Another FJ Pulling Right...

[couver]

If you are looking for alignment information, here are two excellent threads: Thread 1, Thread 2.
The first thread had the alignment specs and some good info, but the second thread has some excellent explanations of the FJ alignment -- look for the posts by user "jasonrmorrow".
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I finally got mine aligned correctly, again (see post 29).
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Okay, my FJ started pulling to the right sometime in the past 2 weeks - steering wheel ****ed a bit off center. I read all the alignment threads I could find here, took it to the dealer with alignment specs in hand and had them re-align it. The dealer just called and said that they did the alignment, but it still pulls right (at least they agree that it does pull!). Now they think it is my after-market tires (BFG 265/75/16 MTs on TRD rims from trdsource). However, they told me that they already tried rotating and cross-rotating the tires with no success. They are going to the FJ overnight and try installing a set of stock wheels off a used one they have on the lot to see if that solves the problem.

I am pretty sure that it did not pull when I got the tires/rims installed (I usually notice everything). I probably put a couple hundred miles on the new tires before I did a little light off-roading "just to test things out ." I can't believe I bent anything on my little off-road jaunt, considering what I have seen people doing with these on this very forum! But maybe?

The only other change I made after installing the new tires/rims was to install a set of Demello sliders, which does require re-routing the brake lines and they are a little tighter than before - any chance the rear brake could be grabbing a little and causing this?

Is there any other explanation for this or anything I could suggest that they try? Hate to treat them like idiots, but I am also afraid this might become a wild goose chase and I am going to get my FJ back a week from now with extra 500 miles on the ODO. Thanks for your help!

[1983FJ60]

Tires can make it pull to the right.

Being on the right side of the crown on the road can make it pull right.

Damage to the suspension arms can make it pull right.

And mysterious Toyota gremlins that made my 4Runner always pull to the right can also make it pull to the right.

I say learn to live with it, because it will never go away.

[couver]

- It wasn't pulling when I first installed the tires.
- It is not the dreaded "road crown" (pulls in parking lots, etc.).
- Hmmm, could have tweaked a suspension arm, but if that's the case, then I would be afraid to take this off-road again.
- Must be a gremlin!
- Living with it would be hard since it didn't do it before and it would bother me that a mysterious gremlin was always trying to suck me into a ditch. Wouldn't allowing it to continue also toast my tires pretty quick?

[1983FJ60]

Toyotas are a b!tch to align. I think that most dealers don't know how to do it.

I went through your problem with my 4Runner, and I just gave up. The dealer also told me it pulled and said there was nothing they could do about it.

[CosmicCruiser]

while this may sound lame, and maybe it is only a quick fix, I added 3psi to the passenger side front tire and the pull is quite a bit less. But, I went back and had all the realignment issues checked without success. Hope this helps.

[Hwtrader]

I have a slight pull to the right, but am planning a lift soon, so I am just living with it.

I have 285 MTRs on it and only drove 6 miles before installing them, so I don't remember if it pulled before. Anyways, you can always put more caster in the opposite side or whack the opposite rear link on a rock and it will go straight again. Screw the settings on the machine. If it pulls one way, adjust it the other way.

**Why do these new fangled techies that call themselves mechanics INSIST on pointing to the screen and parroting the results instead of trying to FIX the problem!!

[FJ_Kayaker]

Hwtrader previously said:

**Why do these new fangled techies that call themselves mechanics INSIST on pointing to the screen and parroting the results instead of trying to FIX the problem!!

Exactly!! Fj drove fine. Installed coil overs and it still drove fine. Got new tires, still everything was fine but I didn't want the tires to wear so I got it aligned. Camber was out of whack after first alignment, said they couldn't do any better. Took it back in and a different tech fixed the camber but now it pulls to the right and everything says it's in spec. .4 difference in right to left caster. When I took it back in I asked that they get the right side camber closer to zero as I didn't want the tires to wear unevenly but I asked them not to adjust if it was going to pull or wander. When they gave me the keys back they said; "We set the camber closer to zero but now you are pulling to the right, good luck, have a nice day." Now I'm looking for a good alignment shop.

I hate letting other people work on my vehicles but unless you own an alignment machine I suppose you have to let them do this job. Grrrrrrr.

What is interesting is that the after results from the first alignment didn't match the before measurements on the second alignment - that was only 2 days apart and I had only driven 10 miles. Do they not train people to do alignments? Or is it they don't care? Or maybe just to busy to take more than a few moments? I always wondered about the logic of getting an alignment from a business that wants to sell you new tires...

Good luck Couver

P.S. I could never get anyone to align my 92 Pathfinder corectly - that thing eats tires or wanders.

[couver]

Well, this isn't shaping into anything very hopeful! As one poster said in his alignment thread "I can't believe I am spending time on this!"

There are a couple of posts about the Hunter GSP9700 with StraightTrak LFM (lateral force measurement). It looks like the Toyota "learning center" in Portland may have one of these. Anyone want to chime in with experience with one of these or know if the dealer (or me) might be able to access the one at the learning center? I will toss this one at my dealer after I hear back from the results of swapping out the wheels.

[trdsource]

couver previously said:

Well, this isn't shaping into anything very hopeful! As one poster said in his alignment thread "I can't believe I am spending time on this!"

There are a couple of posts about the Hunter GSP9700 with StraightTrak LFM (lateral force measurement). It looks like the Toyota "learning center" in Portland may have one of these. Anyone want to chime in with experience with one of these or know if the dealer (or me) might be able to access the one at the learning center? I will toss this one at my dealer after I hear back from the results of swapping out the wheels.

How many dealers have you tried. I would try another dealer if there is one local to you. If you do take it to another dealer and have no success try getting the "DSPM" District Service and Parts Manager involved. They can have an FTS "Field Technical Specialist" come out and take a look at your problem.


Matt

[gascolator]

couver previously said:

Okay, my FJ started pulling to the right sometime in the past 2 weeks

That's bucking a trend. According to CNN polls, everything else has
started pulling to the left.