Alignment - what's most important? What to look for?

1160 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by 53plym, Feb 7, 2008

sechsgang

Discussion Starter · Feb 7, 2008

I'll have an alignment done tomorrow. What's the most important thing to look for in an alignment? I have found Toku's thread: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t186179.html, but it did not really answer my question. Everybody in that thread talks about "ideal alignment", but no mentioning of what that really means.

Do I look for the "cross" values (cross camber / cross caster) to be 0.0? All the other values in the middle of the range? Do you tell them what you want it to be ahead of time? If not I'm sure some kid will just try to get it into the "green", no? So what is an "ideal" alignment?

Thanks for any input here!

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LeeR

· #2 · Feb 7, 2008 (Edited)

Well, From what I remember, the values are not always 0.0. And there is always a range like -0.5 - 0.5 or 0.2 - 0.6 something like that.

I beleive that these values are a minimun and maximum value. Anywhere within these specs and you should have no problems at all. If I had to pick an exact value to be ideal, I guess it would be right in the middle of the 2 values (min and max).

When you get your alignment done, you will get a printout that has your original specs (values) and the adjusted values. On that paper it should also give you the min/max specs to fall within.

I'm not sure if this is helpful, and if someone has any different info, please post it as mines may be a little out-dated!

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sechsgang

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 7, 2008

Thanks, Lee!

Maybe I should have been a little more specific. I was looking for what people mean when they say "ideal" alignment. Below is a copy of the last alignment I had done. What could / should be better? I have the feeling that the steering is not quite as precise as it was before, especially at highway speeds .... Toku also mentioned in his thread that he "personally selected the optimum settings", so I am looking for how to pick those.

Here is what I got:

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toku58

· #4 · Feb 7, 2008

Just tell them to set you camber to 0*
And you CASTER To 2.4*
This will give you the IDEAL settings. If your caster is too high you will have bump steer. if it's too low your truck will feel "Squirrelly" at speed.

Here's good reading:
http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm

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toku58

· #5 · Feb 7, 2008

sechsgang said:
Thanks, Lee!

Maybe I should have been a little more specific. I was looking for what people mean when they say "ideal" alignment. Below is a copy of the last alignment I had done. What could / should be better? I have the feeling that the steering is not quite as precise as it was before, especially at highway speeds .... Toku also mentioned in his thread that he "personally selected the optimum settings", so I am looking for how to pick those.

Here is what I got:

Your Camber is a bit high. I have mine set to 0* or a little bit on the negative side. that helps with cornering.

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sechsgang

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 7, 2008

toku58 said:
Just tell them to set you camber to 0*
And you CASTER To 2.4*
This will give you the IDEAL settings. If your caster is too high you will have bump steer. if it's too low your truck will feel "Squirrelly" at speed.

Here's good reading:
http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm

Thanks a lot, exactly what I was looking for! And I guess left and right the same (or as close as possible), with no compensation for road crown, correct?!?

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toku58

· #7 · Feb 7, 2008

sechsgang said:
Thanks a lot, exactly what I was looking for! And I guess left and right the same (or as close as possible), with no compensation for road crown, correct?!?

Well as for the crown? That would depend on you?
I drive mostly on the freeway and at the beach. Both places have very little "crown" so I didn't think it was necessary.

But it's up to you?

Good Luck!

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roboots21

· #8 · Feb 7, 2008

Yes, definately have them start by setting the camber to 0*. You will get better cornering, and you won't have any of the \ / look to your front wheels when looking head on (which looks crappy and also hurt cornering).

That being said, you are *most likely* not going to get your caster back into specs. When I did my alignment, we started by setting the Camber to 0*. With playing with the adjusters on the lower control arms, we were able to get the caster back to 1*. This is outside the limits, but it was the best we could do. My truck feels more precise when steering, but has no noticable bump steer or squirreliness at high speeds.

So, if you stick with stock UCA's, have them set the camber to 0*, then get caster as high as they can while maintaining the 0* camber setting. But with every truck being different, you may be able to get caster back into specs. If not, the only way to is to get new UCA's (total chaos, etc).

Good luck and hope I could help!

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sechsgang

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 7, 2008

Thanks guys!

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53plym

· #10 · Feb 7, 2008

toku58 said:
Just tell them to set you camber to 0*
And you CASTER To 2.4*
This will give you the IDEAL settings. If your caster is too high you will have bump steer. if it's too low your truck will feel "Squirrelly" at speed.

Here's good reading:
http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm

I agree with these recommendatione for a 2005 - 2008 Tacoma.
Right & Left Camber 0.00 degrees (both sides equal) Camber from 2.4 to 2.6 degrees both sides equal. Toe-in at the center of specifications WITH the steering wheel absolutely level when you're driving down a flat highwway with no crosswind.
This will produce the 'best' settings.
The biggest challenge is finding an alignment mechanic who actually knows how to use his equipment and who cares about the workmanhip he turns out.
Do NOT let him/her tell you he cannot 'hit' those settings on an unmodified Tacoma. Believe it or not, some alignment techs will actually tell you that caster or camber (or both) are not adjustable on your Tacoma. They simply either don't know how to do it, or don't want to do any more than set the toe and call it an alignment.
on the Tundra (pre-2007) it's only slightly different. Our '03 access cab V-8 4WD, for instance is set at Caster 2.4 degrees (L&R) Camber at -0.1 degrees (L & R), Toe L & R at 0.05 degrees and steering wheel absolutely straight. It's the "ideal" setting for that particular vehicle: Handles wonderfully, corners well, steering wheel return great after turning a corner, and totally even wear on the tires.
BUT, I had to go to the FIFTH alignment shop to get it right...and that shop is 350 miles from our West Texas home. As long as that particular technician works there, I'll have all my vehicles aligned there.

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