Potential issue with Firestone Alignment

[Mr.emergency]

As the story goes, I purchased the lifetime alignment from Firestone some time, and many parts ago. I've used them through each stage of my lifts. Nothing too crazy now- About a year ago I upgraded my lift to: Front= 2014 Taco TRD suspension + Daystar bushing level. Rear= OME 895 + Bilstein 5100. When I went in for that alignment they told me they couldn't get the camber within specs because of the stock upper control arms. Fast forward to last week, I finally bought the JBA offroad High Caster upper control arms. Took in the 4runner for a new alignment and this is what they told me they could get the specs to... Not knowing too much about alignment specifically, I'm not sure if I should be upset or happy. What do you guys think? before alignment on top, after alignment on bottom

 

[Auditechnician]

Looks like they only adjusted toe. The change in camber came most likely from the toe being adjusted. There is no change to caster which tells me you either do not have adjustable uppers or they did not mess with the adjustment. Additionally if they had made any adjustments to the eccentric bolts for camber adjustment it most likely would have resulted in a slight change to the caster.

Basically I believe you have been “flat rated”

“Set the toe, and let it go!”

 

[S p a r k y]

Go back or to another. Tell them not to be lazy!

 

[Rodtheviking]

Half assed and lazy, tell them to do it right or refund your money.

 

[waypoint]

Camber and toe are what kills tires, and they look fine. It looks like adjusting caster angle requires surgery on these vehicles, the upper control arms aren't slotted at the frame mounts.

 

[Mike07SE]

Camber and toe are what kills tires, and they look fine. It looks like adjusting caster angle requires surgery on these vehicles, the upper control arms aren't slotted at the frame mounts.

Caster adjustment comes from adjusting the two LCA cams. If either are frozen it can't be done. That may have been the case here and they never said anything (it's happened to me). At which point the tech probably just set the toe and finished the job as the numbers were close enough.

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[R3dR0cket]

Go find a shop that specializes on lifted vehicles, that can do an alignment. It wont be free, but neither is replacing your tires early. Firestone and all the other "quick" shops aren't trained or equipped for lifted vehicles. Its VERY rare that a tech knows how to handle modified suspension alignments.

 

[waypoint]

Caster adjustment comes from adjusting the two LCA cams. If either are frozen it can't be done.

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of camber with regard to the LCA cam bolts. These move the LCA either inward or outward relative to the frame. In order to affect caster, you need to move the UCA forward/backward.

 

[djkurious]

They did the famous "Toe and go"

 

[Mike07SE]

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of camber with regard to the LCA cam bolts. These move the LCA either inward or outward relative to the frame. In order to affect caster, you need to move the UCA forward/backward.

You need to pull up the FSM to get a visual of how it works, but in combination of the two lower cams and the triangulation of the LCA you can also do caster (as well as Camber).

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[waypoint]

You need to pull up the FSM to get a visual of how it works, but in combination of the two lower cams and the triangulation of the LCA you can also do caster (as well as Camber).

Thanks, I stand corrected. I looked it up in the shop manual and can see how it works for caster. PITA compared to slotted UCAs, but likely more durable. You have to triangulate on both the front and rear LCA bolts with the lower ball joint as the 3rd corner of the triangle to shift it forward or rearward, and then correct the toe after you get caster & camber set correctly.

 

[vipergrhd]

I don't think they even adjusted anything besides toe or they have some skilled techs to be able to adjust camber without any change to caster, they must have forgot to do a caster sweep in order to update the reading. Does it pull or wander when driving? steering wheel centered? I'm not too worried about caster since it's a non wearing angle I would be more worried if it goes straight down the road camber readings seem to good if thats what really is a true reading and not cheated. I just noticed the right rear camber, is your axle tube bent? It should be even with the left side or close.