Alignment after lift?

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Pskhaat

Pskhaat

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I've been told to go get this done. I have a 1000 mile drive home ahead of me after my OME lift to the 100. I don't mind some tire chew as I plan on replacing them anyway but the current tires are very near their end and quite bald on the edges, PLUS don't want to have to pay twice if the shop where I am now doesn't do it too well.

How many of you were immediately re-aligned after lifting? If not, how much tire wear did you experience.
 
I am not sure how much excessive tire wear there would be , but considering how much adjustment was needed to bring mine back (close to) spec after the lift, I would suspect the vehicle`s handling would be kinda "iffy", but maybe I am wrong .. :confused:
 
My 100 was almost un-driveable after my lift. It pulled BADLY to the right especially at higher speeds and on the gas. I freaked at first. Not sure if this is the norm though.
 
I lifted mine approx 2" and didn't need or get an alignment. Yes, I may get a slight uneven tire wear, but I rotate them often enough.
 
rockclmbr said:
I lifted mine approx 2" and didn't need or get an alignment. Yes, I may get a slight uneven tire wear, but I rotate them often enough.
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Wait a minute... You "didn`t need" one ? I would beg to differ ;)
 
Pskhaat said:
I've been told to go get this done. I have a 1000 mile drive home ahead of me after my OME lift to the 100. I don't mind some tire chew as I plan on replacing them anyway but the current tires are very near their end and quite bald on the edges, PLUS don't want to have to pay twice if the shop where I am now doesn't do it too well.

How many of you were immediately re-aligned after lifting? If not, how much tire wear did you experience.
Click to expand...


I had the front end expertly aligned after I installed the OME lift. My (then) 285 MT/R's wore very evenly. After installing taller springs in the rear, pushing the front up a little & 315 installs I had them check the alignment again...and it was still spot on. I had driven many, many miles of off-road since the first alignment...I was surprised the 100 held the alignment to tell you the truth. IMO: Always do a expert/qualified alignment after a lift.
 
if it drives well, I wouldn't sweat it....IMO, first step is to drive both front tires across a wet area and see how the tread contacts the dry pavement...if it's pretty consistent sidewall-to-sidewall, then the trip should be ok...if you notice a pronounced pressure to the inner or outer tire edge, then I'd align prior.

no reason to wreck a set of tires over it.....OR find an emergency handling situation where it doesn't track right...lawyer field day ;)
 
Get the alignment done anyway

A vehicle after a lift can have drastically different handling characteristics. Even though the vehicle may drive well in a straight line, the changed alignment may cause severe problems during turns. As misaligned tires fight for traction in a turn, they could change behavior from a factory-designed understeer to dangerous oversteer. This is parcitularly dangerous with top heavy vehicles, such as a lifted SUV, and even more dangerous at highway speeds. This could make a rollover much more likely if emergency maneuvering on the highway is required. In addition to considering your own safety, consider the safety risk everyone else on the road is unknowingly taking when you drive a vehicle with a modified suspension - and by association, modified steering geometry - on the freeway.

When weighing the options of saving money vs. safety (even if the alignment is not perfect), go with safety. Your peace of mind will thank you. We will all thank you.
 
WildHare said:
A vehicle after a lift can have drastically different handling characteristics. Even though the vehicle may drive well in a straight line, the changed alignment may cause severe problems during turns. As misaligned tires fight for traction in a turn, they could change behavior from a factory-designed understeer to dangerous oversteer. This is parcitularly dangerous with top heavy vehicles, such as a lifted SUV, and even more dangerous at highway speeds. This could make a rollover much more likely if emergency maneuvering on the highway is required. In addition to considering your own safety, consider the safety risk everyone else on the road is unknowingly taking when you drive a vehicle with a modified suspension - and by association, modified steering geometry - on the freeway.

When weighing the options of saving money vs. safety (even if the alignment is not perfect), go with safety. Your peace of mind will thank you. We will all thank you.
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VERY well put Hare :)

It wasnt tire wear I was concerned with either, it`s the vehicles handling that would certainly change after altering the (stock) suspension`s goemetry.

I too would align before driving it that far @ speed. :)
 
Okay, I wasn't going to initially reply to this, but come on guys have you any idea how many LandCruisers are driven with altered geometry? The OME 100 series lift from my untrained eye seems to be probably one of the most minor to the geometry of the realm and world of lifts.

I feel like we're back in the 80 series forum again having our wrists slapped for doing anything to our vehicles that the venerable and faultless factory didn't do.


Your peace of mind will thank you. We will all thank you.
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I don't know if you say this toungue-in-cheek or you are soap opera serious? If the latter what has this community become?
 
I've done IFS lifts on other vehicles, including toyota mini's....had the alignment/toe/etc checked and it was enough out of factory to warrant having it corrected properly. Day-to-day driving was uneffected, but no one knows what emergency handling will be until it happens.

Didn't do the OME caster bushings on my 80-series right away...noticed zero day-to-day change, until I hooked a trailer to it...woah...did the bushings the next weekend and realized just how much better it really did handle with the proper caster.

There's a reason my FJ40 with the SOA and link rear suspension sees near zero road time, despite the fact it handles great at 70mph and rally's gravel hairpins like it's on rails. (just ask Jimmy ;) )

To each their own, but for a max-8-year-old daily driven $20k+ vehicle, a ~$100 alignment is cheap peace of mind. Obviously, your choice, but you DID ask the question.
 
question is, how tuff will it be to schedule the alignment at the same time/same day? "normally" that's an hour process, and the lift installer outta have a local recommendation that can get you in-out promptly....
 
All truth told, I am back home now and going to schedule the alignment. The trip went well and I feel very little difference (yes, that doesn't tell any story) and we're home safe and chewed no noticeable tire.

This said, where we were was problematic (always is). The closest place open over this last holiday weekend was 30-40 minutes away and needed 4 hour window. Now she'll go back to the local Toy dealership (scary that they're the only place I trust here in PHX).
 
Mine was aligned immediately after the lift by the same guys.
 
macneill said:
Mine was aligned immediately after the lift by the same guys.
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Gee Mac, don`t you think your urgency to get an alignment immediately after the lift is a bit over-dramatic and soap-opera-ish ? :rolleyes:


;p
 
Good point guys. I wasn't too worried about a little tire wear, but I am concerned with the handling during a high speed maneuver. I'll get the alignment done and post the differences. Can someone else post how far out of spec they were?
 
woody said:
question is, how tuff will it be to schedule the alignment at the same time/same day? "normally" that's an hour process, and the lift installer outta have a local recommendation that can get you in-out promptly....
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That is what we normally do provided the customer can leave the car for the whole day. On most IFS lifts that we do, we deliver the car already alligned. This day the timing and allignment shop availability just did not work out.
 
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