[R6wrxdude]

97 taco 4x4 Std cab 4cyl
BFG AT 31's on Eagle wheels. Tires are pretty worn.
Inside of the Fronts are eaten by too much Camber and maybe Tow.

Left rear is in good contidition but right rear is eaten up pretty good in the middle (too much pressure probably)

Soo... anyways i got this truck used. and my friend tells me when he drives behind that my Truck drives a little sideways. front pointing a lil to the right.

My thoughts. I know I need alignment BAD becasue you can visually see the front end alignment is kinda messed up.

BUT will it be enough to make the truck drive slightly sideways? Could it be possible that rear end is little off on leaf springs? Is rear end adjustble? Could the bad Tires make taco drive sideways?

 

[EnolaGaia]

The #1 suspect is alignment. The tires themselves won't cause that kind of noticeable 'side-waddling'. Front end alignment alone can cause such a thing. However, there *is* such a thing as having the rear end out of alignment (particularly if you've messed with it). For example, lowered Tacos with leaf springs or blocks not properly seated will side-skid down the highway...

 

[R6wrxdude]

so I should prolly take it Very good alignment place and advise them that rear end might be out of the alignment too. Will they see Rear end out of the alignment if they hook up all 4 sensors to the wheels?

 

[TmudRroverD]

If your tires are worn on one side more than the other, it def needs to be aligned. The shop I go to uses 4 sensors, im not sure what others use. Try to get a shop around you that uses computer to align your tries. Its also not a bad idea to buy a package if they have one that allows you to get it a aligned for 6 months a year or whatever., if you go off road a lot, this is something nice to have. You can take it in anytime you feel its off. The only bad thing is the wait to get your truck back. Also sounds like a little un-even wear on the tires.. replacing them could help the drive. Is the truck lifted any? its possible depending on what kinda of lift you have, that maybe a leaf spring is sagging or the axle might be warped. That can cause the image of driven sideways... has the truck ever been in any accidents? frame look straight?

 

[TacoCrazy]

If your truck is actually driving sideways as you explained you best look for frame damage..Alignment alone will not make one track off center..The front and rear suspensions are mounted in line with each other and pretty much the only way it will run sideways is a bent frame or maybe a rear axle that is not positioned correctly..

 

[R6wrxdude]

I have a feeling that rear axle is off. Ill take it in for allignment and have them take a close look to the rear axle. There is a way to ajust the rear end too right?

 

[96tacolx]

I agree with TacoCrazy....You said you bought the truck used. Is there any chance the truck has been hit from the side. Usually a pretty good indication.

 

[appa]

The only thing I can think of would be if the truck had any extra leaf spring added to raise the truck. They might not have added a longer ceter pin to the leaf pack or the axle was not centered on the pin before it was tightned down.

 

[R6wrxdude]

Took it to do alignment. Front was all messed up. front and back axels are alligned perfectly. So the pull was because of frond alignment and tires added to it. It drives sooo nice now

 

[96tacolx]

Was thinking the worst. Glad that was all it was!

 

[SAStoy]

The #1 suspect is alignment. The tires themselves won't cause that kind of noticeable 'side-waddling'. Front end alignment alone can cause such a thing. However, there *is* such a thing as having the rear end out of alignment (particularly if you've messed with it). For example, lowered Tacos with leaf springs or blocks not properly seated will side-skid down the highway...

I got to thinking about this for a second, and I am going to have to call bullshit. There is such a thing as dogtracking (rear end not straight with frontend) but for a truck to side skid down the highway would mean that the U-bolts are completely loose. Glad you got it fixed, always nice to know a little alignment fixed the problem
Ryan

 

[GOT COPE?]

97 taco 4x4 Std cab 4cyl
BFG AT 31's on Eagle wheels. Tires are pretty worn.
Inside of the Fronts are eaten by too much Camber and maybe Tow.

Left rear is in good contidition but right rear is eaten up pretty good in the middle (too much pressure probably)

Soo... anyways i got this truck used. and my friend tells me when he drives behind that my Truck drives a little sideways. front pointing a lil to the right.

My thoughts. I know I need alignment BAD becasue you can visually see the front end alignment is kinda messed up.

BUT will it be enough to make the truck drive slightly sideways? Could it be possible that rear end is little off on leaf springs? Is rear end adjustble? Could the bad Tires make taco drive sideways?

look at your rear axle, i had a center pin snap due to loose u-bolts and my d-side of the rear axle slide back 2". and of course i was going down the road sieways because of it. found some really stout hex head bolts to replace the broken pin, went ahead and replaced both sides and properly torqued the u-bolts. problem solved.

 

[Bassmaster]

glad that's all it was.