problem solved after 7 years
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 64
From: Toronto, Canada
problem solved after 7 years
This thread is from 7 years ago ...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...wandering.html
Thanks to everyone who tried to help. Problem is now solved after finally getting two things .... a mechanic who was able to do a proper alignment 5 months ago ( the first 4 couldn't and they were all shops who specialised in alignments ... ) and 4 new Pirelli P7 Plus all season tires 225 / 55 / 17 put on yesterday. My LS drives just perfect now. Because of driving the car with poor alignments all these years I ruined a set of Michelin MXV4s after maybe 20,000 miles. When I went to put them on last week they had plenty of tread but two tires looked very unsafe for highway speeds.
Now after all these years my car drives properly. I guess I will keep my LS another 7 years to 2025
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...wandering.html
Thanks to everyone who tried to help. Problem is now solved after finally getting two things .... a mechanic who was able to do a proper alignment 5 months ago ( the first 4 couldn't and they were all shops who specialised in alignments ... ) and 4 new Pirelli P7 Plus all season tires 225 / 55 / 17 put on yesterday. My LS drives just perfect now. Because of driving the car with poor alignments all these years I ruined a set of Michelin MXV4s after maybe 20,000 miles. When I went to put them on last week they had plenty of tread but two tires looked very unsafe for highway speeds.
Now after all these years my car drives properly. I guess I will keep my LS another 7 years to 2025
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 716
Likes: 168
From: FL
This thread is from 7 years ago ...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...wandering.html
Thanks to everyone who tried to help. Problem is now solved after finally getting two things .... a mechanic who was able to do a proper alignment 5 months ago ( the first 4 couldn't and they were all shops who specialised in alignments ... ) and 4 new Pirelli P7 Plus all season tires 225 / 55 / 17 put on yesterday. My LS drives just perfect now. Because of driving the car with poor alignments all these years I ruined a set of Michelin MXV4s after maybe 20,000 miles. When I went to put them on last week they had plenty of tread but two tires looked very unsafe for highway speeds.
Now after all these years my car drives properly. I guess I will keep my LS another 7 years to 2025
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...wandering.html
Thanks to everyone who tried to help. Problem is now solved after finally getting two things .... a mechanic who was able to do a proper alignment 5 months ago ( the first 4 couldn't and they were all shops who specialised in alignments ... ) and 4 new Pirelli P7 Plus all season tires 225 / 55 / 17 put on yesterday. My LS drives just perfect now. Because of driving the car with poor alignments all these years I ruined a set of Michelin MXV4s after maybe 20,000 miles. When I went to put them on last week they had plenty of tread but two tires looked very unsafe for highway speeds.
Now after all these years my car drives properly. I guess I will keep my LS another 7 years to 2025
My case was extra soft tires and imbalanced brake system. When I got rid of worst tire brand Falken and basically replaced all brake components and removed all the air from the sealed system, I finally reached what you are currently experiencing.
I bet now your LS ride is better in all terms than most new cars in the market lol.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 716
Likes: 168
From: FL
Question. How did you do rear alignment? Did your mechanic have to install different size arms? I am looking to bring rear alignment to factory specs, but currently it is impossible due to lowered suspension. Note that it doesn’t cause highway wandering at the moment.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 55
From: CA
Congrats. Glad to hear the problem is solved.
I had a similar wandering. Not bad just irritating. 3 weeks ago, had the tires (Michelin Primacy's w/ 12k miles) road force balanced. Les Schwab spent an hour doing the job. One tire was out of range. Def better than static balance but car still wasn't smooth like my '01. Two days ago, I noticed the car was now "430 smooth" and tracks well. No mechanical changes. Called the tire guy. He said there's no "break in" period and 3 weeks won't make any difference. If heat is a factor, day temps are now in the mid to high 80's. Anyone have thoughts on why the improvement?
