rear wheel no alignment possible?

[Jan777]

Mine is T4R V8 Limited from 2005.

I have negative camber on the rear wheels, which destroys the tire by wearing it down uneven. In my case the inner side of the rear tire is worn down, while the outer side has normal thread.

My mechanic said that wheels on the rear axle cannot be aligned. I would have to replace the entire rear axle, but there must be a less expensive way to fix this.

Anyone experienced this and found a solution?

 

[ArthurKotb]

Any idea how you got the negative camber? Maybe a previous owner overloaded the rear axle and bent it?

If it were me I would consider a junkyard purchase of another axle. With the rust issue there are probably quite a few T4Rs with a good axle.

 

[El Dusty]

Mine is T4R V8 Limited from 2005.

I have negative camber on the rear wheels, which destroys the tire by wearing it down uneven. In my case the inner side of the rear tire is worn down, while the outer side has normal thread.

My mechanic said that wheels on the rear axle cannot be aligned. I would have to replace the entire rear axle, but there must be a less expensive way to fix this.

Anyone experienced this and found a solution?

Have access to a welder or other heat source? You could use weld / heat distortion in your favor. Probably wise to drain fluids and of course watch electical components. Issue here is you may introduce fatigue or toe in / out at the same time. Just a thought.

 

[AuSeeker]

There's no adjustment on the rear axle, the housing/diff tubes is what aligns the rear tires, if the tires are out of alignment the housing/diff tubes are bent and you're not going to fix it with heat nor any other method, the only way to fix it is to replace the rear diff housing, cheapest is find one at a salvage yard.

 

[MikeinNH67]

Only a few reasons why this would be off, bent axle, bent frame or bent control arms. The control arms would be the easiest to accidentally bend and also easiest/cheapest to replace. The tube on both arms should be straight.

Has this vehicle been in an accident? From another post you're in, it looks like the answer is yes. You may want to measure the frame diagonally at a few fixed points.

 

[Jan777]

thanks for all the answers, a few points from my side:

1. getting a used rear axle would be a nice solution, if I was NOT in Europe. The T4Rs are not sold in Europe, so used parts are impossible to come by.

2. as to accident: about six years ago a truck hit my back, but for the last six years (+100k miles) there was no camber in the rear wheels, so I dont think its the reason for that problem.

3. as to heavy use or towing: my T4R has 270.000 miles on the clock, about 80% road, no heavy towing or hard off road

4. probably best to replace the differentials in the rear but I would do it only if I can use same parts from another Toyota model which is available in Europe.Tis year I replaced the rear door because of corrosion, and I had to ship it from the U.S. - the final cost was painful! 1200 for the part, 600 shipping and another 600 taxes & customs. Never again!

 

[ArthurKotb]

Sorry, didn't notice your location. What about parts for a Hilux Surf. I think they are sold in the UK. I don't know about where you are.

 

[El Dusty]

you're not going to fix it with heat nor any other method, the only way to fix it is to replace the rear diff housing, cheapest is find one at a salvage yard.

Easy to say its impossible. Were talking a few degrees and only having to get it close enough improve the wear problem. Old boy is in Kosovo, probably cheaper labor over there and who knows if he can find salvage or new parts. Heres an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z76i3MWi_r8

My background is in structural steel and I have consulted on welding procedures to correct similar issues.

 

[Offroad Alliance]

Be easier to buy a used axle from the US and freight/crate ship it to himself over there if there are none available locally. Car-Part.com has them available on the east coast for 450-700 for complete assemblies, pallet and crate, 4-500 shipping over there and youre in it for a 12-1500 axle which isnt crazy for a complete housing.


If the housing is bent thats not a "worth fixing' situation if its as bad as mentioned, but im in the US so thats easier for me to say. You can get adjustable links to correct steering angles and positioning of the axle, but none will fix the camber. Camber is the flange the housing has that your wheel assembly bolts to, if thats bent, its part of the axle tubing.

 

[El Dusty]

4-500 shipping over there

It costs a few hundred dollars to ship LTL in the US from city to city. You're a vendor, whats the best rate you can get me to ship a housing to Kosovo? Try multiple 1000s. This is not LTL this is LCL to a landlocked country. You will not be able to ship direct so expect it to go to Greece and have to deal with a third party to import and and clear customs from there or you can air freight it. lol

 

[MikeinNH67]

I didn't realize this is a camber only issue. Assuming that is for sure the case, then I don't see how it can be anything but the axle. You may need to try and cross reference axles to what is available where you are.

 

[stevelikesrhino]

Might also want to check out prado 120 axles. 4.0 prado 120 shares the same axle with V6 4runner, but as far as I know V8 and V6 share the same rear end, so prado axles might be the best bet. They are called "land cruiser" in some countries, where the bigger brother is called "land cruiser sahara".

 

[Jan777]

thanks for all the responses

Attached some pics of the uneven tire wear, both sides are affected. It seems that (at least on one side) the wheel is off. The distance to the fender is different on the two sides.

The easiest solution would be to find another model which uses the same axle. Will check HILUX and PRADO. Import to Europe from the U.S. is a p.i.t.a. and excessively expensive.

 

[ArthurKotb]

If it takes a while to wear down the tire, you could have them reverse mount the tire on the wheel at half-life so it wears down the other side.

 

[beautifulbrick]

Landcruiser Prado aka Colorado is the same platform. A rear axle should have all the correct link mounts etc.

Regular Hilux will be leaf spring and therefore won't be a direct swap although I believe they do use the same axle.

Unsure if there was a surf equivalent for the 4th gen, I think it just moved over to the Prado.

 

[ArthurKotb]

Landcruiser Prado aka Colorado is the same platform. A rear axle should have all the correct link mounts etc.

Regular Hilux will be leaf spring and therefore won't be a direct swap although I believe they do use the same axle.

Unsure if there was a surf equivalent for the 4th gen, I think it just moved over to the Prado.

My '04 is coil spring and the Hilux was available in '04

 

[beautifulbrick]

Understood, I wasn't sure about the Hilux surf as I've only had experience with the regular Hilux.

Out of interest what engine does the that gen surf come with?

 

[ArthurKotb]

Understood, I wasn't sure about the Hilux surf as I've only had experience with the regular Hilux.

Out of interest what engine does the that gen surf come with?

It had a couple of options, including diesel.
I have the interior options catalog too. Among all the various color light replacements and seat options there's a step that is at the rear bumper. I would assume it's for the 3rd row seat.

 

[Jan777]

what about bearings?

Maybe this would be a solution to the wheel camber? The guy in the video has a different problem, no camber on his wheels, but if the bearings are shot this might cause the poblem I have with my T4R.

Anyone has experience with that?

see changing wheel bearing rear axle T4R: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvQybhW_nbI

 

[Reinout]

Maybe this would be a solution to the wheel camber? The guy in the video has a different problem, no camber on his wheels, but if the bearings are shot this might cause the poblem I have with my T4R.

Anyone has experience with that?

see changing wheel bearing rear axle T4R: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvQybhW_nbI

I was thinking the same thing!

For the OP: check your bearings, if you have a lot of "wobble" it could very well change your camber.

But if that's not it then I would say a bent axle. I'm sure it could be straightened, but I don't know how accurately. Considering that there are shops that can straighten a car frame: why not an axle?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PHwLcgfnO8