Looking for video on JT alignment w/ full steersmarts setup

[steve-tristate]

Hi. LOOOOONG time Tacoma guy - had a few third gens built out on 35's and finally made the jump to a 2020 JTR and man... I love it! I should have done it a while ago. Here's my question... I upgraded everything to Steersmarts. Drag Link, Track Bar, Tie Rod, so that's all dandy. Since I bought this three months ago, it's pulled right. By this I mean when I hold the wheel level, it GOES right. I have to hold off center to the left (11:00 ish) to get it to track straight. 2 jeep dealers and myself have not been able to figure this out. I understand the theory of the SFA alignment, but for some reason, nobody can get this thing straight. Anyone rollin' a similar/same setup and have any advice?

My other thought is, the prior owner (I am the 2nd owner, the guy traded it in at my Toyota dealer I work at) had installed a steersmarts track bar bracket with sector shaft support and maybe ... just maybe when he put that in or had it installed, something went wrong? I figured it was a simple alignment and our toe and thrust angles are dead on... still can't level this pig.

Thanks in advance!

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[XraytecH]

Hi. LOOOOONG time Tacoma guy - had a few third gens built out on 35's and finally made the jump to a 2020 JTR and man... I love it! I should have done it a while ago. Here's my question... I upgraded everything to Steersmarts. Drag Link, Track Bar, Tie Rod, so that's all dandy. Since I bought this three months ago, it's pulled right. By this I mean when I hold the wheel level, it GOES right. I have to hold off center to the left (11:00 ish) to get it to track straight. 2 jeep dealers and myself have not been able to figure this out. I understand the theory of the SFA alignment, but for some reason, nobody can get this thing straight. Anyone rollin' a similar/same setup and have any advice?

My other thought is, the prior owner (I am the 2nd owner, the guy traded it in at my Toyota dealer I work at) had installed a steersmarts track bar bracket with sector shaft support and maybe ... just maybe when he put that in or had it installed, something went wrong? I figured it was a simple alignment and our toe and thrust angles are dead on... still can't level this pig.

Thanks in advance!

Ask and you shall receive...

 

[whysoserious]

Did it pull to the right before you put the SS pieces on?
Have you tried adjusting the drag link to center the steering wheel?
Do you have to use force to keep it driving straight at the 11:00 position?
Does it brake straight?
Stock or aftermarket steering stabilizer?
Aluminum or steel steering box?
Stock suspension?
Can you post your alignment sheet?

 

[steve-tristate]

It did pull to the right when the guy traded it in - I figured it was just an alignment issue.
I had loose ball joints on the drag link which started the "let's just upgrade it and fix it along the way" thing.
We have tried adjusting the drag link, yes. You do not have to force it at 11:00... it drives really well except the wheel off center. Brakes straight as can be. I did install a Fox 2.0 stabilizer shock when we did all this.

Suspension is stock Rubicon stuff, no modifications to that at all (yet). I don't have the alignment sheet - it's at my shop but I can post tomorrow.

I do not know if it is an aluminum or steel gearbox... have to look at that and let you know.

 

[whysoserious]

Sorry, just to clarify, when you let go of the steering wheel, it tracks/wanders/pulls to the right? You're having to turn it left to keep it straight? Or it tracks straight at 11:00?

 

[Camaroboi13]

My advice is stop looking at numbers and find an old school alignment shop. Mine has been aligned 3 times (once I bent stock tie rod, once I replaced ball joints, once after new hd steering). Never once has it been on a rack. My guy uses tape measure and test drives to dial it in and it’s $60 bucks for his time. I couldn’t care less what the numbers look like as long as it tracks straight and the tires don’t wear funny.

 

[InvertedLogic]

We have tried adjusting the drag link, yes. You do not have to force it at 11:00... it drives really well except the wheel off center. Brakes straight as can be.

If it tracks straight with the wheel at 11:00, then it's a drag link adjustment issue. Try again

 

[imallcrawl]

Hi. LOOOOONG time Tacoma guy - had a few third gens built out on 35's and finally made the jump to a 2020 JTR and man... I love it!

I'm just happy to hear a Toyota guy switching to Jeep

Regarding your question, did you go around and torque everything to spec? Sometimes that works. And adjusting your tierod to toe in about an 8th of an inch works too. If it still pulls, check your measurements of your adjustable control arms as well.

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