I had a similar wandering. Not bad just irritating. 3 weeks ago, had the tires (Michelin Primacy's w/ 12k miles) road force balanced. Les Schwab spent an hour doing the job. One tire was out of range. Def better than static balance but car still wasn't smooth like my '01. Two days ago, I noticed the car was now "430 smooth" and tracks well. No mechanical changes. Called the tire guy. He said there's no "break in" period and 3 weeks won't make any difference. If heat is a factor, day temps are now in the mid to high 80's. Anyone have thoughts on why the improvement?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 55
From: CA
This thread is from 7 years ago ...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...wandering.html
Thanks to everyone who tried to help. Problem is now solved after finally getting two things .... a mechanic who was able to do a proper alignment 5 months ago ( the first 4 couldn't and they were all shops who specialised in alignments ... ) and 4 new Pirelli P7 Plus all season tires 225 / 55 / 17 put on yesterday. My LS drives just perfect now. Because of driving the car with poor alignments all these years I ruined a set of Michelin MXV4s after maybe 20,000 miles. When I went to put them on last week they had plenty of tread but two tires looked very unsafe for highway speeds.
Now after all these years my car drives properly. I guess I will keep my LS another 7 years to 2025
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...wandering.html
Thanks to everyone who tried to help. Problem is now solved after finally getting two things .... a mechanic who was able to do a proper alignment 5 months ago ( the first 4 couldn't and they were all shops who specialised in alignments ... ) and 4 new Pirelli P7 Plus all season tires 225 / 55 / 17 put on yesterday. My LS drives just perfect now. Because of driving the car with poor alignments all these years I ruined a set of Michelin MXV4s after maybe 20,000 miles. When I went to put them on last week they had plenty of tread but two tires looked very unsafe for highway speeds.
Now after all these years my car drives properly. I guess I will keep my LS another 7 years to 2025
Glad to hear your car drives well.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 64
From: Toronto, Canada
Yes it is ..... I cant tell you how many times I was going to give up and sell the car. So many lousy alignments really reduced my enjoyment of the car !
its like a new car now. Completely drives straight !
I didnt watch but he didnt require any arms. The rear camber was out of spec according to Lexus but 7 years later someone aligned it perfectly. Very substandard service. I am going to be very good to this mechanic !
My opinions of the diagnostic abilities many people who call themselves mechanics has taken a big hit ..... I think I'd rather parts break .... thats easier for these clowns to diagnose and fix !
its like a new car now. Completely drives straight !
Congrats. Glad to hear the problem is solved.
I had a similar wandering. Not bad just irritating. 3 weeks ago, had the tires (Michelin Primacy's w/ 12k miles) road force balanced. Les Schwab spent an hour doing the job. One tire was out of range. Def better than static balance but car still wasn't smooth like my '01. Two days ago, I noticed the car was now "430 smooth" and tracks well. No mechanical changes. Called the tire guy. He said there's no "break in" period and 3 weeks won't make any difference. If heat is a factor, day temps are now in the mid to high 80's. Anyone have thoughts on why the improvement?
I had a similar wandering. Not bad just irritating. 3 weeks ago, had the tires (Michelin Primacy's w/ 12k miles) road force balanced. Les Schwab spent an hour doing the job. One tire was out of range. Def better than static balance but car still wasn't smooth like my '01. Two days ago, I noticed the car was now "430 smooth" and tracks well. No mechanical changes. Called the tire guy. He said there's no "break in" period and 3 weeks won't make any difference. If heat is a factor, day temps are now in the mid to high 80's. Anyone have thoughts on why the improvement?
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,574
Likes: 390
From: PA
Nice! When I look back at my own experience, I believe the alignment was what caused my vehicle to be smooth without any shudder etc. The indie swore, and warned me, that replacing the LCA bushings, as the Lexus dealer stated was needed, would be of zero benefit. I guess they don't really want to replace things unnecessarily (unlike the dealers whose revenue absolutely relies upon unnecessary work), and have you blame them when you don't see any benefit. I remember them specifically saying they've had cars come in where a tech can grab the control arm and move it by hand because the bushing is shot.
I got the life alignment at Firestone, and the rear camber is a mystery to me. From my understanding it is adjusted by replacing arms that come in 3 lengths...
I got the life alignment at Firestone, and the rear camber is a mystery to me. From my understanding it is adjusted by replacing arms that come in 3 lengths...
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 70
From: CA
So I am dealing with an alignment issue most likely. In January I had the driver’s side front upper and lower control arms replaced, and bushing, bc of a clunking noise. Totally fixed it (dealer thought it was the air suspension, glad I declined). I took it to my normal alignment place right after and they gave me the print out of the before and after and it looked perfect.
fast forward 5 months and I just had service at the dealer and they told me only my front tires are down to 0/32nds and only on the inside part of the tire. Did I have a crappy alignment? Do i need right front side LCA and bushing replaced too to match the left I already did? They are the originals, i think.
