Is this a lack of caster?

[mikebuff]

Ive been in the process of my build for some time now and I finally go it to run ( toyota tacoma esb lowers arms and custom upper a arms, deavers in the rear, cell, cage the whole 9 yards) I was talking it around the block and the truck wouldnt straigten itself out. It also lacked any steering responce. I had it aligned at a local shop so I know everything is straight. I havent driven it in a while due to running out of funds during the build but I am pretty sure it was a little more nimble. What should I be looking for to gain some more response in the steering. If you need more info please let me know thank you.

[jesusgatos]

Might just be that all the uniballs and heim-joints are tight. When we first installed the Total Chaos Genn II kit with upper/lower uni-balls and heim-jointed steering, it was REALLY sluggish for the first few hundred miles. After we took it out and beat on it a few times things loosened-up though, and now it drives and handles more like a stock truck.

[mikebuff]

Thanks for the reply, I hope thats all it is. Also at the ride height it is at now there is some toe out caster. Would anyone recommend that I crank down the shock till I get an acceptable tire patch on the ground. It corrects at speed but I have to be on the gas so that the front end comes up a little. Should I not worry about it because it will spend most the time in the dirt?

Testing and tuning still remains these are all premature evaluations.

[bigdognathan]

there is no such thing about toe out castor. castor is the angle the spindle is angled from front to back. camber is the side to side angle. with your camber it sounds like it is either positive or negative. i would adjust the coilover but like you said "spend most of the time in the dirt" i wouldn't worry too much. and yes it does sound like your castor is off. it could be possible that you didn't account it into the building of the upper arm. at ride height try putting an angle finder on the top of the bolt that goes through the uniball to the spindle. it should be slanted to the back of the truck, slightly. i don't know what the actual measurement would be for a arm trucks. when turning, the weight and momentum of the truck wouldn't be held up by tight uniballs or heims. its your castor. is your upper arm on heims at the frame mount? you might adjust the front heim out to bring the spindle back a tad. hope this helps.