LX570 New Alignment Problem Please Help

[milellie111]

Also, have you had your steering column checked?

Never had steering column checked. This problem only occurred after I got these new tires installed and an alignment.

 

[milellie111]

Do you trust the alignment machine now that it's fixed? What you describe sounds like a neutral (no/low toe) alignment, maybe you just need more toe?

Have you seen the second alignment printout I posted a few posts ago? Do those numbers look ok?

I would only hope that after the dealer aligned it a second time it would be a good alignment. If someone should be able to align a LX it should be one of the better Lexus dealers in Maryland correct? The shop I took it to a few days ago for a Road Force balance is top rated and has the Hunter Elite Touch machine.

I also told them to align the vehicle as they have one of the best Hunter alignment machines available as well, however they drove it after the balance and said it didn’t feel like it needed an alignment. It tracked straight so they didn’t want to waste my money howeverif I’m not satisfied I could bring it back to them and they can align it.

 

[grinchy]

Have you seen the second alignment printout I posted a few posts ago? Do those numbers look ok?

It tracked straight so they didn’t want to waste my money howeverif I’m not satisfied I could bring it back to them and they can align it.

Well, that machine was questionable, right?
I think it's worth eliminating for good with a second machine. There is guidance around somewhere re: the target toe.

 

[grinchy]

from earlier in this thread
Ask for the front end to be "toe'd in around 1/32nd of an inch"

 

[grinchy]

The truck's toe is dead straight, no wonder it's sensitive.

Ask for the front end to be "toe'd in around 1/32nd of an inch"

What is happening is that every little bump, corrugation, or irregularity in the road will jounce the suspension and redirect the truck to a new direction. That means you always have this... needing to make a correction driving feel. When you toe the front tires inward ever so slightly, the two front tires fight each other. It makes it to where bumps and jounces don't really affect the direction of the truck (at least as much).

I can tell from that alignment that whoever did it, is new to alignments/never was taught the proper way. They really worked to try and make everything dead in the middle, which won't give a very good alignment, just looks good on paper. It happens, but if you want less tire wear and a better driving experience, just have them toe the front end in.

fix quote

 

[SWUtah]

My 13 LX with 285/55/20 KO2s was the same way but seemed at times to be worse than others. I never could make heads or tails of it. Some have suggested to check the hydraulics in the suspension, but mine checked out fine. The dealer blamed it on the extra weight of the KO2s. I never did figure it out, but when I switched to 17s, it changed everything. I'm still rolling with the same alignment. I chalked it up to the higher pressure required by the 20" KO2s (42 PSI if I recall).

In your case, the tire pressure shouldn't be an issue and I suspect that the dealership would have checked for any codes in the AHC. You may want to find a suspension specialist and have them drive the truck. You could waste a lot of time and energy trying to convince the dealer that something isn't right.

I run the same size BFG‘s KO2’s on my 2015 LX570, I have no problems whatsoever rides and steers great

 

[electro992]

One thought, do you have the "Easy Access" suspension mode (where the truck lowers when you shut it off) turned on? I can't imagine they would do this, but if the dealer aligned it with the suspension in the low position that would throw things off.

 

[milellie111]

One thought, do you have the "Easy Access" suspension mode (where the truck lowers when you shut it off) turned on? I can't imagine they would do this, but if the dealer aligned it with the suspension in the low position that would throw things off.

Thank you for your input. I honestly don’t remember if Easy Access was on or not but I would lean towards not since I only turn it on when needed. However, I am getting it aligned by my Indy tomorrow and will mention all of these things to him.

 

[TTO5]

My 2010 lx570 does the same thing. It is so annoying and makes the truck feel like junk. I have the same size Michelin defender Ltx xload that you have. If I put suspension on comfort mode it gets worse. Switching to sport mode helps some but makes the truck ride too firm. I have tried a few things (new inner and outer tie rods (no change) had alignment checked claims to be fine. If you search the forums you will find many posts from me trying to fix this. It is worse at highway speeds but even at slow speed over bumps you can see the steering wheel moving back and forth. I work at a Toyota dealer here in central nj and the mechanics don't know why it does it. I swapped 18 inch tires and wheels as a test from a brand new landcruiser we had on the lot and it improved slightly. When (if) these tires wear out I will probably be putting on 18 inch wheels and stock tire size for the 18 inch wheels from a landcruiser. Keep me posted if you get it solved. Good luck it is my only gripe with this truck. As a side not my 2000 landcruiser with 329k miles I sold to buy this didn't do that over bumps.

 

[radman]

Thank you for your input. I honestly don’t remember if Easy Access was on or not but I would lean towards not since I only turn it on when needed. However, I am getting it aligned by my Indy tomorrow and will mention all of these things to him.

I would let the rig settle on level ground with the doors closed for 30-60 seconds and then turn the AHC off before they drive it up onto the alignment lift.

