So I've read the alignment FAQ and it sounds like there is enough adjustment in the front end to get everything within spec after the 2.25" Tundra lift. My shop is adament that there is not enough caster adjustment. If this is true, how do I convince him he is wrong when I don't have half the knowledge and experience he has? He did at least explain that he properly set the caster higher on the right side to keep the truck straight on crowned roads. What is SAI?

 

my caster on the passenger side was on the border of the spec. everything else was fine.

 

I did a web search & came up with this definition of SAI:
Steering Axis Inclination.
Definition: The angle formed by a line that runs through the upper and lower steering pivots with respect to vertical. On a SLA suspension, the line runs through the upper and lower ball joints. On a MacPherson strut suspension, the line runs through the lower ball joint and upper strut mount or bearing plate. Viewed from the front, SAI is also the inward tilt of the steering axis. Like caster, it provides directional stability. But it also reduces steering effort by reducing the scrub radius. SAI is a built-in nonadjustable angle and is used with camber and the included angle to diagnose bent spindles, struts and mislocated crossmember.
From here:
http://autorepair.about.com/library/...bldef-748a.htm

 

just search for "alignment lift" and you'd get this:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f123/alignment-issues-cant-get-your-rig-aligned-after-lift-info-81538/

 

Speaking of SAI, what's with YT not letting you search acronyms?
Am I the only one who has experienced this? what's the deal?


More on topic my lift threw off my toe but Castor and Camber were fine (I didn't go up more than 2" either).

 

You're not the only one:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f92/suck-tastic-search-99058/

 

Cool thanks!

.....sorry, back on topic now.

 

So what is the consensus here...is there enough caster adjustment left after the Tundra lift?

 

Unless your truck has a very heavy rake to it, you should have enough caster adjustment to be within specs.
What is the rake front to back on the truck after the lift?

 

There is almost no rake. 2.25" of front lift and 2.5" in the rear.

The experiences here seem to vary. The tech seemed very knowledgeable and he was quite certain there was no adjustment left. I suppose I could take it back and tell him the good people here at yotatech have been able to get it within spec and see what he says...

 

Yours is only about 1/2" higher than mine.....something ain't right if he can't get that within spec.
You might try another place and see if they come up with the same answer.

 

MTL--did your shop give you a print out after the alignment?

 

I asked them for before and after printouts, then all the rotten buggers gave me was that it was within spec (except for toe, which they set to +2 degrees) and then gave me the specs for each (thanks, I know the specs already!). Now it is possible they were lying about it, but if I took it to another shop and they said it was way out of whack they be up a creek because I have their stuff in writing on the bill. I know there have been others that did get before and after printouts. I'll see if I can dig up a few of those threads for you.

 

I learned that every shop's alignment machine is aligned differently and will give mixed results. I would try different shops. After I did my tundra lift, one shop said I was aligned perfectly, while another said my toe was out of spec.

 

I had the alignment done at a Big-O tire store. Suprisingly enough, the tech there is very knowledgeable. He said he moved the caster adjustment as far as it would go and it was still out of spec. You can tell from the printout that he actually did make some changes, so I don't think he was simply trying to be lazy. However, if you guys are able to get 2.3 to 3.8 degrees of caster with the same 2.25" of lift I have, then there is no reason why mine shouldn't align similiarly.

 

Is it possible to actually physicly look at your caster adjustments and see if they are maxed out?

 

Good question. I know how to adjust toe, but have no experience making the other adjustments. Big-O used the cool laser/mirror setup for my recent alignment.

 

I'm sure the tech at Big-O was good, but I'd still take it to a dealer to verify what the issue is on the adjustment. I still think something isn't right about it being that far out of spec with 2.5" of lift and only a small amount of rake to the truck. I'd want the dealer to verify what the guy was saying before I just took his work for it. Just my $0.02 anyway.

Toe is very easy to measure in the driveway on a level surface (all you need is two 4' levels, some equal sized blocks of wood and a tape measure). Camber is a little harder to check but can also be done (you need a 4' level and an angle finder). Caster is almost impossible to check yourself (need the alignment machine to check accurately). This is why I was saying take it to the dealer to check.

 

Yeah, alot. I even got mine in with those crazy ATS arms, which was a small miracle. With stock arms, there is a ton of slop/adjustment. I never had any problems getting it in spec with stock upper a-arms.

Look at the cam and see if it is all the way anything. Here are cams with ATS arms, obviously all the way out.

http://www.sonoransteel.com/ats_016.jpg

Also keep in mind this is not an adjustment that these shops typically do. I have always had better luck at the small mom and pop places. One great one at the dealer, then one horrid one at the dealer. You just never know.

 

if you have zero caster adjustment left, then you should have the front cams all most all the way to the inside and the rear cams almost all the way to the outside. at least one on each side should be maxed out (either in or out) for that side to be maxed out.