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Alignment process re-center the steering wheel?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by glwood54, Apr 9, 2020.

  1. Apr 9, 2020 at 9:47 AM
    #1
    glwood54

    glwood54 [OP] Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Before I take my 4R in for its post-strut installation alignment, I have one question - does the alignment process re-center the steering wheel? It's only a tick off, but it would be nice to have it centered again.

    I used to align my Jeeps myself, but those are a completely different animal. Re-centering a steering wheel on a Jeep is a 5 minute job, with one wrench.
     
  2. Apr 9, 2020 at 3:02 PM
    #2
    j cat

    j cat New Member

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    spacer lift front 1inch
    adjust the toe .. if the steering wheel is held straight and it goes to the right then the pass side rod gets shorter and the driver side longer [tie rod adjustment ] use a white paint marker before you do it. move the rods the small amount .. probably 1/4 turn ..

    I do this on all my vehicles ..the tires look all the same no odd ball wear ...
    I did this in 2016 when I bought my runner .. springs sagged a bit then I had to increase toe ...tires were pointing a bit out.. I adjusted so they point in 1/4 inch -3/8 inch .. tires look perfectly .
     
  3. Apr 9, 2020 at 3:17 PM
    #3
    Ramrod88

    Ramrod88 4Runner on Corolla budget

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    I tried wrenching on those tie rods and couldn't get em to budge (this was a while back and I eventually got the dealer to do it) How did you do it?
     
  4. Apr 9, 2020 at 3:57 PM
    #4
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

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    Just tell the shop you want the steering wheel centered, should be no problem.
     
    nimby likes this.
  5. Apr 9, 2020 at 4:22 PM
    #5
    Agent_Outside

    Agent_Outside A Guy A Girl and A Trail

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    The steering wheel is centered via toe adjustments during alignments. You center the steering wheel and adjust toe to move the wheels in or out in relation to the centered steering wheel.

    Don’t adjust toe by yourself, it’s an extremely fine adjustment measured in degrees and minutes, your adjusting down to the 60th of a degree. The measurements are so precise tightening the Jambo nut on the tie rod will cause a couple minutes of change in the measurements.
     
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  6. Apr 9, 2020 at 4:31 PM
    #6
    j cat

    j cat New Member

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    spacer lift front 1inch
    the rods have a lock nut you loosen that nut but when you loosen that nut you lock the rod in place .. then turn the nut.. as I stated mark the rod with a paint mark.. then you will know how much you shorten/lenghten the rods..

    the old days no lasers they use lines from the rear tires to the front .. very basic.. front tires should be in a small amount , the same with the steering wheel straight. point in not out . if out the runner will wander ..
     
    Ramrod88[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Apr 9, 2020 at 4:44 PM
    #7
    Dillusion

    Dillusion New Member

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    If you are going in for an alignment they will take care of it if they are competent.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  8. Apr 9, 2020 at 5:49 PM
    #8
    glwood54

    glwood54 [OP] Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Took it in today, alignment is now good, and I asked about centering the steering wheel - they centered it perfectly.

    All good.

    Thanks for all the responses.
     
  9. Apr 13, 2020 at 11:33 PM
    #9
    glwood54

    glwood54 [OP] Stop making me buy stuff!

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    It was due for its first Toyotacare visit, and even though I'd gotten some feedback from someone whose 4R was aligned at their dealership and it was way out of whack, I decided to roll the dice and have the dealer I bought it from do the alignment. I mean, they work on these trucks all day, every day, you'd think they would know how to align a Toyota...

    Larry H Miller Toyota on Eubank NE in Albuquerque.

    I was going to have the installation and alignment done at the Albuquerque location of Desert Rat - they had the best price in town, and really seemed to know what they were talking about when it came to lift installations. That was supposed to be this Thursday, but since I installed it all myself, and had the alignment done already, I cancelled the Thursday appointment.
     
    7385 and SlvrSlug like this.

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