15,000 service and I plan on telling them about this issue it's really bad on 4 runner but I am not technical and so I want to walk IN and tell the service manager the issue and point him in the right direction to fix this problem in other words I wanna sound like I know what i am talking about! Also I am in Teaneck,NJ anybody know of a shop that provides this service just in case? my truck is so bad on windy days I cant drive on the lane next to the guardrail!!!
Thanks Guys

My suggestion is to print off Harpers post from the other thread, my response found in that same thread as well as 934X4 post in this thread. Find the service manger, ask him to read all three posts and tell him you are having a big problem with "loose steering" and you think it has to do with the caster setting on your alignment and you would like the positive caster set on both tires to 4.0. You do not need to be "techy" just informed. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[4RBob]

I just did this on Friday. I was in for my 20k service and had a free alignment owed me since I paid for one at 15k, but they did it with 2009 4Runner specs. That worked out well since I just put in some Daystar pre-load spacers on Wednesday.

Anyway, I told the service writer that I had some wandering and asked him to make a note for the tech to set the caster to the upper limit (which is 4.0, range is 2.5-4.0). He made the note and it was set to 4.0, per alignment sheet.

 

[scanny]

Anyway, I told the service writer that I had some wandering and asked him to make a note for the tech to set the caster to the upper limit (which is 4.0, range is 2.5-4.0). He made the note and it was set to 4.0, per alignment sheet.

Do you feel any positive changes in handling now?

 

[4RBob]

Do you feel any positive changes in handling now?

yes, but i've made several minor changes that are all marginal improvements in handling. changed out stock tires to BFG A/T load range C tires (set psi to 38). installed FJ TT coils and shocks (Bilstein HD's), got about 1/4" front, 1/2" rear lift out of coils (not noticably stiffer than stock 5th Gen coils), Bilstein HD's were a definite improvement over stock shocks. installed Daystar pre-load spacers which gave me about 3/4" front lift and further stiffened the front. then set caster to 4 degrees. i think i am set for now. i think after 50k miles or so, i will install SAW 1.5" rear coils, maybe do something else with the front, and get slightly bigger than stock size tires (because i think stock size tires with 1.5" or greater lift will start looking funny).

i will say this, even after several alignments from several different places, this 5th Gen still likes to pull a good deal on crowned roads. this is not very noticable on our 4th Gen. it tracks awesome.