Alignment??? (1 Viewer)

[AJM0913]

Hey guys.. so I put a new OME suspension kit on my 97 FZJ80 its a 2" lift with medium springs. After the shop installed it I took it for an alignment... 3 months later I decided to put a heavy duty springs on my rig. My question is... should I take it for another alignment again even if it was just the springs that were replaced? The new HD springs is supposed to be the same height as the medium springs but LC specialist said that the HD springs are slightly taller. Im not sure if it was just the wind making my rig somewhat harder to keep in straight line while driving hwy speed or it just need a new alignment. I just dont want to spend the money again for the alignment If I dont have to since I had it done 3 months ago.. oh I also had the front axle rebuild so im not sure if that messes up the alignment as well. Let me know pls.

Thank you in advance!

 

[baldilocks]

Your drag link may be lengthened very slightly if the steering wheel isn’t centered.

The castor angle was probably decreased when you installed the taller spring but ever so slightly. Lack of sufficient castor can cause wandering.

What have you done to address the need for castor correction so far? Have you replaced the radius arm bushings yet? How about the condition of the rear control arm bushings?

 

[AJM0913]

When I had the suspension done the first time, it was the a whole kit with castor correction bushing. Then i decided to put the HD coil springs. The medium springs was a 2" lift the replaced it with 2" HD springs so all the parts were from the first kit (Shocks, bushings and steering wheel stabilizer)

 

[landtank]

The lift spec is based on the expected weight of the vehicle. So the HD springs rated for 2" of lift would include an increase in vehicle weight.

Personally I doubt the kit properly addressed caster from the beginning and installing the heavy springs only worsened the condition.

Measure the distance from the center of the wheel hub to the underside of the fender/flare on the front. Take that measurement and subtract 20.5. That will give you a lift dimension that can be used to determine how much caster correction you need.

I'll guess that measurement will be around 23" or a little more.

 

[Jgrauman]

FYI, call the shop that did it. Most shops have a minimum warranty on an alignment. 3 months 3000 miles is usually on the cheap one. If you are going to have the rig for a while, get a Firestone lifetime alignment. Can take it in as many times as you want.

 

[Warpigg]

If you did a recent axle service then your wheel bearings could be loose as well, and that will definitely cause wandering.

 

[AJM0913]

I checked both wheels for any movement after the front axle rebuild. Both have zero movement when i move it up and down then side to side. I will check it again since I've driven it for a few hundred miles already

 

[AJM0913]

FYI, call the shop that did it. Most shops have a minimum warranty on an alignment. 3 months 3000 miles is usually on the cheap one. If you are going to have the rig for a while, get a Firestone lifetime alignment. Can take it in as many times as you want.

I took it to my local toyota dealer. They charged me $87 for front and rear alignment. But I will check to see if they are willing to check my alignment again for free

 

[inkpot]

Most alignment shops including dealerships can ONLY adjust the toe in setting on your rig. They CAN give you the readouts for everything else. Unless you have adjustable panhard and LCAs and UCAs the front to rear allignment is not adjustable.