Rear tire not tracking the same (1 Viewer)

[Grass]

Hey guys. Just bought an 08 FJ last week with 96k. I'm new to FJs so wanted to get your opinion.

Do these things drive a little "squirelly?" Mine seems to get really loose when hitting a bump or crossing over uneven lanes. Also seems to wander all over the road. Even the slightest of slightest steering wheel adjustment will take it one direction or the other.

I did take it back to the dealership for an alignment, but no change.

Decided to see how it was tracking, so took it out in the snow and drove straight for about 30 yards. Looks like my driver side rear tire is not in line with driver side front tire. Passenger side tires do seem OK. First pic is of the passenger side. Second pic is the problem wheel.

Please let me know what you guys think. Is this normal? Or is it something serious like a bent frame or axle.

 

[mattv94]

To the best of my knowledge the rear wheel track is slightly larger than the front...


When the dealer did an alignment did they do anything with the rear? My first guess would be one of your link bushings is so far gone it has a lot of play in it.

 

[Grass]

I don't believe they did anything to the rear.

If the rear track is slightly larger, then seems the passenger side is right on the money. But would mean that driver's side rear is WAY off.

If you can think of a checklist of things I should take a look at, let me know. I'm not the most mechanically inclined but I can follow directions if you describe what something looks like and where it's at. It's going back to the shop on Monday but want to know as much as possible so I can point them in the right direction.

Any chance the panhard just needs adjusting?

 

[dci blair]

Mine drove exactly as you mentioned when I first got it, and had almost the same mileage as you have. I ended up replacing the front struts and rear shocks with Bilstien 5100's and it made a world of difference. When I took the old front struts apart I found they were totally beat and pretty much decoration haha.

 

[Grass]

Hmm, I didn't even think about front struts needing replaced at this mileage. That could explain the jerkiness upon hitting bumps. Thanks for making that point.

 

[BMThiker]

Check the bushings on the rear control arms and also check the bolt holes on the control arm brackets mounted to the frame. I had the front mount of the lower control arm bolt holes develop an oblong shape pretty early in my FJC's career. I welded a grade 8 washer over the hole to fix that.

 

[bigredmachine]

theres no adjustment for the rear during an alignment. in the front toe, caster and camber are adjustable as long as the cams in the control arms are not seized. the cams in the control arms are for caster and camber

 

[Grass]

Just an update in case anybody is interested.

Dealership could not find anything wrong in the suspension so they ended up switching the wheels and tires from a Tacoma they had on the lot.

Went and drove it today and it's driving much more under control. Neither of us thought it was the tires at first glance—tread is great—but after looking closer there was just the slightest center wear, and that, evidently, is the culprit of the wandering.

Time for some new tires.