rear control arm replacement
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 64
From: Toronto, Canada
rear control arm replacement
I took my car to Lexus for an alignment.
They told me BOTH rear control arms needed to be replaced to correct the rear camber ..... How is that possible on a car with 50,000 miles ? The car is 100% stock.
They told me BOTH rear control arms needed to be replaced to correct the rear camber ..... How is that possible on a car with 50,000 miles ? The car is 100% stock.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 5
From: Las Vegas, NV
First of all, other shop can do alignment too. Check with a good alignment shop before listening to the dealer. Usually the front control arms go before the rear and not at 50K miles.
Raise your car up, hold the wheel and shake it if it has movement you may have a problem.
Raise your car up, hold the wheel and shake it if it has movement you may have a problem.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 9
From: MA
If they truly need replacing, I think it's pretty unusual. Since its an 05 with only 50k miles, I'd try and get the dealer to do the replacement under warranty. The age and miles point to a premature failure in my opinion.
What did they quote you for the replacement? Which control arms do they want to replace?
What did they quote you for the replacement? Which control arms do they want to replace?
Last edited by JimsGX; Nov 21, 2010 at 05:04 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 64
From: Toronto, Canada
If they truly need replacing, I think it's pretty unusual. Since its an 05 with only 50k miles, I'd try and get the dealer to do the replacement under warranty. The age and miles point to a premature failure in my opinion.
What did they quote you for the replacement? Which control arms do they want to replace?
What did they quote you for the replacement? Which control arms do they want to replace?
The issue I am having is I feel the car reqires excessive and constant steering input to drive straight down the highway. It drifts left, then drifts right - I thought it has been in an accident but I was told by Lexus and the first alignment shop that it was in excellent original condition. I have replaced the tires twice and it stil is not driving straight without a lot of steering.
I will try and fix this, but if I can't I will not have this car for long, which is a damn shame because otherwise it's fantastic.
Isn't this really a test step for bad wheel bearings?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 5
From: Las Vegas, NV
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 64
From: Toronto, Canada
Thanks for the input
I guess I need another professional opinion. The first alignment shop said the rear camber was off - just slightly. Lexus want to replace rear control arms.
Can rear camber issues make the car wander at highway speed ?
Took a 4 hour highway run this weekend. Not very happy so tomorrow I'm off to another Lexus dealer for alignment # 3 and see what they say.
This is still my dream car, and I hope it stays that way.
I guess I need another professional opinion. The first alignment shop said the rear camber was off - just slightly. Lexus want to replace rear control arms.
Can rear camber issues make the car wander at highway speed ?
Took a 4 hour highway run this weekend. Not very happy so tomorrow I'm off to another Lexus dealer for alignment # 3 and see what they say.
This is still my dream car, and I hope it stays that way.
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 757
Likes: 4
From: WA
I took the car to the Lexus dealer afer another shop did the alignment and said the rear camber was slightly off spec.
The issue I am having is I feel the car reqires excessive and constant steering input to drive straight down the highway. It drifts left, then drifts right - I thought it has been in an accident but I was told by Lexus and the first alignment shop that it was in excellent original condition. I have replaced the tires twice and it stil is not driving straight without a lot of steering.
The issue I am having is I feel the car reqires excessive and constant steering input to drive straight down the highway. It drifts left, then drifts right - I thought it has been in an accident but I was told by Lexus and the first alignment shop that it was in excellent original condition. I have replaced the tires twice and it stil is not driving straight without a lot of steering.
Having the rear slightly out of spec is considered normal. In my experience tires can absolutely cause the type of behaviour you are seeing.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 64
From: Toronto, Canada
I am using OEM 18s with 245/45 Continental ExtremeContact DWS tires - brand new. I have used tire pressures between 32 and 38 p.s.i
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 757
Likes: 4
From: WA
I had my 05 aligned when I had my latest round of tires put on the car by my dealer. The Service dept there is very good and gives you all the measurements pre\post alignment.
From my report it says that the rear Camber has a specified range from -1.8 to -0.8. My rear left is at -1.5, my rear right is at -1.8 which is right on the limit. Technically that is shown in red on my report, but the dealer says it's OK as this is quite normal for that reading. My cross camber and total toe values for the rear are showing as within spec. There isn't much they can do with the rear as I think toe is the only adjustment.
On the front thought it's totally different: camber, caster, toe, SAI, included angle, cross camber, cross caster, cross SAI and total toe are all measured.
What values did your dealer give you after the alignment?
From my report it says that the rear Camber has a specified range from -1.8 to -0.8. My rear left is at -1.5, my rear right is at -1.8 which is right on the limit. Technically that is shown in red on my report, but the dealer says it's OK as this is quite normal for that reading. My cross camber and total toe values for the rear are showing as within spec. There isn't much they can do with the rear as I think toe is the only adjustment.
On the front thought it's totally different: camber, caster, toe, SAI, included angle, cross camber, cross caster, cross SAI and total toe are all measured.
What values did your dealer give you after the alignment?
There is no adjustment for camber on our cars. In order for them to adjust for camber different length arms are used. If adjustment is needed then they need to replace the arms to get it where they need to be. Also if everything else is in spec camber alone wont cause your issue. When I air down my car my camber is out of spec but I dont experience any of the issues you're having.
There is no adjustment for camber on our cars. In order for them to adjust for camber different length arms are used. If adjustment is needed then they need to replace the arms to get it where they need to be. Also if everything else is in spec camber alone wont cause your issue. When I air down my car my camber is out of spec but I dont experience any of the issues you're having.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 64
From: Toronto, Canada
well .... then clearly it looks like my Lexus dealer was going to "fix" something that was not broken ( greedy thiefs ! ) .... this dealer will never see me or my car again !
Thanks everyone for your input. I am going to take it somewhere more honest to get this diagnosed and repaired.
Thanks everyone for your input. I am going to take it somewhere more honest to get this diagnosed and repaired.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 757
Likes: 4
From: WA
There are good dealers and there are bad dealers. I only have my car serviced and repaired in the US at what I consider a great dealer. Enough said.
I am sure we've had threads here before talk about how alignment was screwed up by some repair place not knowing what they were doing. Discount Tire in WA told me they can't do alignment for LS vehicles and referred me back to Lexus. My dealer says they have specialized equipment for this and I don't doubt that after seeing all the measurements they produced. Other tire places would undoubtably offer to do an alignment, but this doesn't mean it would be done well.
I'd contact your dealer and simply ask them for all the measurements. That gives us all a clue as to what is really happening with your car. If the dealer says they have no records of before\after then it might be time to move on from them.
I am sure we've had threads here before talk about how alignment was screwed up by some repair place not knowing what they were doing. Discount Tire in WA told me they can't do alignment for LS vehicles and referred me back to Lexus. My dealer says they have specialized equipment for this and I don't doubt that after seeing all the measurements they produced. Other tire places would undoubtably offer to do an alignment, but this doesn't mean it would be done well.
I'd contact your dealer and simply ask them for all the measurements. That gives us all a clue as to what is really happening with your car. If the dealer says they have no records of before\after then it might be time to move on from them.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 64
From: Toronto, Canada
I found the Lexus print out from their alignment
here are the numbers ...
left rear
camber minus 1.9
toe .29
right rear
camber minus 1.8
toe .14
not sure if the below values are the right
or left because it's shown in the middle ?
total toe .43
thrust angle .08
here are the numbers ...
left rear
camber minus 1.9
toe .29
right rear
camber minus 1.8
toe .14
not sure if the below values are the right
or left because it's shown in the middle ?
total toe .43
thrust angle .08