Westcott designs preload installed. Any ideas with problem? (1 Viewer)

[broyles outdoors]

So I had the local Toyota dealership install my preload collar lift front and rear on my 21 LC heritage. Now I have what the tech calls a “dogleg” in the rear axel and it will not align correctly and tends to drift to the right passenger side. They told me to order an adjustable pad hard bar, which I have but yet to install (because if it doesn’t work I am sending back) may correct problem. Jeff at westcott said this would not correct my issue and he has never heard of this in all his lifts. The car stayed on a showroom floor til 12-4-21 and we now have 4000 miles on it. It was perfect before doing this. I put this on here hoping I could get some insight. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Generally I have understood that an adjustable panhard bar exists specifically to fix this issue. I'm not an expert on that, though.

 

[cr8r]

It makes sense that if the axle is pulled to one side that an adjustable panhard rod would be the solution. However, I find it hard to believe that a Wescott preload collar based lift would lift it so much that this becomes and issue. I haven't done the math on the rear end based on our stock panhard rod length, but I'd imagine it would require more than 1-2" of lift to impact rear axle alignment in this way. If that was the case my 2"+ Dobinson lift would have mine out of wack as well, which it's not.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

It makes sense that if the axle is pulled to one side that an adjustable panhard rod would be the solution. However, I find it hard to believe that a Wescott preload collar based lift would lift it so much that this becomes and issue. I haven't done the math on the rear end based on our stock panhard rod length, but I'd imagine it would require more than 1-2" of lift to impact rear axle alignment in this way. If that was the case my 2"+ Dobinson lift would have mine out of wack as well, which it's not.

I was thinking the same, but AFAIK most of the 2" lift kits folks install only lift the rear .75" if published specs are any indication. The Westcott one seems to lift the rear 1.25" as it says here:

This kit provides the following lifts:

• 2008-21’ LC200: 3.0” (front lift) and 1.25” (rear lift)


That may be the difference.

The kit is here: Land Cruiser (200 Series) Preload Collar Lift Kit - Westcott Designs - https://westcottdesigns.net/product/land-cruiser-200-series-preload-collar-lift-kit/

 

[cr8r]

I just stepped outside to look at the rear axle and the panhard is high on the left/driver side and mount to axle on the right/passenger side. In a lift situation the arc of that rod would pull the axle to the left/driver side correct? If that's the case, then the issue described above doesn't make any sense.

 

[broyles outdoors]

I just stepped outside to look at the rear axle and the panhard is high on the left/driver side and mount to axle on the right/passenger side. In a lift situation the arc of that rod would pull the axle to the left/driver side correct? If that's the case, then the issue described above doesn't make any sense.

So it is pulling it (as the tech described to the front driver left side). Which would make it go right.

 

[broyles outdoors]

Thanks for all the responses. I am racking my brain. Jeff can’t believe this is happening (westcott). Neither can I. But if I have any luck, well of course I don’t. Would any of you try the panhard bar? Dobinsons. It is supposed to be here tomorrow

 

[broyles outdoors]

I was thinking the same, but AFAIK most of the 2" lift kits folks install only lift the rear .75" if published specs are any indication. The Westcott one seems to lift the rear 1.25" as it says here:

This kit provides the following lifts:

• 2008-21’ LC200: 3.0” (front lift) and 1.25” (rear lift)


That may be the difference.

The kit is here: Land Cruiser (200 Series) Preload Collar Lift Kit - Westcott Designs - https://westcottdesigns.net/product/land-cruiser-200-series-preload-collar-lift-kit/

Yes it is a 1.25

 

[asaquattro]

So I had the local Toyota dealership install my preload collar lift front and rear on my 21 LC heritage. Now I have what the tech calls a “dogleg” in the rear axel and it will not align correctly and tends to drift to the right passenger side. They told me to order an adjustable pad hard bar, which I have but yet to install (because if it doesn’t work I am sending back) may correct problem. Jeff at westcott said this would not correct my issue and he has never heard of this in all his lifts. The car stayed on a showroom floor til 12-4-21 and we now have 4000 miles on it. It was perfect before doing this. I put this on here hoping I could get some insight. Any help would be greatly appreciated

