Motor Mount and Alignment

[RockinX]

Just curious ... I brought my truck in for an alignment today because after I got the motor mount and new radiator installed, the tires would squeal if I turned the wheel to the left even a little bit.  When I went down the road it sounded like I had big mud tires on and the tires would screech on certain road surfaces.  I went as slow as I could coming down the mountain, and let everyone pass me because I knew something wasn't right.  The mechanic said that an alignment would not be needed after replacing the motor mount.  But they checked it and found that the toe was way, way off. 

The day before Rattlesnake Canyon, I had the LCAs replaced and the mechanic reindexed by TBs.  When I got it back the steering wheel was cranked way to the right, although it drove straight.  I drove it home and then headed out early the next morning for Big Bear.  I noticed the steering wheel was not at all centered on the drive out and thought that they did not line it up when they adjusted the TB.  But again, it drove straight so I thought it was okay.

When I was driving home after the alignment today, I noticed that the steering wheel was centered as it used to be.  On the trail, I had a hard time getting traction in the sand and noticed a couple times, when my wheel was turned, that it looked a lot different than usual.  When I was being spotted and told to turn the wheel straight, I had a hard time determining when it was straight.  Any thoughts on if the toe being so out of spec would have had anything to do with my motor mount breaking.  I don't plan to make an issue of it with the mechanic, but would like to point it out if that may have been the cause or contributed to the breakage. 

I took some pictures on the trail of how my wheel looked when it was turned because it seemed so odd to me.  But I haven't gone through my pictures yet because yesterday I spent the morning trying to upload the gopro videos.  Looks like I will have to put the videos to music because apparently the video was recording sound the entire time.  It may be distracting watching the videos with Noon and I chit chatting the entire time, and of course we were talking about you all. j/k 

[RockinX]

These are the pictures of the wheel that kept catching my eye.  But I just noticed it looks that way on both sides, so it is probably normal.  And yeah, the last picture shows steam after my radiator exploded.   

[Bobby B.]

Many things can affect alignment.  Your suspension was in a different place after you replaced many things.  Even cranking the torsion bars up and down affects the settings.  Replacing the motor mount would not change your alignment.  Picture the points of a triangle.  If something is replaced and the distance between any of the points change, it changes the angles at the corners.  Your alignment makes the angles match again, side to side.   

As far as the wheels looking to be at different angles, bear in mind that, when turning, all four wheels travel at different speeds and on different arcs.  That is why if you are locked, front or rear, it is harder to turn as you are forcing the wheels on each axle to turn at the same speed.  As a result, when cranked the wheels will be appear at different angles.

[RockinX]

Yeah, that makes sense.  It sounds like they didn't do a very good job with the alignment after reindexing the TBs and installing the LCAs.  I guess being so out of alignment didn't have anything to do with the motor mount breaking.

[Bobby B.]

Well, unless it was an alignment shop that replaced the parts, I don't think they would've done anything to correct the alignment settings.  Most shops farm that out.

You can do a fair job with a tape measure if you care to, but most shops just change parts.

[RockinX]

Well, unless it was an alignment shop that replaced the parts, I don't think they would've done anything to correct the alignment settings.  Most shops farm that out.

You can do a fair job with a tape measure if you care to, but most shops just change parts.

Discount Tire replaced the LCAs, reindexed the TBs and did the (lifetime) alignment the day before the trip.  They are the same ones I brought it to yesterday to fix the alignment.  They couldn't figure out how the toe could have gotten so far off.  I think they just forgot to adjust the toe when they originally did the alignment.  That is probably why my steering wheel was cranked all the way to the right after I left their shop after having the parts replaced, although it drove straight.

On another note, I just ordered my heavy duty motor mounts from Steevo (Rugged Rocks).  Thanks for the suggestion Bobby!

[Paul]

OK so what exploded the radiator??? 

[RockinX]

OK so what exploded the radiator???  

The motor mount broke, which shifted the motor up, which caused the fan to relocate, which in turn let loose and, with a loud clash and a brilliant arc that looked like the engine was on fire, smashed into the radiator causing great billows of steam.  Or something like that.   

This is the same shop that did my 100k maintenance where I had to take it back numerous times because it would knock really loud after putting a load on it.  [My last trail drama.]  They replaced the timing belt twice and it still knocked.  The Toyota dealership where I get free oil changes for life noticed that the drive belt was torn and had a piece missing.  Sure enough, that was the problem. 

If the shop I take it to wasn't so darn convenient and if they didn't treat me so well, I would think of looking for a new mechanic.  I would not be surprised if they will agree to install my new motor mounts at no charge since they sometimes do free work for me, and obviously they messed up when they did the alignment. 

On a side note, when I got the oil change at the Toyota dealership, they asked me what kind of car it was.  Guess they aren't used to seeing modified Xterras.