Toyota Dealer - No clue on alignment

[JayZap]

Picked up a 25 Trailhunter few weeks ago, after about 800 miles threw on the AT4 290/70R18s on the stock rim.

Even before the tire change I noticed a little too much positive caster that everyone describes in the other threads.

Went to the Toyota dealer (Weston FL) to get an alignment check, this was my experience.
:


Came in for a alignment on my Tacoma Trailhunter due to excessive camber. Asked the service advisor to make sure that they show me the readings before making any adjustments.

When the truck was on the alignment rack, service advisor brought me back to look at the readings. Alignment tech stated that he cannot perform this alignment due to larger tires being on the truck even though it's the stock suspension. Then the master tech came over and said the same because he thought I have aftermarket suspension.

I explained to him that the Trailhunter is stock with the green upper control arms and old man emu suspension, and the trd pro has red control arms and fox suspension. He wasn't sold on that comment. He mentioned that they will try to get the alignment in but can't guarantee anything. I said that is fine let's give it a try because it's not rocket science.

The master tech told the alignment tech to go ahead and proceed, to which the alignment tech was really trying to fathom what to do. This guy seemed so lost on what to do and you can just see the look on his face.

First he was walking around looking for a wrench then proceeded to be confused and unmotivated.

I was amazed by the whole level of incompetency and came right to my senses. I asked everyone to stop what they are doing, get my truck of the lift, and go seperate ways.

I wouldn’t trust these guys to boil pasta without messing it up.

But I did manage to get a photo of the spec range from the computer because I know a few people were asking in other threads.

I am going to try my luck at a dedicated alignment shop tomorrow.

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[trailhunger]

bro doesn’t know the TH kit. I guess they’re still kinda rare but I mean…

 

[TacoFreak]

There is no excuse for a dealer not being able to recognize a stock suspension on one of their own products, no matter how rare. I have never really trusted most dealers, but my opinion has actually gone down lately.

Definitely take your truck to an alignment shop @JayZap because that dealer is beyond clueless.

 

[Chico]

Obviously didn't know what the hell they were doing. Alignments should be simple to do, as long as you enter the right parameters in the computer and from that picture I can tell that they had the parameters set for a 2025 Toyota TRD ,not the 2025 Trailhunter. You would have been better off taking your truck to a reputable tire place.

 

[bitflogger]

From a long ago experience I learned to seek a Toyota dealer with "president's award" and know stuff like that can happen. Long ago now 3rd gen 4Runner had the hub-centric wheels before dealers had the right equipment so I just negotiated they have the work done where someone does.

 

[JayZap]

Ended up going to a independent shop, I knew I was in the right place because they were doing a lot of work on raised trucks, lowered trucks, exotics, stanced cars, etc.

Had them to the alignment and everything feels good. The tech did mention that the Tacomas do enjoy a slight positive camber but corrected the over camber and over toe.

I also had him move the caster slightly to the front to allow for better clearance on my 295/70s

see the specs below.

 

[izzy]

Ended up going to a independent shop, I knew I was in the right place because they were doing a lot of work on raised trucks, lowered trucks, exotics, stanced cars, etc.

Had them to the alignment and everything feels good. The tech did mention that the Tacomas do enjoy a slight positive camber but corrected the over camber and over toe.

I also had him move the caster slightly to the front to allow for better clearance on my 295/70s

see the specs below.

Your guy did a good job with the front toe

 

[Yotota]

Ended up going to a independent shop, I knew I was in the right place because they were doing a lot of work on raised trucks, lowered trucks, exotics, stanced cars, etc.

Had them to the alignment and everything feels good. The tech did mention that the Tacomas do enjoy a slight positive camber but corrected the over camber and over toe.

I also had him move the caster slightly to the front to allow for better clearance on my 295/70s

see the specs below.

That's a good alignment.

People may comment that the 3rd Gen numbers were used (notice the 2020-2023 in the header)...

It doesn't matter. Alignment numbers are alignment numbers. And Toyota suspension hasn't really changed in 30 years. A good tech can make a truck drive well with countless different alignment setups, since it's a combination of factors that culminate in the actual feel.

 

[tacorancher]

Picked up a 25 Trailhunter few weeks ago, after about 800 miles threw on the AT4 290/70R18s on the stock rim.

Even before the tire change I noticed a little too much positive caster that everyone describes in the other threads.

Went to the Toyota dealer (Weston FL) to get an alignment check, this was my experience.
:


Came in for a alignment on my Tacoma Trailhunter due to excessive camber. Asked the service advisor to make sure that they show me the readings before making any adjustments.

When the truck was on the alignment rack, service advisor brought me back to look at the readings. Alignment tech stated that he cannot perform this alignment due to larger tires being on the truck even though it's the stock suspension. Then the master tech came over and said the same because he thought I have aftermarket suspension.

I explained to him that the Trailhunter is stock with the green upper control arms and old man emu suspension, and the trd pro has red control arms and fox suspension. He wasn't sold on that comment. He mentioned that they will try to get the alignment in but can't guarantee anything. I said that is fine let's give it a try because it's not rocket science.

The master tech told the alignment tech to go ahead and proceed, to which the alignment tech was really trying to fathom what to do. This guy seemed so lost on what to do and you can just see the look on his face.

First he was walking around looking for a wrench then proceeded to be confused and unmotivated.

I was amazed by the whole level of incompetency and came right to my senses. I asked everyone to stop what they are doing, get my truck of the lift, and go seperate ways.

I wouldn’t trust these guys to boil pasta without messing it up.

But I did manage to get a photo of the spec range from the computer because I know a few people were asking in other threads.

I am going to try my luck at a dedicated alignment shop tomorrow.

Yup. They are dumber than I ever could have imagined (and I assumed they were dumb as rocks). Same issues. One tech said my suspension was added by my dealership. It took a lot for me not to strangle him.

 

[tacorancher]

And of course my alignment spec from the dealer is totally different. It’s wild that I cannot get my Tacoma TH aligned with confidence. My pocket has cash in it - just need someone competent to do the job.

 

[tacorancher]

Ended up going to a independent shop, I knew I was in the right place because they were doing a lot of work on raised trucks, lowered trucks, exotics, stanced cars, etc.

Had them to the alignment and everything feels good. The tech did mention that the Tacomas do enjoy a slight positive camber but corrected the over camber and over toe.

I also had him move the caster slightly to the front to allow for better clearance on my 295/70s

see the specs below.

Yeah my truck has a ton of toe.. my speciality shop in my area wanted to zero out camber as well .. which I doubt is good so I’m stuck

 

[JayZap]

That's a good alignment.

People may comment that the 3rd Gen numbers were used (notice the 2020-2023 in the header)...

It doesn't matter. Alignment numbers are alignment numbers. And Toyota suspension hasn't really changed in 30 years. A good tech can make a truck drive well with countless different alignment setups, since it's a combination of factors that culminate in the actual feel.

I agree, they could have used a specs from Camry for all I cared, that’s just dictates the range. What I care about is the actual readings. As long as those were in I don’t mind that ismta a gen 3 range.

 

[JayZap]

Yup. They are dumber than I ever could have imagined (and I assumed they were dumb as rocks). Same issues. One tech said my suspension was added by my dealership. It took a lot for me not to strangle him.

This was the same dealer tried to make mark up a TH 10k over msrp, 15k shy on my BMW M4 trade in, and that I would never find a TH at MSRP.

Same day, I went to Toyota Naples, got my TH at MSRP and the trade in I wanted. 25k delta, what morons at Toyota of Weston

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