Spring orientation

[SlvrV8Rnnr]

I installed Bilsteins and FJ springs a few weeks ago. Will post pictures when I get a chance. My questions have to do with the spring orientation. I was reviewing JA's 4runner lift info in regards to spring orientation and came across a diagram showing the tail facing the rear of the vehicle. My first question... Is it an absolute must that the tail of the spring faces toward the rear of the vehicle? Drivers side does face the rear, however, passenger side spring does not. Second question... Firestone took care of the alignment for me since I paid for the lifetime alignment a few years back. I had them check it twice due to the steering wheel not being centered. It is off to the left just a bit. So here is the question. Could the tail not facing the rear on the passenger side be causing the steering wheel to not center? It drives well. No significant pull. However, the steering wheel issue is driving me crazy. I would have thought firestone would have said something to me if it was wrong and since I'm not paying a dime to have them look at it multiple times. I'm pretty sure they would not fix it for me but at least let me know that it was an issue. I appreciate any information you can give!

 

[gm350reratliff]

As long as the springs are on their correct sides (left spring on drivers side, right spring on pass side) and they are seated correctly top and bottom, their orientation shouldn't matter. Take a manager for a ride to show them how the steering wheel sits. I'd suggest when they set the toe that they slightly angle the steering wheel to counteract what its doing.

 

[SlvrV8Rnnr]

Thanks Ron. The springs are on the correct sides and both are seated correctly. Would setting the toe to counteract the steering wheel be out of the normal routine for them you think? I feel like they've done everything according to the books and that is how it is going to be. The more i think about, having one spring facing forward and one facing backward is bothering me as well. I'm considering rotating it for the peace of mind. I'd be the first to agree that I'm OCD with things.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

There is actually an orientation for the springs as one is a left side spring and the other is a right side spring, they have paint markers to distinguish between the two, but I honestly don't remember which is which and I don't have a stock 4th gen to compare it to. (Probably why the stock 4Runners don't exhibit as obvious a lean as aftermarket lifts?)

As for if the spring seat should be foreward or backwards depends on how they're installed really. I don't believe it should make a difference as long as the springs are seated properly. This is of course assuming that the shock/struts are not as specific as the springs.

 

[SlvrV8Rnnr]

I believe I have them on the correct sides. I replaced stock springs with FJ springs and I placed the taller of the two springs on the drivers side. I believe as well that it should not make a difference. I guess I am going to go back to Firestone and ask them to look at it again.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Thanks Ron. The springs are on the correct sides and both are seated correctly. Would setting the toe to counteract the steering wheel be out of the normal routine for them you think? I feel like they've done everything according to the books and that is how it is going to be. The more i think about, having one spring facing forward and one facing backward is bothering me as well. I'm considering rotating it for the peace of mind. I'd be the first to agree that I'm OCD with things.

Years ago at my former job, our Hunter alignment rack was notorious for slightly off steering wheels. We had it calibrated many times and always kept up with routine checks and maint. However, they could never get it so the outcome from setting toe was a very slight crooked steering wheel. So, when setting toe on that rack we would just slighty have the steering wheel turned the other way to compensate for that. Toe was set to spec like normal. In fact once toe was set, you could drive and recheck on that machine or any other machine and the steering wheel and toe would be dead on. Just a quirk with that rack that we worked around. Maybe the same thing thats going on there