Brand New Truck Alignment

Hello,

I was hoping to confirm my thoughts on my new trucks alignment. I picked up my TRD Sport about 2 weeks ago and noticed immediately when driving home from Olympia the steering wheel pointed between 12 and 1 (about 3-5 degrees) when I was driving straight. The truck tracks straight, but the steering wheel is starting to bug me more over time. Would I need a full alignment or can the dealer adjust the steering wheel to the left 3-5 degrees? If there is another thread I missed where this is covered my apologies.

 

Taking mine to the dealer Saturday for the same thing.
I let you know how mine goes.

 

I would imagine just the steering wheel can be removed and reset. If the truck is tracking straight and not drifting to one side or the other, sounds like the steering wheel is off by a few splines.

 

That's what I was thinking they would be able to do.

 

+1 same on my TRD Sport. DCLB made in Baja.
Will be asking the dealer at my 5k mile appointment.

 

Let us know how it goes. With all the electronics and airbag stuff, I'm thinking it may be a pretty big deal to move the wheel "a couple of splines".

G.

 

usually that adjustment is done at the tie rod ends. tighten one side and loosening the other equal turns.

 

My 2nd gen had this problem. I assumed they just need to remove the steering wheel and re-center.

Apparently there is another adjustment that can be done w/o the need for removing the wheel.

 

That sounds a lot easier. I am used to boats and utv's

 

Most modern steering wheels can't be adjusted. There is a guide in the spline that only allows it to go on one way and that's center. If I had to guess the 3rd gen Tacoma would be the same way

 

Yes, I wondered that after my first post. It could have a key in it or one spline is bigger than the others. The tie rod adjustments makes more sense, especially with the airbag.

 

Yep, usually a key. About the size of 2-3 splines. The air bag doesn't have any effect and usually comes out easily with a few bolts or some have a dumb clip design (Chrysler). I think manufactures started keying it because people were doing alignments buy just readjusting the steering wheel lol

 

IIRC, there use to be a pinch bolt to adjust timing at the intermediate shaft.
I'm too lazy to look...

 

Take it to the dealer, or pay for a 4 wheel alignment.
Nothing wrong with mine there, but I was told they would do up to two alignments during the 24M warranty if needed.
Your problem is basic and very simple to fix for an alignment tech.
Only the toe is the problem for a straight wheel, but it needs to use the rear wheels as reference for tracking thus the rear wheels are used only for reference. There's no rear wheel toe adjustment provided on our trucks.
A good tech doesn't even need to do a four wheel alignment to get it right, but it takes the guessing out for inexperience techs.