Alignment Questions

Hey guys, just became a 4RUNNER enjoyer, got a 2022 SR5. I need some help with my alignment. The alignment to start with was trashed, after getting it fixed at the dealer it still pulls to the right very noticeably on the highway. Is there any insights owners more experienced with alignments can give me about why the alignment was so bad to start with and why it still pulls to the right? *No lift or anything, but it does have the 20" gunner package wheels

 

Other than the rear toe being asymmetric, maybe the tires are worn unevenly, causing the pull?

 

Can the rear toe asymmetry be corrected? I think I'm going to rotate the tires before trying to get the alignment adjusted again

 

Not on a solid rear axle for all practical considerations (unless the rear end locating links were adjustable). Good call on the rotation. If it has an affect, then that's it. Let us know!

 

Thanks for the help, I'll post when I have it fixed

 

If you've even seen a solid rear axle truck "crab" down the road, that can be an indication that the entire rear end assembly has rotated around the vertical axis. Usually something has broken in these cases. IF your issue turns out to be a mild case of this, it would be worth checking w/ an alignment specialist to focus on the rear end locating links, etc. Maybe ask the people who just aligned it to explain the rear toe values and what this might to to the steering. Maybe ask them if they can attempt to correct it (the standard answer will be no, but why not ask?).

 

Good advice, I'll bring that up. Do you think the alignment being so out of wack before hand is an indicator of anything with the suspension needing attention? It seems pretty wrecked for a new-ish vehicle with regular maintenance intervals done

 

It's possible, yes. If the front alignment looks good, but the rear is not so good, and the truck pulls, then I think an inspection/eval of the rear suspension is in order.

 

Your current pull is probably tire related. Wheel or tire size shouldn't have an impact on alignment, unless the alignment was changed to accommodate the tire size (like adding aftermarket control arms).

The caster being the number that was so far off is weird. Toe would be more understandable. No impact to the lower control arm (scratches)?

With a name like JGalt, I assume you're in Scotland, or maybe Ohio?

 

The toe numbers were out of spec.

 

Any resolution on the pull to the right. My 21 Limited started doing it late last year. Took it to a alignment shop and the front according to the technician is perfect, he showed me on the screen and it was all good. He did say the rear axle that is not adjustable is out of spec and possibly that is causing it. I had alignment done few years back and if I recall they also said rear was out of spec, but after they did the front alignment which was out at that time it was driving straight as an arrow. If it is a solid axle, we don't do any offroading, never hit a curb how could the rear axle be out of spec. How to fix? Does the whole thing needs to be chsgend? That seems excessive.
This shop wasn't sure if there is one available for a 4 Runner but said that for Jeeps there is a thing called some kind of a adjustable panhard bar. He said of one is installed that can tweak the alignment a bit. Anyone heard if this would fix the pull to the right? This truck is becoming nothing but resentment, so frustrating...

 

An adjustable panhard, or track, bar will shift the rear axle to the side. They're usually used after a lift to re-center the axle. Whether that can affect alignment, I'm not sure. It would seem that the rear control arms would have more affect on alignment.

 

I just googled and they make both for 4 Runner adjustable panhard and rear adjustable control arms. Looking at pictures how the suspension works it seems you are probably right the adjustable control arms might have more effect on the wheel alignment.

 

I wonder if an alignment shop would know how to use adjustable rear control arms to fix an alignment issue...they usually only do the front.

 

Good point, on my previews car had to put on a adjustable rear arms set, it was a set of 3 on each side. An aftermarket racing shop did it and was able to align very well. 4 years after that I wanted to recheck and realign at a local shop, they had to clue how to do it and they messed up big time. Had to take a long drive to the original shop that was able to get aligned again with no issues. So yea, if I decide to go with the adjustable arms, which I am leaning to do as it pulls quite a bit to the right and is annoying, I will need to make sure the shop would be able to pull this off.

 

i just went through this last week, i had to replace my LCAs ahead of the alignment and replace the two front tires. In my case it made it pull to the right.