Hermes

Facts:
2001 SR5 4x4
18k miles
Dunlop POS stock tires
Tire wearing on inside edge
Alignment done ~ 3k miles ago
Tires rotated same time (once before at 7k or so)

Problem:
Ever since I had my 15k service I have had problems with the alignment and steering wheel on my truck. At 15k the tires were rotated (rotated once before at 7k or so) and the truck began pulling to the right. Already unhappy with the dealer, I went to a local Goodyear shop to get an alignment done. They did the alignment and the steering wheel was way out, angled at 8 & 2 o’clock and not 9 & 3. The truck still pulled to the right, steering wheel out of whack, but the alignment printout said it was ok. Returned the truck and had them ‘fix’ it. Well, it took them several tries to get it right (at least 2 or 3 more tries and printouts) and it did drive straight, but the steering still off. I figured they had done enough damage and just wanted the truck back. Now I noticed that my front tires are wearing on the inside edge of each tire. Doesn’t that indicate that it is out of alignment?

Are there any other variables that I am missing? Shocks seem ok. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

On a brighter note, looks like I will be getting new tires sooner than I thought

Thanks

Hbum

Do a Google search on "tire wear". Lots of reading material.

I had my 2k aligned once because it was delivered with the steering wheel off center. It pulls slightly to the right now. The pull seems to be somewhat tire dependent as it changed a little when I rotated the tires. The OEM Dunlops are wearing evenly and look like they will last for a while. I have just over 28K on the odometer.

Hermes

Thanks. I had already done the google search

I was looking to see if others were having similar problems getting an alignment done.

The tire wear is indicative of negative camber, but I just had it aligned. See the confusion?

HBoss

Sounds odd. Toyota is known for putting a positive camber on the front tires of the 4Runners so you get the toed-in / pigeon toed look. Why? I have no idea.

The only logical explanation I can give, is that they are expecting you to put more weight on the front i.e. bull bars, grille guard, etc. Plus it wears even faster because of 4WD.

Rotate them every 5000 and you should be fine. I don't believe the rears have a positive camber, but I can't confirm that right now.

Does anyone know the camber specs for a wheel alignment? If not I'll call Toyota and ask.

Hermes

HBoss - thanks

Rears look ok, it is just the front that show the wear.

I am going to try going back to the goodyear shop to show them as they may have F'd it up. Maybe they over-corrected trying to get it right and took it from a positive to negative camber setting.

Hbum

From the 2K factory service manual page SA-4.
Specs are for 4 wheel drive vehicles. 2 wheel is slightly different.

Camber
0 deg 10 min +- 45 min (0.17 deg +- 0.75 deg)
Left right error = 30 min. (0.5 deg) or less

Caster
2 deg 25 min +- 45 min (2.42 deg +- 0.75 deg)
Left right error = 30 min (0.5 deg) or less

Steering axis inclination
10 deg 35 min +- 45 min (10.58 deg +- 0.75 deg_
Left right error = 30 min (0.5 deg) or less

HBoss

Sounds right. The service guy at Toyota said it should be a positive camber on the front tires to a max of 1 degree. 0.5 degree is the recommended spec.

The rear camber is not adjustable from what he said.

Ron(Fla)

Mine was delivered slightly off-center cc also. I left it that way because it rotated that PITA cruise control stem up a little. Since mine still tracks and wears good, maybe it was the right decision.

There seems to be a pattern here with the steering wheel off-center a little!