Slot upper strut mount to adjust caster?

[keithyota]

I'm having issues getting a good alignment and caster adjusted and wonder if you've heard of this solution and if is a good idea?


My original lower control arms were frozen and toyota dealer indicated they could not adjust caster/camber. Vehicle drifted around on the road too much, but went straight. I think they added more toe in to do that.

I replaced LCA and took to another shop to align (it was cheaper)..they said could only adjust caster so much, it's good on one side but not the other. Makes no sense to me, but say in order to adjust it further, they'd have to notch the upper strut to make space to move the shock in the strut mount.

It drifts right fairly strong on it's own (not holding wheel). The control/wandering is better. I can tell the caster is off when I turn a tight radius and release wheel, it doesn't auto realign back to center and go straight so well.

Thoughts if this is a valid solution without negative implications?

here's before (Toyota) alignment and after and other shop.

Album — Postimages

 

[y=mx+b]

say in order to adjust it further, they'd have to notch the upper strut to make space to move the shock in the strut mount.

This part makes no sense to me since we have a double wishbone up front and not a MacPherson style strut. The shock positioning should have no effect on the alignment of a 4runner. Even so, this is a super jank way to do a macpherson strut alignment, instead of purchasing aftermarket caster/camber plates.

If you replaced both LCAS and know they are good, then I would take it to a different place. If you're on stock suspension, should have no problem getting 3 deg of caster out of the stock stuff.

For the drifting, start by checking tire pressure and if any calipers are seized on the right side.

 

[Inv4drZm]

If its the guy behind the counter telling you about slotting, he doesn't know what you drive.

If its the guy working on your truck telling you about slotting, he has no clue how vehicles work and you should go to a different shop.

On our vehicles the shock has nothing to do with the alignment.

 

[keithyota]

That helps. I think I'll give them one more shot to make it go straight without slotting then go to Toyota. I've tried two local shops and bombed both alignments. Toyota only one to get it going straight.

 

[keithyota]

p.s. it was the mechanic saying that was only option.

 

[pauldub]

My guess is that on the side where they can't get enough caster, they are inept or you installed a junk LCA. I'm betting on the junk LCA since they got a good number on one side; however, their solution will not work which makes me think they are inept.

 

[keithyota]

LCA was Moog on both sides and fresh caster/cam bolt set. Don't know if they are junk my assumption was it was a quality part, but I could be wrong...it wasn't most expensive but There is only one way it goes together so don't think it is an install issue.

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[benztech82]

I'm having issues getting a good alignment and caster adjusted and wonder if you've heard of this solution and if is a good idea?





My original lower control arms were frozen and toyota dealer indicated they could not adjust caster/camber. Vehicle drifted around on the road too much, but went straight. I think they added more toe in to do that.



I replaced LCA and took to another shop to align (it was cheaper)..they said could only adjust caster so much, it's good on one side but not the other. Makes no sense to me, but say in order to adjust it further, they'd have to notch the upper strut to make space to move the shock in the strut mount.



It drifts right fairly strong on it's own (not holding wheel). The control/wandering is better. I can tell the caster is off when I turn a tight radius and release wheel, it doesn't auto realign back to center and go straight so well.



Thoughts if this is a valid solution without negative implications?



here's before (Toyota) alignment and after and other shop.



Album — Postimages

I have the same problem on my truck pulling to the right. I know where a problem is. I installed cheapy LCA's and one of them had lower balljoint carrier welded in under wrong angle, therefore caster will never go back to spec. I ended up installing freedom offroad UCA's that have some correction for caster and it helped somewhat. Check your lower control arms.

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[keithyota]

Took back...mechanic rotated bolts 180deg and then could get the correct caster angle. Moog apparently different in that regard or he hadn't seen that before. Haven't tested alignment much, but handling is better...it's close.

Thanks all!