Alignment help, tracking to the right.

Well my 23 OR has tracked to the right from day one. Last Friday I finally had a chance to take it in and have an alignment done under warranty. They adjusted the caster and the tow, but it did not resolve the issue, I still have to compensate with steering input to the left. Truth be told it may be even worse than it originally was. In general the steering just doesn't seem right and on center, and gies you an unrelaxed feeling while driving. I know about road crown and so forth and how you can compensate for that, but my truck still drifts to the right even on the flattest smoothest roads.

So far I'm overall disappointed with my truck, getting this sorted out would sure help me from not wanting to sell the blasted thing every time I drive it, I actually avoid driving it as much as possible.

I know there's some gurus here that have good alignment numbers to shoot for, any help would be much appreciated.

 

What did you drive before?

Tacoma has fairly low caster and tends to wander compared to other models and types of trucks. It's just the nature of it.

If all the specs are the same left to right, its set correctly. The tires might be causing a pull, so a cross rotation is all thats left.

I think its likely normal and you may have to set expectations lower.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-2023-trd-with-slight-pull-drift-to-the-right.814689/

Ah..

 

Post your alignment sheet.

Typically around me I align vehicles with 0.5* more caster on the right side to compensate for road crown and equal camber and toe on both sides. I feel like Toyota's come aligned "neutral" in the sense of they have no compensation for either direction from the factory.

I can suggest numbers to you but I don't know where you drive, what you use your truck for or how much it's pulling.

My blind recommendation that I feel is a good all round spec for stock tacomas is
Caster in degrees
+2.25*(Left)+2.75*(Right)
Camber in degrees
+0.4* (Both)
Total Toe in inches
+0.06"

 

I drove a 2010 SR5 and it drove straight as an arrow the whole time I owned it. I have high expectations from a new 45k vehicle, I'm not someone who likes to settle on something, if it's not right to me it's not right. I'm black and white that way.

Thanks for the valuable input.

 

I quickly looked at the printout quickly,but I was distracted when I was signing the forms and I left it at the dealership unfortunately.

99% of the time the truck is unloaded, though I do pull a 6x10 utility trailer with my commercial mower on it from time to time. My 2010 pulled it much better. I would if anything prefer a slight pull to the left, that's just a more natural feel to me.

Truth be told I kinda hate the truck. But if I could get it do drive straighter it would help me ignore some of my other dislikes, which just seem to grow every time I drive it. I want to love it, but after seven months of ownership that just hasn't happened yet. I'm trying.

 

No reason to be disappointed with the truck. The problem is the dealership. Piss poor service writer & technician that are not meeting your needs.

I had the same issue, one visit and the alignment was adjusted to account for the road

 

If that is the case, you may want to start shopping for another truck.

 

If you hate it, sell it. My alignment was off after installing new front shocks and after I took it back and complained, the technician made another adjustment and resolved the pulling to the right feel. I saw readings on chart were green, so I called it good.

 

I would make sure all tires are aired the same. I have mine at 35psi. Also, rotate tires back to front or side to side to possibly rule out tire issues. Then if it still not right, you can go back to the dealer or alignment shop and tell them what you already tried and the issue still persists.

 

Some customers are never pleased.

Ive only had to compensate for road crown on modified vehicles with odd ball tires or miserable customers.

All my vehicles are set to balanced spec and track perfectly. If the road crown is aggressive then there should be a pull. Why compensate for some roads?

 

Post the alignment sheet.

 

As I said, even on the flattest of roads there's still some drift.

 

I don't have the printout. I saw it briefly and everything was green, and they said it was adjusted so I wrongly assumed it was taken care of. And hindsight I should have grabbed the printout.

 

They're all equally aired up to 30-31psi when warm.

 

Then try to rotate tires as I stated. That may rule out bad tire.

 

Just because it's green doesn't mean it's good. Furthermore, any modern alignment machine automatically saves every alignment performed.

 

Take it back. Take tech for ride. Tell them to make it right.

 

I hear what you’re saying.
You just may be right, doubt he will ever be happy if he hates it at this point.

Did not mean to pound on the service techs
It’s often a writer that jacks things up. The Tech just receives what the service writer conveys

 

We can't help without seeing alignment sheet.

Go find a shop that can think outside the box with alignment specs. My place will loosen the rear u-bolts, shave the centering pin and shove the axle around for a better thrust angle. It really did make a difference, my truck drives on rails