Alignment Help

[Supra Turbo]

Hey all, hoping to get some help with my alignment. I just got back from Discount Tire and they were not able to get camber within spec.

Vehicle setup:

OME UCAs (installed last night)
Eibach Springs/Shocks 2.5" lift (increased from 1.7" to 2.5" last night)
BFG KO3 285/75/17

The alignment guy said "ran out of alignment, may need aftermarket camber bolts".. which sounded strange to me.

Old specs left side / New specs right side

Hoping someone can help explain whats going on..

 

[bloc]

I suspect you need a more competent tech.

Those UCAs should put you right in the sweet spot of alignment with that amount of lift. I'm pretty sure the poor guy didn't know how to dial in caster/camber on our rigs.

Also, I've learned not to assume they will torque the LCA bolts to spec. Most shops will be surprised how tight those bolts need to be. Maybe worth mentioning that they need to go to 207ft-lbf.

 

[TeCKis300]

Based on your alignment results, they didn't touch the LCA alignment eccentrics. I don't believe they couldn't trade some caster for camber or vice versa. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but all too often these techs only touch the toe steering rack TRE and nothing else...lazy mans alignment.

Get some pictures of the 4 LCA positions (with annotations for which positions they are e.g. driver/passenger, front/rear). We can tell you if the eccentrics are really maxed. Maxxed is if the eccentric has the bolt position fully at the left (9 o'clock) or right (3 o'clock). Referencing my example picture, the bolt is at ~6 o'clock, so there's additional adjustment available.

 

[dudemancool1904]

what teckis said. I’m guessing they just fooled with the toe/tie rods. You can get a good alignment out of these without adjustable uppers it just takes some skill to get everything happy. Obviously a truck shop would be better but even a experienced alignment shop would be more desirable than a discount tire.

And yea make sure they crank those LCA bolts to 207 otherwise they will pop like a mofo.

Anecdotally I’m at the same height lift with dobby uppers and I’m in the 4-5 degree caster range with very little toe and negative camber.

 

[Supra Turbo]

Based on your alignment results, they didn't touch the LCA alignment eccentrics. I don't believe they couldn't trade some caster for camber or vice versa. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but all too often these techs only touch the toe steering rack TRE and nothing else...lazy mans alignment.

Get some pictures of the 4 LCA positions (with annotations for which positions they are e.g. driver/passenger, front/rear). We can tell you if the eccentrics are really maxed. Maxxed is if the eccentric has the bolt position fully at the left (9 o'clock) or right (3 o'clock). Referencing my example picture, the bolt is at ~6 o'clock, so there's additional adjustment available.

View attachment 4091828

Front passenger.

Rear passenger

 

[Supra Turbo]

Front driver

Rear driver

 

[Supra Turbo]

The only one that looks to be maxed out (9 o'clock) is passenger rear.

The rest look like they can still be turned. Including what looks like to me, front passenger?

 

[Supra Turbo]

Much appreciate the help @TeCKis300 @bloc @dudemancool1904 .

I ended up taking the vehicle to a different shop that specializes in alignments only and had a tech with 20+ years in doing alignments for Toyota check everything over.

And sure enough like TeCK said, the guy at Discount Tire never even touched the LCA alignment eccentrics or clearly did not know what he was doing.

Everything is in process of being finalized as I type this.. current stats below and hes still tweaking it.

Then he'll do the final test drive and we're back in business. Oh and get this, he already knew about 207 ft-lb for the LCA bolts.

The Discount Tire guy had my vehicle on the ramp for 15 mins with no test drives, the alignment shop took 1 hour 30 mins with multiple test drives. I guess that says it all....

Very happy with the outcome. The new 34's 285/75/17 clear everything without rubbing. Only had to remove the front mudflaps behind the front wheels and slightly push the front fender liners forward. No bmc, no kdss relo, etc.

My last question is one that I should have probably asked before, but Im thinking about doing dr.kdss panhard braket in the rear. Will that affect anything regarding alignment?

 

[TeCKis300]

Nice! Glad you found the right guy.

This deserves a discussion with the Discount Tire manager.

 

[7hane]

Appreciate the knowledge shared here. Installing my OME UCA’s this weekend, local truck shop recommends a local place here so I’m hoping they know what they’re doing.

 

[Artie]

Much appreciate the help @TeCKis300 @bloc @dudemancool1904 .

I ended up taking the vehicle to a different shop that specializes in alignments only and had a tech with 20+ years in doing alignments for Toyota check everything over.

And sure enough like TeCK said, the guy at Discount Tire never even touched the LCA alignment eccentrics or clearly did not know what he was doing.

Everything is in process of being finalized as I type this.. current stats below and hes still tweaking it.

