Alignment problem
10-29-09, 12:52 PM
#1
Alignment problem
ok yesterday i brought in my car for inspection cause a warning came up on the navi for the air filter and the car felt was not in balance. one side would be more bumpy then the other side and it would lean on the passenger side. i told them to check it out. the result 3 alignments and the car is still pulling right. they said they can't get the alignment right and will hold the car to find the problem and fix it. its been a day and next week i go to cali. should i take the car back or let them resolve it? also is it normal for the car to pull right?
Last edited by Evil Teo; 10-29-09 at 12:58 PM.
10-29-09, 01:17 PM
#3
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
No, it's not normal to pull right (or left). There's probably a bad tire on the car. Are the front tires the same age, or was one replaced with a new one at some time?
10-29-09, 01:53 PM
#4
Lexus Test Driver
Depending on the manufacture date of your car, there is a fox for it by replacing some caster blocks in the front suspension to alleviate a pull to the right. I had it done on my car and it fixed it right up. See the copied posts below and refer to the part numbers at the bottom when you go to the dealer again.
http://www.lexusf.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1531
http://www.lexusf.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1531
Alignment problem. Dealer replacing LH/RH bracket.
________________________________________
Wow it's been so long since I've been on here! Just to update, I've been F-less since last Friday. I originally brought the car in that day because apparently I've had a nail in the RR tire that has been causing my air pressure in that tire to drop. It's hard to notice since the rear of the car, even at stock height, hides the tread well. It was the 2nd time the TPMS went off in 2 weeks so I figured there has to be something wrong and low and behold I lift the car and rotate the tire manually and see a nail in the tread.
While I was there, I went ahead and mentioned my alignment problem. The car always is leaning to the right. I confirmed that on many different roads. I had the alignment checked and done last month when I last visited for the "1k service". I again mentioned the alignment problem and they checked it out again. The tech tried several times to fix it and could not get it to spec. Finally, he looked online at the Lexus tech site and found in the flowchart to replace some parts with some updated versions to see if this will solve the problem. So here I am still waiting for the car tooling around in a loaner IS250. Dam I miss the F! Been spoiled by the power and features.
Anyway, once I get the car back I'll post details on what parts exactly were replaced. The parts are on backorder since they are pretty rare to make. I was just told they were LH/RH brackets. Nothing specific unfortunately. I'm hoping to have the F back by the end of the week.
________________________________________
Thanks I most definitely will. Sorry, forgot to mention that the problem was with the caster adjustment.
________________________________________
No, I stayed clear away from potholes and such. It's an updated part. It's not even a TSB. My car was an earlier build. #299 to be exact. This part replacement is a last ditch effort as discussed in the troubleshoot flowchart.
________________________________________
Finally got my baby back today! Wow I really missed the F. First thing I did driving back home on the freeway onramp was to floor it. Oh how I missed the power. Wheel spin galore but the TC put an end to that haha.
Anyway, the tire is plugged and the updated parts are in and the car tracks straight now. The parts are listed as "Bracket Sub-Assy" 48075-53020 & 48075-53030. The job would have cost ~$350 outside of warrant
________________________________________
Wow it's been so long since I've been on here! Just to update, I've been F-less since last Friday. I originally brought the car in that day because apparently I've had a nail in the RR tire that has been causing my air pressure in that tire to drop. It's hard to notice since the rear of the car, even at stock height, hides the tread well. It was the 2nd time the TPMS went off in 2 weeks so I figured there has to be something wrong and low and behold I lift the car and rotate the tire manually and see a nail in the tread.
While I was there, I went ahead and mentioned my alignment problem. The car always is leaning to the right. I confirmed that on many different roads. I had the alignment checked and done last month when I last visited for the "1k service". I again mentioned the alignment problem and they checked it out again. The tech tried several times to fix it and could not get it to spec. Finally, he looked online at the Lexus tech site and found in the flowchart to replace some parts with some updated versions to see if this will solve the problem. So here I am still waiting for the car tooling around in a loaner IS250. Dam I miss the F! Been spoiled by the power and features.
Anyway, once I get the car back I'll post details on what parts exactly were replaced. The parts are on backorder since they are pretty rare to make. I was just told they were LH/RH brackets. Nothing specific unfortunately. I'm hoping to have the F back by the end of the week.
________________________________________
Thanks I most definitely will. Sorry, forgot to mention that the problem was with the caster adjustment.
________________________________________
No, I stayed clear away from potholes and such. It's an updated part. It's not even a TSB. My car was an earlier build. #299 to be exact. This part replacement is a last ditch effort as discussed in the troubleshoot flowchart.
________________________________________
Finally got my baby back today! Wow I really missed the F. First thing I did driving back home on the freeway onramp was to floor it. Oh how I missed the power. Wheel spin galore but the TC put an end to that haha.
Anyway, the tire is plugged and the updated parts are in and the car tracks straight now. The parts are listed as "Bracket Sub-Assy" 48075-53020 & 48075-53030. The job would have cost ~$350 outside of warrant
Last edited by UCrazyKid; 10-29-09 at 02:13 PM.
10-29-09, 01:56 PM
#5
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
^^not exactly. The part isn't "updated." Lexus manufactured a range of parts to allow for individual variances in build to be corrected. There are a small range of parts available to correct the issue. However, if the car just started doing this, it's not alignment, its a bad tire.
10-29-09, 02:09 PM
#6
Lexus Test Driver
It could be a bad tire, but after 3 dealer alignments I would think they would have spotted that already. One of the very first things their alignment protocol calls for is to cross rotate the front tires and see if the pull switches sides or goes away. If it didn't I'll bet dollars for donuts it is something else. My car pulled from the very beginning but the original owner didn't even notice it, to me it was obvious, the fix I posted above took care of it immediately. When my car was in the brackets were on backorder making me think the problem is not that uncommon.
10-29-09, 02:51 PM
#7
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
It could be a bad tire, but after 3 dealer alignments I would think they would have spotted that already. One of the very first things their alignment protocol calls for is to cross rotate the front tires and see if the pull switches sides or goes away. If it didn't I'll bet dollars for donuts it is something else. My car pulled from the very beginning but the original owner didn't even notice it, to me it was obvious, the fix I posted above took care of it immediately. When my car was in the brackets were on backorder making me think the problem is not that uncommon.
Last edited by lobuxracer; 10-29-09 at 02:55 PM.
Trending Topics
10-29-09, 10:10 PM
#8
wow thanx guys. there was one tire that had a nail but it was plugged right away. i dont think its the tires. everything looks good. i got it back today and it seems good but it still pulls right. i will have to check it back with the tech when i come back from cali. i'll print this out.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mb12345
ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006)
12
04-06-05 05:58 PM
