LC Friendly Alignment Shop In PDX?

[OregonLC]

Curious if anyone has found a good place in Bridgetown?

Speaking of alignment, does everyone have a lazy return to center? I think it's the 4WD, but on tight turns in parking lots, I've found that it needs a little help coming back toward center as fast as I'd like/need. In other non-full time vehicles I've owned it snaps right back to center. Seems to have gotten slower with the 295's which is understandable. Wondering if I have too much toe in.

The other thing I've noticed is that it wants to pull a little to the left under power. Not much, and I don't think anyone fresh to the vehicle would notice. It's just a slight change in pressure on the wheel.

 

[hoser]

Post lift, I was not able to get my caster back to spec. It's not bad, just not as good.

 

[agaisin]

Curious if anyone has found a good place in Bridgetown?

Speaking of alignment, does everyone have a lazy return to center? I think it's the 4WD, but on tight turns in parking lots, I've found that it needs a little help coming back toward center as fast as I'd like/need. In other non-full time vehicles I've owned it snaps right back to center. Seems to have gotten slower with the 295's which is understandable. Wondering if I have too much toe in.

The other thing I've noticed is that it wants to pull a little to the left under power. Not much, and I don't think anyone fresh to the vehicle would notice. It's just a slight change in pressure on the wheel.

Is there anything unique about your vehicle that requires special expertise? Granted with VGRS and AHC, or with a lift I could see a concern but if your LC doesn't have VGRS, AHC, or lift, the specs for alignment are published and adjustments should be no different than other vehicles, right?

In other words, based on my understanding:
- VGRS means centering the wheel requires special knowledge
- AHC means you need to account for height being to spec on all 4 corners and that the the car has settled prior to aligning
- Lift means you can't use the standard published specs for alignment so what is the 'correct' toe, caster, camber etc. In other words it's about preference and what is physically possible given the lift. There's no official 'spec'.

Without those nuances seems to me it's just about finding a shop you trust, not so much a shop with LC expertise.

 

[OregonLC]

Is there anything unique about your vehicle that requires special expertise?

Without those nuances seems to me it's just about finding a shop you trust, not so much a shop with LC expertise.

True, but there are monkeys and there are mechanics. I'd rather find a good mechanic. From the LC specific knowledge, knowing that the lift will put the suspension out of spec even after the alignment, I'd rather work with someone who has seen this before and perhaps knows some out-of-the-box tricks.

 

[RedEuro]

I would contact Jeremy at Matrix Integrated in Portland, he runs a top notch shop that caters to Audi/Porsche/Merc.. If he cannot do the alignment for you, I am sure he would be happy to point you in the right direction.

 

[calbo]

I've heard good things about Land Cruiser NW www.landcruisernw.com near the Montgomery Park building.
Their website seems to focus more on FJ Cruisers nowadays, but they have been around long before the FJ debuted.

 

[joelev]

I had Fab-Tek Automotive do my 90/120k service. One of the two mechanics is a former Toyota tech, but they do mostly crazy custom work. Even if you don't decide to use them (and they are a bit on the expensive side) you should pop into Luxe Auto in the attached building and check out the Pinzgauer.

 

[OregonLC]

I had Fab-Tek Automotive do my 90/120k service. One of the two mechanics is a former Toyota tech, but they do mostly crazy custom work. Even if you don't decide to use them (and they are a bit on the expensive side) you should pop into Luxe Auto in the attached building and check out the Pinzgauer.

I've heard good things about Land Cruiser NW www.landcruisernw.com near the Montgomery Park building.
Their website seems to focus more on FJ Cruisers nowadays, but they have been around long before the FJ debuted.

Great ideas, thanks guys!

 

[yuji]

Found a great place.

Line up shops on Sandy
http://www.yelp.com/biz/line-up-shops-portland

It only cost me $45 bucks.. and they were seem very knowledgeable. They said $75 if the rig is heavily modified.. mine was just a standard ~2 inch AHC lift.

Ride feels SO MUCH BETTER! Handling is noticeably improved. My steering became really light after new tires + lift.
Now the steering feels like it used to on my LTXs.

Before, I figured it was the MTs having less traction and that the steering pump didn't need to work as hard. Since the difference is so pronounced, I'm guessing the tires were not contacting the ground fully.

We're moving across the street from there soon.. so give me a message if you're gonna go there!

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Talk to Jordan or Bryan at HM Motorsports in Beaverton. Both great guys and will usually give a hook-up to Cascade Cruiser members. http://www.hm-motorsports.com/

 

[yuji]

Talk to Jordan or Bryan at HM Motorsports in Beaverton. Both great guys and will usually give a hook-up to Cascade Cruiser members. http://www.hm-motorsports.com/

Can we get a ballpark price? High end seems to be $170 so even hookups on those are out of my budget (that budget goes straight to gear )

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I don't have one off the top of my head... Sorry!