View attachment 2988254

PM sent, as I was considering this kit but now re-considering.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Thanks for all the responses. I am racking my brain. Jeff can’t believe this is happening (westcott). Neither can I. But if I have any luck, well of course I don’t. Would any of you try the panhard bar? Dobinsons. It is supposed to be here tomorrow

I wouldn't hesitate to install a Dobinsons adjustable panhard bar. As long as its from a reputable company (Dobinsons is) then you should be fine. Technically my OME lift didn't require me to get the adjustable SPC UCAs but that adjustability was a bonus to me. I see an adjustable rear panhard the same way. I haven't bought one yet, but its always been on my list.

 

[DJCloz]

Any chance it is your KDSS out of whack? Another thought is possibly 1 of your rear coils not seated correctly and causing the issue? In my experience of many lifted Toyotas over the years, an adjustable panhard is not typically needed unless you are exceeding 2.5'' of lift, even 3''.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Calling @eimkeith to the thread as I have seen some other threads he is involved with on the topic of panhard bars. Seems pretty knowledgeable on the topic.

 

[-uhuru-]

What do yoe mean by dog leg? does the stance exhibit a lean towards one side or do the rear tires stick out more on one side than the other?

Usually a 3¨ lift will be enough to "pull" the axle out of line via the stock panhard. An adjustable panhard will address that.

If KDSS has not been addressed I would start there. But only if the truck is leaning.

 

[TheGrrrrr]

What do yoe mean by dog leg? does the stance exhibit a lean towards one side or do the rear tires stick out more on one side than the other?

Usually a 3¨ lift will be enough to "pull" the axle out of line via the stock panhard. An adjustable panhard will address that.

If KDSS has not been addressed I would start there. But only if the truck is leaning.

OP isn't describing a lean, he is describing a shift in the alignment of the rear axle. The colloquialism "dog leg" or "dog tracking" reference the way dogs sometimes run with their hind legs not in line with their front legs.

 

[broyles outdoors]

What do yoe mean by dog leg? does the stance exhibit a lean towards one side or do the rear tires stick out more on one side than the other?

Usually a 3¨ lift will be enough to "pull" the axle out of line via the stock panhard. An adjustable panhard will address that.

If KDSS has not been addressed I would start there. But only if the truck is leaning.

So I do know what he kdss was drained and had fluid put back in. The dogleg is axel is shifted on driver side forward. Could it be because of messing with kdss?

 

[broyles outdoors]

So I do know what he kdss was drained and had fluid put back in. The dogleg is axel is shifted on driver side forward. Could it be because of messing with kdss?

Sorry I am mowing and typing. The kdss was drained and fixed back

 

[TheGrrrrr]

Sorry I am mowing and typing. The kdss was drained and fixed back

There is no reason the KDSS should have been drained... unless the tech loosened the valves too far (more than 3 turns) and it takes special equipment to charge the KDSS system, which most dealers don't have. They certainly shouldn't have charged you for anything KDSS related. If KDSS needed recharged, it was due to their mistake.

 

[broyles outdoors]

There is no reason the KDSS should have been drained... unless the tech loosened the valves too far (more than 3 turns) and it takes special equipment to charge the KDSS system, which most dealers don't have. They certainly shouldn't have charged you for anything KDSS related. If KDSS needed recharged, it was due to their mistake.

They told me they had to because of lift. So with that said when lifting this doesn’t happen? Thanks for letting me know that

 

[TheGrrrrr]

When lifting, its extremely helpful to open the KDSS valves no more than three turns during the lift install, and retighten after. Draining the KDSS and recharging it is absolutely not necessary or even recommended. They screwed up.

 

[DJCloz]

Red Flag! Who drains the KDSS system? I'm with @TheGrrrrr . At least you got them to admit it.