Then he'll do the final test drive and we're back in business. Oh and get this, he already knew about 207 ft-lb for the LCA bolts.

View attachment 4092025

The Discount Tire guy had my vehicle on the ramp for 15 mins with no test drives, the alignment shop took 1 hour 30 mins with multiple test drives. I guess that says it all....

Very happy with the outcome. The new 34's 285/75/17 clear everything without rubbing. Only had to remove the front mudflaps behind the front wheels and slightly push the front fender liners forward. No bmc, no kdss relo, etc.

My last question is one that I should have probably asked before, but Im thinking about doing dr.kdss panhard braket in the rear. Will that affect anything regarding alignment?

I’m glad you got this sorted out. I’ve had my troubles with alignments and finding a good shop is difficult but once found keep that tech happy. Finding out some type of gift to leave in the front seat is always a good investment, good attentive alignment techs are few and far between.

I buy my tires from Discount and have had hit and miss balancing results from them. Their prices are hard to beat but that’s about the extent of what I’m looking for from them. I don’t even bring them my Cruiser, I bring the wheels with me in my minivan and watch closely through the window in the waiting room. They torque to spec based on ugga dugga’s and that’s just not acceptable.

 

[AZLX570]

I didn't even know Discount Tire did alignments. They don't in my area at least (or when I was in AZ).

While I would absolutely vouch for them for tires/wheels and their outstanding customer service, dunno if I'd use them for specialized work like an alignment. In my brain alignments didn't use to be "specialized" but it can actually be somewhat complex and isn't just a right/wrong job.

Glad you got it figured out. I'll stick to them for just their tires as well. Not to knock the company at all but it seems like their employees are more on the young side where labor is needed, not expertise.

 

[bloc]

While I would absolutely vouch for them for tires/wheels and their outstanding customer service, dunno if I'd use them for specialized work like an alignment.

Meh. Probably highly location dependent. They've had four attempts at balancing my MS2s and just can't get it right. Pretty often tell me my wheels are bent when it turns out they just didn't use the correct centering device on their balancing machine.

Same location couldn't get TPMS working on another car, though to their credit they refunded their sensors when I brought my own.. which worked great. , They also refused to touch that vehicle unless I'd let them take a wire wheel to the brand new brake rotors that were on it.

The only reason I continue to use them is they have locations all over the country and can handle an issue if I'm in the middle of a roadtrip. I'm starting to adopt the @Artie method of bringing them the wheel/tire assemblies to reduce the amount of things they can mess up.

 

[prharper]

Much appreciate the help @TeCKis300 @bloc @dudemancool1904 .

I ended up taking the vehicle to a different shop that specializes in alignments only and had a tech with 20+ years in doing alignments for Toyota check everything over.

And sure enough like TeCK said, the guy at Discount Tire never even touched the LCA alignment eccentrics or clearly did not know what he was doing.

Everything is in process of being finalized as I type this.. current stats below and hes still tweaking it.

Then he'll do the final test drive and we're back in business. Oh and get this, he already knew about 207 ft-lb for the LCA bolts.

View attachment 4092025

The Discount Tire guy had my vehicle on the ramp for 15 mins with no test drives, the alignment shop took 1 hour 30 mins with multiple test drives. I guess that says it all....

Very happy with the outcome. The new 34's 285/75/17 clear everything without rubbing. Only had to remove the front mudflaps behind the front wheels and slightly push the front fender liners forward. No bmc, no kdss relo, etc.

My last question is one that I should have probably asked before, but Im thinking about doing dr.kdss panhard braket in the rear. Will that affect anything regarding alignment?

I recently installed the Dr.KDSS bracket in the rear. Truck drives nice and straight, no alignment.

 

[Supra Turbo]

I recently installed the Dr.KDSS bracket in the rear. Truck drives nice and straight, no alignment.

Great to hear, thank you. I do not think it would impact the front end alignment, but figured I would confirm just in case.

 

[Artie]

Meh. Probably highly location dependent. They've had four attempts at balancing my MS2s and just can't get it right. Pretty often tell me my wheels are bent when it turns out they just didn't use the correct centering device on their balancing machine.

Same location couldn't get TPMS working on another car, though to their credit they refunded their sensors when I brought my own.. which worked great. , They also refused to touch that vehicle unless I'd let them take a wire wheel to the brand new brake rotors that were on it.

The only reason I continue to use them is they have locations all over the country and can handle an issue if I'm in the middle of a roadtrip. I'm starting to adopt the @Artie method of bringing them the wheel/tire assemblies to reduce the amount of things they can mess up.

100% agree on the number of locations= handy for tire warranty while on road trip.

I’ve bought my own TPMS programmer and, one day, will have the mounting and balancing equipment in my garage… I just need that lottery money first.