Re-do alignment at Lexus Dealership

[LX4x4]

They aligned when the car had very little gas in the tank.. Which I think is not great for a tank that sit on one side.

They are supposed to warranty the work 12 month /12,000
Is this guaranteed by Lexus? Can I have another dealership redo the alignment?

Getting someone to call me back about my "customer concern" is difficult.

 

[Heckraiser]

With an LX, you're not going to get much/any suspension sag from the weight of the gas in the tank--AHC automatically levels to compensate for changes in load/weight distribution. If the truck drives right to you and you like the numbers on your alignment printout, I'd say you're good to go.

 

[LX4x4]

I understand although I would prefer to have more gas in the tank, the weight on each tire would still be different even with AHC.

Right now I have to hold the wheel 11:30 to go straight in city speeds. Highway also similar, starts to drift to the right if I don't hold the steering for 3 seconds.
Probably zero toe, I did not receive a print out.
There seems to be some speed and road where it's ok but just 10% of time.

 

[Heckraiser]

Oh, yeah you should definitely get it re-done if it's drifting like that. Personally, I'd skip the dealership then and just go to a 4x4 alignment shop and tell them what you're looking for in terms of alignment numbers. No printout is kind of a red flag for bare minimum attention to detail, IMO.

 

[doru]

It looks like your problem is not the full/empty tank. No matter the tank fill status it should not pull to one side. Follow the advice above and go to a specialized shop.

 

[PDoyle]

And as well check your wheel balance weights.

 

[LX4x4]

So, it’s better to go to a 4x4 shop even for stock tires and heights?

 

[Heckraiser]

It doesn't necessarily have to be a 4x4 shop, but an alignment shop with techs that really understand what they're doing and willing to take direction from the customer. These tend to be shops that service 4x4s, race cars, or car enthusiasts. Asking around on a local board will probably yield some good suggestions, or if you post your specific location, some folks on this forum might have a suggestion.

 

[RET2]

It doesn't necessarily have to be a 4x4 shop, but an alignment shop with techs that really understand what they're doing and willing to take direction from the customer. These tend to be shops that service 4x4s, race cars, or car enthusiasts. Asking around on a local board will probably yield some good suggestions, or if you post your specific location, some folks on this forum might have a suggestion.

I'd be a little leary about taking directions from customer more like listening to their concerns. Low/worn tires and road crowns are often culprits. Sometimes the simplest most obvious changes are the answer rather than the most complicated ones.

 

[LX4x4]

Are 0.12 degree toe in recommended for these trucks? I almost see many people have done it that way to avoid quickly following road crown.

My tires are worn rebalanced smooth now just trying to get the best driving experience out of it.

 

[Sandroad]

So, it’s better to go to a 4x4 shop even for stock tires and heights?

Call a tire shop that does NOT do alignments and ask where to take it. My local Discount Tire sends everyone to a nearby alignment shop that knows what they are doing.

Edit: I've had poor luck with Toyota dealer alignments. They always just turn the lights green on the machine (which can be quite a bit of variance in where the wheels point) and don't even bother to check if the steering wheel is straight.

 

[04UZJ100]

with your logic, the car’s alignment changes every time you add or remove different people

chill bro

this is a 7,000# truck, not a formula 1 car

 

[pvchaitanya]

It is not uncommon for alignment work messing up the driving dynamics of the car/truck. Happend to me once and I had to drive it back to them and the fixed (Something) to make it right.

 

[LX4x4]

They are supposed to warranty the work 12 month /12,000

I cannot edit my original post, when I got there in person they told me do not guarantee the work I would have to pay. The 12/12 is only from factory.

I said OK put it on the rack since I'm here anyway. He tell me to ask my sales person about comping it.

But first thing they quoted me on their tablet, before leaving the parking area, replace the 2 tires on the passenger side for $1000. On 4x4? no.

Antics of service department aside, I think this time I have gotten a good mechanic, they have fixed it perfectly, test drove it.
Definitely they fudged the toe a little, one is very slightly negative and one is slightly positive. Total toe zero. Mechanic intuition or fluke I don't know.
Rotated the two front tires to help.
But drives like a normal car and completely different, no longer need to correct every 3 seconds.

I left a voice mail with my sales person, he is the MVP of the dealership.
The service advisor who was quite rude this morning, came back with my car all fixed and was like the nicest person padding my shoulder and stuff, no charge.

 

[chriscosta416]

I cannot edit my original post, when I got there in person they told me do not guarantee the work I would have to pay. The 12/12 is only from factory.

I said OK put it on the rack since I'm here anyway. He tell me to ask my sales person about comping it.

But first thing they quoted me on their tablet, before leaving the parking area, replace the 2 tires on the passenger side for $1000. On 4x4? no.

Antics of service department aside, I think this time I have gotten a good mechanic, they have fixed it perfectly, test drove it.
Definitely they fudged the toe a little, one is very slightly negative and one is slightly positive. Total toe zero. Mechanic intuition or fluke I don't know.
Rotated the two front tires to help.
But drives like a normal car and completely different, no longer need to correct every 3 seconds.

I left a voice mail with my sales person, he is the MVP of the dealership.
The service advisor who was quite rude this morning, came back with my car all fixed and was like the nicest person padding my shoulder and stuff, no charge.

What dealer was this?

 

[CJF]

Definitely they fudged the toe a little, one is very slightly negative and one is slightly positive. Total toe zero.

I don't think that's how "toe -in" works.

 

[LX4x4]

No. It's not toe in. It is only whatever result comes out of this indirect process. The print out says today is 2006.
It drives great now but I will go to an alignment specialist once I get new tires.