spring TSB and steering/alignment? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

04asphalt · 09-15-2007, 08:04 AM

I have the issue with my truck handling like crap on the highway,never got the alignment adjusted "out of spec" to correct it like recommended here.
anyone have this issue before having the TSB and after with the new alignment have the truck stop drifting on the highway?

yrffej · 09-15-2007, 09:01 AM

not sure what your really saying or asking....

but it's more than a recomendation from the people here.... an alignment, is part of the tsb.... your svc dept got paid for it by toyota... i happened to ask for a print-out of before and after specs, to insure it was done. (although i was there waching it happen, whole tsb took 3hrs soup-to-nuts) which included having them change the differential fluid, which i felt was fair to pay for out of pocket. considering what toyota gave me for free....

project-c2 · 09-15-2007, 11:21 AM

When I first got my truck. I took it to work and did the alignment, cause it pulled to the left on flat ground, no grade. The casster and toe was actually in the red. I used the Hunter alignment rack with the reflectors. Now it tracks straight. I since installed my SOS lowering kit and redid the alignment.

04asphalt · 09-22-2007, 10:17 AM

as it is now my truck dosen't track well at highway speeds, several folks here told me if the alignment was corrected slightly outside what toyota spec. calls for it would be good.
my ?? is with the new springs and alignment from the tsb has anyone who had poor tracking seen an improvement?

HotRod53 · 09-22-2007, 06:24 PM

I had the TSB and alignment and had no problem. Do you know that the spec for the alignment was changed with the TSB, maybe your dealer did the TSB and used the original alignment spec?? I can tell you that mine handled differently after the TSB, but not diferent in a way that I would say was bad. I recently had it up to 85 MPH and had no handling problem, so I would say that mine is good.

Janster · 09-23-2007, 07:25 AM

If everything is bone stock and all you're adding is the TSB rear leaf springs....

I'm VERY curious to know why an allignment is necessary? These trucks don't have anything to *allign* in the rear. They're not 4-wheel alligned.

I've read the TSB only raises the rear anywhere from 1-2" higher which isn't all that much and I'm really amazed it woud change the handing that much. Make me wonder what the Toyota techs are doing to the truck when they install these TSB springs. Unless they installed something improperly..... obviously I'm missing something.

Do you have lift coils or spacers on the front? If YES - then an allignment could possibly help. How much lift do you have in the front?

04asphalt · 10-03-2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotRod53

I had the TSB and alignment and had no problem. Do you know that the spec for the alignment was changed with the TSB, maybe your dealer did the TSB and used the original alignment spec?? I can tell you that mine handled differently after the TSB, but not diferent in a way that I would say was bad. I recently had it up to 85 MPH and had no handling problem, so I would say that mine is good.

not done the tsb yet but was wondering if the highway wandering would improve or even get worse?? alignment spec changed with tsb??????

fishindude · 10-04-2007, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04asphalt

as it is now my truck dosen't track well at highway speeds, several folks here told me if the alignment was corrected slightly outside what toyota spec. calls for it would be good.
my ?? is with the new springs and alignment from the tsb has anyone who had poor tracking seen an improvement?

i noticed that the truck handles a lot better after i got the tsb and the alignment done. prior to the work, the stearing wheel used to shimmy and pull to one side while doing 65. now it runs super straight and no stearing vibration.

04asphalt · 10-04-2007, 06:37 PM

mine never pulls, it just drifts backnforth. more like the steering is too touchy at highway speeds. at lower speeds it tracks straight with hands off the wheel

forbye · 10-04-2007, 07:52 PM

i am interested in having the tsb work done, however , i am a bit hesitant cuz my truck runs perrrrfectly, other than the rearend sag with a load

yrffej · 10-04-2007, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04asphalt

mine never pulls, it just drifts backnforth. more like the steering is too touchy at highway speeds. at lower speeds it tracks straight with hands off the wheel

try checking your tire pressure, too high a pressure, usually does what you describe.

hankthecowtruck · 10-04-2007, 09:57 PM

It's not a tire pressure problem. I mean, unless it's a tire pressure problem. Some of these trucks have a definite steering challenge. Mine is one of them. They did the TSB on mine but *cough cough* ordered the OLD parts and put them on again!!!!!

So now it drives a LITTLE better than it did at hwy speed, but still not good or comfortable. This is definitely something I hope the TSB gets sorted out, because my shoulder actually hurts after driving for a while from fighting the damn wheel so much, and yeah, it has been aligned. Twice now. If after the TSB being done correctly it still isn't tracking correctly and driving comfortably, 'not sure what I"ll do. Maybe try different tires? It seems discouraging to have to throw down money for tires but something's gotta be different cause road trips just aren't even an option with the steering this way.

suv-man · 10-05-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hankthecowtruck

It's not a tire pressure problem. I mean, unless it's a tire pressure problem. Some of these trucks have a definite steering challenge. Mine is one of them. They did the TSB on mine but *cough cough* ordered the OLD parts and put them on again!!!!!

So now it drives a LITTLE better than it did at hwy speed, but still not good or comfortable. This is definitely something I hope the TSB gets sorted out, because my shoulder actually hurts after driving for a while from fighting the damn wheel so much, and yeah, it has been aligned. Twice now. If after the TSB being done correctly it still isn't tracking correctly and driving comfortably, 'not sure what I"ll do. Maybe try different tires? It seems discouraging to have to throw down money for tires but something's gotta be different cause road trips just aren't even an option with the steering this way.

I got my Tacoma 4x4 TRD v6 '07 about four weeks ago. I am having some issues with steering as well. Mine too wonders on the road and seems to steer itself. If I go on a devided hiway, in the inner lane (road crown slopes to the left) I have to hold the steering wheel to the right, about 10 degrees in order to go straight. Even if I go in the right lane the vehicle sometimes pulls to the left... The dealer supposedly re-aligned the front end, however I cannot notice any difference... Also, if I stop at the light in the left lane, if I let the steering wheel go while decelerating (at about 5mph) to a stop, the steering wheel turns to the left by a good half turn. I have the stock leafs in the back... Any suggestions? Does the alignment TSB refer only to the leaf replacement TSB or to any new trucks? Any help would be appreciated.

sechsgang · 10-05-2007, 10:13 AM

I had to go back after the leaf TSB to have the alignment done again. The steering wheel was off center going straight, no other symptoms, though.
It's straight now after the second alignment, and everything is ok. I am not even sure they did an alignment in the first place after installing the springs. Got to watch out for that, it's needed!

Badlees · 10-05-2007, 10:38 AM

Tire Pressure like stated above. Drop it down some where in the middle of what the door says (29 PSI) and what the tires say. In my case it's 35 psi cold so I set the pressure to 32 psi all the way around. Once I did that the trucks steering was so skittish and I didn't wonder all over the lane I was in. Try it.