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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 23 Dec 2007
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Location: London,England
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Toyota Mechanic London area
Hi I have a Toyota Hilux pickup which has been in an front end accident.
The chassis has been strightened and all panels replaced had the tracking done twice but the truck still pulls to the right.
I want to get the truck chasiss and steering checked by another garage so am looking for any suggestions of garages in or around London who know about 4x4 Hiluxs.
Thanks
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  #2  
Old 23 Dec 2007
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Bolla

Even if you fancy paying £65 plus per hour, you'll struggle to find a LC specialist in London. General diagnostics can be done by any garage, so why bother with a Toyota dealer, who will send your car down the line to someone else for checking.
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  #3  
Old 23 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman View Post
Bolla

Even if you fancy paying £65 plus per hour, you'll struggle to find a LC specialist in London. General diagnostics can be done by any garage, so why bother with a Toyota dealer, who will send your car down the line to someone else for checking.
Thanks for reply
So far 3 different people have had the truck in there garage and all say every thing is stright and tracking is correct. The truck still pulls to the right
I am not looking for a Toyota dealer just some one who knows what they are doing and can fix the problem with the steering/ tracking and to check the chasis.
I thought there might be people who know these trucks inside out and not a main dealer
I want some one who will drive the truck before and after working on it not just put it on a ramp do a bit of adjustment and say its done.
I will travel for the right service upto 100 miles from London.
Any suggestions
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  #4  
Old 23 Dec 2007
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Tracking Or Steering Geometry
Hi Bolla,
When the tracking was checked was it standard tracking gauges that were used or a computer geometry check system ?
The toe in or toe out can be on the right setting but the adjustment can be too much on one side. Look at the track rod ends and count the number of threads on both sides, they should be the same.
Is the steering wheel centred or off to one side ?
A computer check is the best bet as it will cover caster and camber as well as tracking.
If all this has been done swap the wheels back to front, I have had tyres cause pulling to one side.
There are many computerised tracking centres usually at a tyre depot.
Last Question.
Have you got your foot on the brake when it pulls to one side ?
Cheers
Ian
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  #5  
Old 23 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dessertstrom View Post
Hi Bolla,
When the tracking was checked was it standard tracking gauges that were used or a computer geometry check system ?
The toe in or toe out can be on the right setting but the adjustment can be too much on one side. Look at the track rod ends and count the number of threads on both sides, they should be the same.
Is the steering wheel centred or off to one side ?
A computer check is the best bet as it will cover caster and camber as well as tracking.
If all this has been done swap the wheels back to front, I have had tyres cause pulling to one side.
There are many computerised tracking centres usually at a tyre depot.
Last Question.
Have you got your foot on the brake when it pulls to one side ?
Cheers
Ian
Thanks for quick reply
The first time I had the tracking checked it was standerd tracking gauges I took the truck back to them the following week and it was adjusted again, he said the tracking was spot on.
As the truck was still pulling to the right I took it back to the body shop who had strightened the chassis he checked the chassis and then took it to a wheel alighment place who done more adjustments it was better but still pulls to the right.
The steering wheel is not stright
I dont have my foot on the brake it pulls while driving
I will try and find a wheel alighment place who will do the camber and give me a print out of before and after.
Thanks
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  #6  
Old 23 Dec 2007
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Bolla,
The first thing that is done when they put your truck on the computer is to clamp the steering wheel in the central position, they then fit cameras to the front wheels and marker flags onto the rear wheels so that they get a square reading font to rear and side to side. The computer will then show the distribution of the track and the caster and camber angles, then they will check these readings against the data bank for your truck and adjust as necessary if they can. Not all angles are adjustable, some are fixed depending on the vehicle.If the readings are a long way out then something is bent.
Cheers
Ian
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  #7  
Old 23 Dec 2007
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yeah, get a 4 wheel laser check. If your Hilux is an early one, there's not much that can be wrong.
Find a race tuning sport car kind of place, the kind of place that sorts out the tracking for Subaru Impreza's etc.

Ho, ho, ho,
Matt
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