According to the local professional tire shop, I can't adjust the camper on this rig and the front are tow-in. I have a real hard time believe this considering several others have installed the Daystar or Revtek kits. What's the trick that these pros obviously don't know about or is everyone running around off-camber?

I told them to check the adjustments on the upper control arms, but they claim there is no adjustment on the upper arms?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

Take it to a different shop ! Those guys don't know what they are doing.

Camber adjustment is on the lower control arm. You can see it if you look at the point where the control arm connects to the frame. There should be a shiney bolt that appears to have an off-centered washer behind it. If you look closely, that "washer" should have a number of marks on it. This is the adjusting bolt that the alignment shop will use to get you back into spec. A "real" alignment shop should know this...

Good Luck !

Steve

 

Thanks Steve! Off to see another shop ...

 

Along with Steve's solid advice, you don't adjust toe with camber. They are two different angles. Tie-rods adust toe and the spacers have nothing to do with your tie-rods. Of course you could compensate out of spec camber with additional toe, but you should still be able to get your camber in spec unless your front end has been in an accident.

 

Yeah, with the masses here. The bolt where your lower control arm attaches has an elliptical washer and you should have NO PROBLEM getting right back to stock alignment specs, haha...we did my friends in the driveway and got real close with no lasers and all the good stuff the shops should have. NEW SHOP for you! Good luck, you will find the answer. Then, post the pics to help the rest of us who are building up our 2003+ 4Runners.

Steve

 

I stopped at another wheel alignment place and had a chat ... they're taking appointments for Friday but I'm on a road trip that day. I'll try to get it done elsewhere while on my trip.

Any way, I had the 2nd shop call the 1st shop to discuss what was or wasn't performed. The original shop claims the camber adjustment was made, but it's maxed out and still out by approx 1 degree. This is better news than what they lead me to believe in the morning. It certainly looks much better that before the alignment.

Assuming the adjustment is maxed out, what options do I have? I'm a mechnical laymen but perhaps there are larger/smaller control arms that will allow the alignment to be closer to perfect? Am I worried about nothing? I would assume the tires will wear faster than if bang on spec.

 

Grrrrr..... I get really peeved when a shop tells a lie like that...

Look, that first shop doesn't know what they are doing. Period. I had the Daystar spacers put on my '03 over 2 years ago. When I took it to the alignment shop, they let me talk with the guy actually doing the alignment - while he was doing it. He noted that there was plenty of room left on the adjustment and even gave me the specs he had the alignment set to.

In a nutshell, find a different alignment shop. You shouldn't be anywhere close to maxing out the adjustment. I know of a good shop down here in AZ if your roadtrip takes you that far south !

Steve

 

AZ? LOL! Not this trip. I found another fellow that's been doing 4x4 alignments for decades and will visit him in a week or so.

 

Chris,

You shouldn't be anywhere near maxed. I got a shop down here if you want to try again.

 

Can I get the name of that shop? I have had the same issues.

 

Would you be taking in soon to have it rechecked? Let me know your results.

Mickdady: send me an email or PM with the contact in case I have no luck locally.

BTW ... I took it off road yesterday (sans skid plates) and it performed beautifully. The lift and tires make a huge difference over stock. I'm sure the old Dunlops would have not allowed me to go up (and down) a few of the big inclines. I was packing my family (4), our gear and 4 bikes on the rear. Aside from trashing one of the front wheels on a bike from dragging through a narrow "V" creek crossing with a 300 metre drop to the left, I'm well pleased with the way the vehicle handled.

I'll clean the rig up later today or tomorow and take a picture, but it's the same as all the others ...

 

Yes, perhaps this weekend. I have a lifetime allignment at Firestone so it might be worth a shot to try to explain to them how do it. That just sounds wrong. If that doesn't work, then I will try the shop with the currently elusive name.