Front wheel alignment question: (1 Viewer)

[ShottsUZJ100]

(Sorry for all the questions. I'm preparing my 80 for wheeling season as I'm retiring the 100 to the 3 and under rated trails for a while.)

I took the 80 into Toyota for an alignment. (It had been almost 2 years since the last) I THOUGHT the truck was pulling a TAD to the right (?). I was bothered because the steering wheel was not centered when going straight. It was about 15-degrees passenger. After the alignment the wheel is now about 10-15 to the left of center (opposite direction) when going straight. They said it was the closest they could get it to center. The thing drives straight as always, rolls down the road pefect but the steering wheels KAKA to the left and it drives me nuts!

 

[Brentbba]

Sounds to me like they are lazy and full of it. Steering wheel can be centered and they truck alligned from what I understand. At least that's what I've been told and have had done by a dealer in the past! Independent allignment shop as well!

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

That's what I thought. Every car/truck I've owned in the past was corrected. Any other experts opinions?

 

[sleeoffroad]

Why don't you just do it yourself. Just adjust the draglink. It takes a couple of tries to get it right. Adjust, drive, adjust, drive until it is spot on.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Remember to whom you're writing? Mr. Dumb Dumb. Mr. A 100 Can Go Where An 80 Can.

Draglink huh? Never heard of it. Sounds easy though...for the dealer I mean. Glad it's easy. THANKS! J

 

[clownmidget]

And it's a great time to replace those worn out TRE's. I can't believe Christo missed that sales opportunity..."only $99, get yours now!"

Seriously though it you even suspect that your ends might be worn to point they have play it's worth dealing with them now since they are monkeying around with them anyway. Should stay in alignment a lot longer too with new ones.

Mike R.

 

[mabrodis]

On your 80, there are two adjustable rods which determine all the steering stuff. One rod from the steering box to the right tire, then a rod on the backside which connects the right tire to the left tire. So the toe-in/toe-out is solely controlled by the rod on the backside of the axle, I think the offical term is tie-rod for that arm (although draglink to me makes more sense...). The steering wheel position is solely controlled by the rod from the steering box to the right tire (I believe THIS arm is called the drag link). So if the toe-in/toe-out is correct (you'd hope so, or the shop did nothing useful), then to adjust the steering wheel just adjust that rod in front of the axle housing.

It has two clamp ends which take 17mm wrenches to get off, then spray the hell out of the exposed threaded part with WD40 or something like that, then grab in the middle of the rod with a pipe wrench and twist. As you twist it'll either get longer or shorter, if your steering wheel is cocked left, then you need to make the arm shorter, just trial and error to see which way goes which. Also sometimes it's a PITA to turn the rod. I would recommend lenghening it alot (unscrewing both ends quite a bit), spray more WD40 on the exposed thread, then screwing it back in, that'll get some WD40 further down in the threaded part. Just turn, look at the steering wheel, turn some more, etc. Make sure your steering wheel isn't locked...mine was, and I was like why the hell isn't this working, then I unlocked the steering wheel and it snapped about 90-degrees...whoops..

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

How in the hell you guys learn all this stuff? AND REMEMBER IT!

 

[cruiserdan]

How in the hell you guys learn all this stuff? AND REMEMBER IT!

Easy,


My memory is the longest thing I own.........:whoops:

 

[Steve C]

Here's an idea, since you have already paid the dealer for an alignment, how about printing this thread out and taking it to the dealer and telling them that this is how to center the wheel. If they do it, your set. If they don't do it, get your money back.

As a former alignment person, I realize that for some cars that have individual toe adjustments for each wheel, it can be a little tricky to perfectly center the wheel. BUT, if you can't center the wheel on a tie rod/drag link steering arangement, you need to find a new line or work.

All just my opinions.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

That was my plan Steve. They won't fight me. These guys have been great (til now). Thanks everybody! J

 

[lc1996]

Hey,
Thanks for this info. guys. I'm going to do this myself since my steering wheel is off to the left since my last alignment this past spring. Question...can rock crawling cause the steering wheel to be off centered?

Carl

 

[cruiserdan]

Hey,
Thanks for this info. guys. I'm going to do this myself since my steering wheel is off to the left since my last alignment this past spring. Question...can rock crawling cause the steering wheel to be off centered?

Carl

Yes. If you hit something hard enough the steering wheel can shift. I spun mine in a 360 on a muddy road one time (I was screwing around tossing the wheel back and forth to get the back end loose :whoops: ) and I smacked a dirt bank. It knocked the wheel off about a quarter turn. A visit back to the rack fixed me up...

 

[CDN_Cruiser]

Is it better to go to an alignment shop to do this or the dealer?

Cheers, Hugh

 

[cruiserdan]

Is it better to go to an alignment shop to do this or the dealer?

Cheers, Hugh

It depends on the guy that is running the rack. We have a very good suspension guy that really knows his shiat. We have also had guys that are less skillful.

 

[alia176]

How in the hell you guys learn all this stuff? AND REMEMBER IT!

Easy, we're bunch of cheap bastards and rather do this crap ourselves and save the money for beer and gas

Mbrodis is even worse...give him a piece of coal and out comes a diamond

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

HEY, WHILE YOU GENIOUSES ARE STILL READING: does the same drag link fix for steering wheel centering work on the 100 also?

 

[cruiserdan]

HEY, WHILE YOU GENIOUSES ARE STILL READING: does the same drag link fix for steering wheel centering work on the 100 also?

Nope,


Rack and Pinion steering there.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

POOP! 100's suck!

 

[NorCalDoug]

This is awesome!
I banged the hell out of my rig last summer and my steering wheel has been off ever since.

(add one more thing to my weekend cruiser work list )