Never been off road (just drive on paved roads and highways) and I regularly rotate wheels every 8,000 miles, yet four wheel alignment has been suggested by dealer. Dealer has now pointed out some uneven tire wear after 25,000 miles since vehicle was purchased new. I expected regular alignments would be necessary for a typical sedan but thought the GX 460 was equipped with heavier built components for off road conditions. I was also surprised to learn that rear wheels also could be aligned.

 

I’ve never had a vehicle so prone to being out of alignment, and thus, need to be aligned so often.

Go over a speed bump the wrong way? Screwed.

Drive over train tracks? Done for.

Uneven pavement where your driveway meets the street? Nope.

Pothole? Good luck.

 

I haven't had to touch my alignment for 125k miles. I'm more of a mall-crawler, but I don't mind jumping an occasional curb and I don't slow down for speed bumps or RR tracks. My GX tracks straight, and I got 60k on my last set of KO2's. Odd that you have so many issues with yours, geckornr.

Dealer will always recommend alignment - but if you are getting obvious tire-wear/cupping - then it is something to consider (along with inspecting for any suspension bushing wear/play or maybe a shot wheel bearing).

 

I’ve had mine for about 6.5 years now and only thing that was outside of normal for me was a road force balance years back.

A defective tire was discovered in the process.

Mine has never needed an alignment that I recall anyway.

Tracks straight and no uneven wear on tires.

I swap tires twice a year as well so same thing with winter set.

 

^^ Sorry ... maybe your unfortunate experience ... but this post is total drama ... maybe you need to check if you are running aftermarket cam adjusters on the lower control arms ... assuming all control arm bushings and ball joints are healthy.

Owned a GX470 ... now a GX460 ... and four 4-Runners ... an FJ Cruiser ... and a Sequoia ... and never ever had to do an alignment. The suspension on this platform is bulletproof ... abuse aside.

 

Total drama? lol.

Four 4runners across three generations, a Tacoma, now onto my second GX 460 with both bought brand new. The GX needs nonstop alignments and my new one has already had its second alignment in two weeks: came off the transport truck out of alignment (not uncommon) and then somehow the dealer knocked it out of alignment while they had it to install the OEM skidplate.

My service director has noted that the Luxury models seem to get knocked out of alignment easier than the models with standard suspension, so I assume that's got something to do with it. But yes, nonstop alignments for my GXs. Roads here are also trash which doesn't help either.

 

Since it comes out of the dealer aligned, not sure that’s the case. Two Lexus dealers nor two Toyota dealers ever had a problem getting it aligned but it just doesn’t like staying that way.

 

Luxury versus Premium ... absolutely no suspension difference other than the AVS shocks. Sorry ... but you are spreading misinformation ... skidplate ? ... what does that have to do with this subject ? ... the answer = nothing. Your "service director" is incompetent ... or even worse ... playing you.

BTW ... "service advisors" ... no matter their title ... are no longer mechanics who have advanced from the shop to the front desk ... today they are typically non-technical administrators ... who have been trained to check as many service boxes as possible to increase service profits ... with absolutely no technical clue. For me ... they are a totally worthless (customer) interface. So best to go to a Toyota specialty shop where the customer can go direct with a mechanic to get "the straight".

 

Well you can't do a four wheel alignment on a vehicle with a solid rear axle, so if you are paying that price you are getting hosed. My local alignment shop charges $52 for my alignments, as the rear end doesn't have any adjustments. You are simply aligning the front end with the rear.

 

To your point ... for any dealership to represent a "4-Wheel Alignment" for the GX460 is criminal ... run-run away from this dealership as fast as possible.

 

I have worked for both Toyota and Lexus, dealer side (service) and corporate regional side, and spent many years of my career in automotive. I do not need explanations for how alignments work or the value of a service advisor or director as it relates to a vehicle. You continue to make assumptions with limited information and while I realize a lot of folks here do need that type of guidance, I am not one of them.

Cheers.

 

Your (proported) expertise does not even come close to supporting your drama / misinformed posts. Just saying ... and calling out to the benefit of others on this forum ...

So please explain "4-Wheel Alignment" ... when the GX460 has a solid rear axle ... since you worked for Toyota/Lexus and "don't need explanations for how alignments work" ? ...

 

Where did I say "4-Wheel Alignment"?

 

we're at 35k miles on our 2019 and definitely have zero issues with alignment. on previous vehicles like Volvo's its was a constant issue but never with our Toyota's or Lexus's... Just our experience.

 

I can't believe I'm contributing to this troll-fest, but here goes...

Strictly speaking, it's not the fact that a vehicle has a solid rear axle that means that axle cannot be aligned. It's common in the off-road world to have three or four link suspensions with adjustable length arms that locate a solid rear axle and those can - actually must - be adjusted to ensure the axle is positioned perpendicular to the direction of travel, and to adjust pinion angle. From a quick glance under my 460 this would not apply to it, as the arms appear to be fixed length from the factory. Most non-modified vehicles would be the same. If anyone *really* cares about this, I'll throw mine on the lift and post pics of the rear suspension setup.

FWIW, I've had no alignment issues on my '23, and I've run 1.25" spacers from the first week I had it.

Mark