A third variable which I didn’t even consider was that in Nov I had a flat and they had to put a different brand tire on the drivers side rear - a Pirelli Strata when the other 3 were Yokohama YK580’s but were discontinued. The Pirellis have the identical specs but look way thicker, not sure if that would affect the front wear in any way.
How does one find a good alignment shop?! I thought the people I had were good but now who knows.
ideas?
fast forward 5 months and I just had service at the dealer and they told me only my front tires are down to 0/32nds and only on the inside part of the tire. Did I have a crappy alignment? Do i need right front side LCA and bushing replaced too to match the left I already did? They are the originals, i think.
A third variable which I didn’t even consider was that in Nov I had a flat and they had to put a different brand tire on the drivers side rear - a Pirelli Strata when the other 3 were Yokohama YK580’s but were discontinued. The Pirellis have the identical specs but look way thicker, not sure if that would affect the front wear in any way.
How does one find a good alignment shop?! I thought the people I had were good but now who knows.
ideas?
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,085
Likes: 401
From: Nor CA
So I am dealing with an alignment issue most likely. In January I had the driver’s side front upper and lower control arms replaced, and bushing, bc of a clunking noise. Totally fixed it (dealer thought it was the air suspension, glad I declined). I took it to my normal alignment place right after and they gave me the print out of the before and after and it looked perfect.
fast forward 5 months and I just had service at the dealer and they told me only my front tires are down to 0/32nds and only on the inside part of the tire. Did I have a crappy alignment? Do i need right front side LCA and bushing replaced too to match the left I already did? They are the originals, i think.
A third variable which I didn’t even consider was that in Nov I had a flat and they had to put a different brand tire on the drivers side rear - a Pirelli Strata when the other 3 were Yokohama YK580’s but were discontinued. The Pirellis have the identical specs but look way thicker, not sure if that would affect the front wear in any way.
How does one find a good alignment shop?! I thought the people I had were good but now who knows.
ideas?
fast forward 5 months and I just had service at the dealer and they told me only my front tires are down to 0/32nds and only on the inside part of the tire. Did I have a crappy alignment? Do i need right front side LCA and bushing replaced too to match the left I already did? They are the originals, i think.
A third variable which I didn’t even consider was that in Nov I had a flat and they had to put a different brand tire on the drivers side rear - a Pirelli Strata when the other 3 were Yokohama YK580’s but were discontinued. The Pirellis have the identical specs but look way thicker, not sure if that would affect the front wear in any way.
How does one find a good alignment shop?! I thought the people I had were good but now who knows.
ideas?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,574
Likes: 390
From: PA
I've never done an alignment myself, only watched the YouTubes. But since the rear camber needs different arm lengths to affect the setting, how is this possible, below, on my car...
After leaving with the job done, my first, the left was -1.9 out of spec, the right was in spec at -1.x. My second alignment, the right was in spec -1.x, and the left was -1.x, out of spec (don't have sheets in front of me).
How could differing sides be out of spec, each time, when there is no adjustment? Curious.
Also, maybe it's not about how good a tech is, but what his boss says. As mentioned, at BMW, even if the vehicle goes in all green, everything leaves in the middle of each range. Not so with Firestone nor GM. Green means good to go. So maybe it's not a matter of good or bad, it's a matter of $150 v. $59 or $79.
After leaving with the job done, my first, the left was -1.9 out of spec, the right was in spec at -1.x. My second alignment, the right was in spec -1.x, and the left was -1.x, out of spec (don't have sheets in front of me).
How could differing sides be out of spec, each time, when there is no adjustment? Curious.
Also, maybe it's not about how good a tech is, but what his boss says. As mentioned, at BMW, even if the vehicle goes in all green, everything leaves in the middle of each range. Not so with Firestone nor GM. Green means good to go. So maybe it's not a matter of good or bad, it's a matter of $150 v. $59 or $79.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 716
Likes: 168
From: FL
If front wheel alignment was done in LS430, even dealer sometimes to forget to do what they call zero calibration of yaw and deceleration sensors. May be a good touch for better results.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 64
From: Toronto, Canada
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,574
Likes: 390
From: PA