 

[milellie111]

My 2010 lx570 does the same thing. It is so annoying and makes the truck feel like junk. I have the same size Michelin defender Ltx xload that you have. If I put suspension on comfort mode it gets worse. Switching to sport mode helps some but makes the truck ride too firm. I have tried a few things (new inner and outer tie rods (no change) had alignment checked claims to be fine. If you search the forums you will find many posts from me trying to fix this. It is worse at highway speeds but even at slow speed over bumps you can see the steering wheel moving back and forth. I work at a Toyota dealer here in central nj and the mechanics don't know why it does it. I swapped 18 inch tires and wheels as a test from a brand new landcruiser we had on the lot and it improved slightly. When (if) these tires wear out I will probably be putting on 18 inch wheels and stock tire size for the 18 inch wheels from a landcruiser. Keep me posted if you get it solved. Good luck it is my only gripe with this truck. As a side not my 2000 landcruiser with 329k miles I sold to buy this didn't do that over bumps.

wow!! Thanks for the info. Sucks that I’m about to spend money on yet another alignment tomorrow from my Indy (no luck from Lexus dealer twice), but I’m hoping for resolution. I’m seriously thinking it’s the tires since this was not present with the WORN Michelin Latitude Tour HP tires I had on there the past 10 months. However it’s hard to tell since I had alignment done same time as new tires.

You actually working at a Toyota dealership doesn’t give me much hope!!!

 

[milellie111]

I would let the rig settle on level ground with the doors closed for 30-60 seconds and then turn the AHC off before they drive it up onto the alignment lift.

Thank you I will mention

 

[TeCKis300]

So, something still feels off to me. I have taken the truck to get a Road Force Balance and I’m still not quite satisfied. The front end and steering wheel feels loose over small bumps, expansion joints and speed bumps. Car aligned twice and all different tire pressures tried (currently at 34 psi). Could this just be a characteristic of the LX and new tires? I’ve driven close to 1,000 miles on these Michelin Defenders. I took off work Michelin Latitude Tour HP’s and they didn’t feel like this. Is this how the LX is supposed to drive with a twitchy steering wheel over certain road irregularities? Lexus dealership says that is normal and the GX is actually worse.

I'd suspect something other than alignment at this point. When they do go to align, see if the alignment numbers match, or at least are similar to where they were last set. If it's not holding alignment, something else is up.

In general, have them check for play in the front end, but also could be the rear end. It could be that with your previous alignment and tire wear, that it was holding bump steer to a certain attitude. Now with a different alignment and tires, there's more play. Things mentioned like tie rods, steering rack bushings, suspension bushings, bearings could all be suspects. The 200-series is burly and generally robust in its bushings and components, but something very well could be off.

 

[milellie111]

I'd suspect something other than alignment at this point. When they do go to align, see if the alignment numbers match, or at least are similar to where they were last set. If it's not holding alignment, something else is up.

In general, have them check for play in the front end, but also could be the rear end. It could be that with your previous alignment and tire wear, that it was holding bump steer to a certain attitude. Now with a different alignment and tires, there's more play. Things mentioned like tie rods, steering rack bushings, suspension bushings, bearings could all be suspects. The 200-series is burly and generally robust in its bushings and components, but something very well could be off.

Appreciate it very much. Will definitely share your post with my Indy. You sound very experienced with this issue . I hope this is a very simple fix.

 

[vipergrhd]

Have you tried switching to a different set of tires? You mentioned on your earlier post that this was not an issue prior to the tires and alignment. Basing it on the current read out (2nd) i would give the left camber a slight negative reading and slightly increase the right caster just a smidge above the left caster and then give it a little toe in.

 

[milellie111]

Have you tried switching to a different set of tires? You mentioned on your earlier post that this was not an issue prior to the tires and alignment. Basing it on the current read out (2nd) i would give the left camber a slight negative reading and slightly increase the right caster just a smidge above the left caster and then give it a little toe in.

I never stopped to think it could be the tires. Only because I just put these same tires on my wife’s 2014 Mercedes ML350 and it drives perfectly. And I’ve read some pretty good reviews and recommendations on these tires on this forum.

 

[vipergrhd]

I never stopped to think it could be the tires. Only because I just put these same tires on my wife’s 2014 Mercedes ML350 and it drives perfectly. And I’ve read some pretty good reviews and recommendations on these tires on this forum.

In my experienced Euro cars are designed to handle really well on the road the specs. on your wifes MB are not even close to the LX, MB have a lot of positive caster (9*+) and they set camber more towards negative. I say swap a different tires just to eliminate it.

 

[TTO5]

Does yours get worse when switching to comfort mode?

 

[milellie111]

Does yours get worse when switching to comfort mode?

Yes it does!

 

[TTO5]

Someone suggested changing the ahc fluid which I did but no difference. Somehow my 27 year old 1993 supercharged mustang steering stays perfectly still over bumps. Was thinking about the toe in discussion. An easy way to experiment is loosen the locknut on the tie rods and turn the rods in 1 turn each) not sure if 1turn equals a big change or not. Then drive it. As long as you make both sides the same it should be ok . I might try this myself. I am just glad someone else has the same issue. I wonder if others have it as well and just aren't as sensitive as I (and probably you) are. I can't imagine the truck was designed like this.