Hey everyone! I’ve got an 18 Tacoma Limited, and I had a previous generation too. Both trucks have had alignment issues and off-center steering wheels. I don’t do much off-roading, but I find I have to get an alignment done every service or every other one. Is this a common issue that everyone else is dealing with?
My steering wheel is slightly off, maybe around 4 degrees. Doesn’t bother me too much—only really noticeable on the highway. Could just be the road I drive on. I’m also lifted with 275s.
Haze said:
My steering wheel is slightly off, maybe around 4 degrees. Doesn’t bother me too much—only really noticeable on the highway. Could just be the road I drive on. I’m also lifted with 275s.
Yeah, I’ve heard that lifted tires can cause that over time. Glad yours isn’t too bad! I just changed mine to all-terrain tires, but I’ve got no lift.
Bumpy roads and potholes can throw off alignment. The roads here in SoCal are terrible.
Xavi said:
Bumpy roads and potholes can throw off alignment. The roads here in SoCal are terrible.
I’m up in BC. We get some bad roads, but I always try to dodge them.
Xavi said:
Bumpy roads and potholes can throw off alignment. The roads here in SoCal are terrible.
I’m up in BC. We get some bad roads, but I always try to dodge them.
You can’t dodge them all… Haha
@Xavi
True, true. I try my best, though!
Landry said:
@Xavi
True, true. I try my best, though!
Also, I’ve seen on this forum and in my own experience that the alignment tabs can flatten out on our trucks. That could be causing it too.
@Xavi
Yeah, I also read somewhere that Taco front end ball joints wear out quickly. That might be another cause.
Yep, I had the same issue with my 14 TRD Off-Road. The steering wheel was slightly off-center to the right. I got into a minor accident, and the steering wheel was completely off-center after that. I had to take it to the shop, and ended up having to replace the front passenger-side knuckle and wheel bearing. They also found that my cams were seized from rust and had to replace the control arms, too. Turns out the 2nd gen Tacomas are prone to seized cams if you don’t lubricate them, because Toyota doesn’t do that before sending them out. I bought mine used, and didn’t know about it, but the last alignment was in 2019, so I guess the previous owner didn’t keep up with the anti-seize.
@Thanos
Wow, that’s interesting! I didn’t know about the cam issue. I’ve mostly heard about the ball joints being a problem.