“Don’t think your steering wheel is supposed to be like that lol.”
A man heading home from an off-road trip in his Toyota 4×4 noticed something off in his alignment. Was his choice of vehicle to blame?
Facebook creator Mike Usoff posted a video about his alignment issues last month. The video shows him driving home in the fast lane at 80 miles per hour. It’s easy to see the speedometer because the Toyota’s alignment is so out of whack that he has to have the steering wheel turned at a sharp angle to keep the wheels straight.
In the caption, Usoff states the obvious: “Might be time to check that alignment out.”
In the comments section of the video, viewers predictably made light of the situation and used it as an excuse to promote their own favorite off-roading vehicles.
“I was expecting wheel shake from mud-packed rims,” wrote one viewer. “At least now you can read the speedo while gangster leaning.”
A second person said, “Hey, you’re doing 80 and she’s not shaking. Can’t be that bad!”
“Out of the fast lane,” chided a third viewer.
Someone else said, “Buying a Jeep would fix that. Plus, you could then do real off-roading.”
Another person noted, “That’s why I bought an [all-terrain vehicle].”
Usoff’s video is sure to entertain off-roading enthusiasts who are well aware of the side effects that come along with taking your vehicle out for a hard day on the trail. For the uninitiated, a vehicle’s wheels should be properly aligned so that the steering wheel is straight without the driver pulling on it.
That balance naturally degrades over time when you drive—even in paved road conditions. Of course, off-roading is hard on your vehicle’s suspension and steering systems because you’re driving over rocks, branches, and other debris.
A Reddit user posted to r/4Runner three years ago asking if it is normal to need an alignment after each off-roading trip. “Not if you drive right and your rig is in proper working order,” wrote one person. “If all parts are in good condition, torqued, lubed, etc., and you don’t speed run off-road, you shouldn’t need an alignment. Drive too fast, and yeah, you’re gonna mess something up. One bad bushing or loose bolt can cause a lot of wear.”
Others disagreed. One person said, “Yes. It’s not that uncommon. You bump a tie rod slightly out of alignment. I’ve done it multiple times. Just par for the course and usually minor.”
Driving a car with this poor of an alignment is not only tough on your tires, but it also makes it more difficult to handle the vehicle and therefore drive safely. So, it’s a good idea to get it addressed sooner rather than later.
Motor1 contacted Usoff via Instagram direct message for comment. This story will be updated if he responds.
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