Suspension help

[NerveDamage]

Hey crew

I recently replaced my Goodrich 275/70/R17's with Falken 275/70/R17's, had Pep boys do the mount and balance. The driver's side front tire now rubs on the mudflap when turned to full lock.

Pep Boys say they can't do an alignment adjustment because my rig has lifted suspension - but they charged me for an alignment when they did the initial work!

I'm running Total Chaos and Icon suspension components but don't know enough about suspension tuning to resolve.

Seeking knowledge on how to understand and manage my suspension, which I assume will be far easier than understanding and managing my wife. and/or recommendations for a shop that can assist.

Stay right side up,

Gregg

 

[iwashmycar]

If they charged you for an alignment then they must have touched it.

Go back and have them add as much positive caster as they can dial in.

 

[NerveDamage]

If they charged you for an alignment then they must have touched it.

Go back and have them add as much positive caster as they can dial in.

Adam

Thanks but no dice.

My wife took it in yesterday, it sat in the bay for two hours and then they told her, " we can't touch this, it has aftermarket suspension".

I'm going to call them and demand a refund on the original alignment charge as they obviously didn't do one.

Grrr.

That's why I like to do what I can myself, hate shops. But am clueless on this particular issue so I was hoping to correct and learn from one of the many wise fellows in this group.

In researching the issue I came to the same conclusion, adjust caster - but that's as far as I've gotten.

Gregg

 

[imperium]

That's frustrating that the shop took your money and didn't do the alignment. Hopefully they give you a refund, but if they don't then it might be worth a charge back on your credit card.

With suspension setups, I'm usually clueless which is why I've recommended NOVA Speed Shop before. They're the only ones who I'll let work on my cruiser if I can't get it done myself. OTRAMM as well, but unfortunately they're a little too far for me.

NOVA Speed does a full front end alignment instead of a "toe and go" like other places do. They couldn't care less that I had aftermarket suspension on my truck. It's not cheap at $250, but you get what you pay for.

 

[CrabCake]

My local independent tire and repair shop here, one of the few that I actually trust, did my 5th Gen 4Runner no problem...it has an Eiback lift from the PO, so he dialed it in the best he could and gave me the notes. I told him that I'd try it and order some Dobinsons upper arms for when the tires needed replacement. Shockingly, it actually flattened out all of the lumps on the rear tires with the new alignment and rotation (PO never aligned after lift!)...got me another 20k miles out of the BFG's. I switched up to Falken Wildpeak AT4's and they are definitely larger for the same size (285x70x17's).

Find a decent shop with a mechanic that doesn't just need to follow the instructions on the screen...there are good Indy shops out there, so hopefully someone here can give you advice on one closer to you! My guys also aligned my 80 for me on 35's (granted it's basically toe only, but at least they did it without hesitation and got it right!).

Oh yeah, get your money back from those clowns on the alignment that they charged you for!!!

 

[NerveDamage]

My local independent tire and repair shop here, one of the few that I actually trust, did my 5th Gen 4Runner no problem...it has an Eiback lift from the PO, so he dialed it in the best he could and gave me the notes. I told him that I'd try it and order some Dobinsons upper arms for when the tires needed replacement. Shockingly, it actually flattened out all of the lumps on the rear tires with the new alignment and rotation (PO never aligned after lift!)...got me another 20k miles out of the BFG's. I switched up to Falken Wildpeak AT4's and they are definitely larger for the same size (285x70x17's).

Find a decent shop with a mechanic that doesn't just need to follow the instructions on the screen...there are good Indy shops out there, so hopefully someone here can give you advice on one closer to you! My guys also aligned my 80 for me on 35's (granted it's basically toe only, but at least they did it without hesitation and got it right!).

Oh yeah, get your money back from those clowns on the alignment that they charged you for!!!

I was surprised at the difference in size between the BF Goodrich’s and the Falkens. The new tires went on in Feb and I really like the Falkens a lot more than the Goodrich’s. They are quieter, grippier, smoother.

Just need to sort out the alignment issues.

G

 

[NerveDamage]

That's frustrating that the shop took your money and didn't do the alignment. Hopefully they give you a refund, but if they don't then it might be worth a charge back on your credit card.

With suspension setups, I'm usually clueless which is why I've recommended NOVA Speed Shop before. They're the only ones who I'll let work on my cruiser if I can't get it done myself. OTRAMM as well, but unfortunately they're a little too far for me.

NOVA Speed does a full front end alignment instead of a "toe and go" like other places do. They couldn't care less that I had aftermarket suspension on my truck. It's not cheap at $250, but you get what you pay for.

I’ll check out NOVA speed, I very much want alignment dialed in. I think Pep Boys charged me $125 for an alignment that they didn’t even do. And they charged a premium to mount and balance the tires because v they were “oversized”.

Learned my lesson.

Thanks

G

 

[MilkEel]

Definitely only go to independent shops...the franchise have to follow standard rules and don't know what do do outside the box. I've had my independent shop align my 80 with 35's and also after a hard wheeling trip and steering wheel was out of align with no issues. I'm up northern MD so I can't help with specifics

 

[NerveDamage]

Definitely only go to independent shops...the franchise have to follow standard rules and don't know what do do outside the box. I've had my independent shop align my 80 with 35's and also after a hard wheeling trip and steering wheel was out of align with no issues. I'm up northern MD so I can't help with specifics

Lee

Thanks and I agree. I would not have had Pep Boys do the work originally but I bought my Tires from Tire Rack and they shipped to Pep Boys for the install.

Normals just don't understand!

G

 

[jcj_78FJ40]

My daughter has the same issue. She replaced her tires with the same brand and the extra tread depth makes it rub at full turn, especially in reverse.
It seems to be an issue with the FJ cruisers. Do a Google search on "FJ Cruiser body mount chop kit."

 

[Jakes40]

Pep boys suck! At one point they were the only convenient place for my wife that had an inspector. They failed my wife’s car for having rust on the rotor where the pad didn’t hit. Probably 1/8th inch. I naught a set of pads returned the next day they inspected it and I returned the pads. Nothing was changed! I didn’t know about calling the state police on them at the time. But I will never go to a Pep Boys.