Alignment and the caster BS
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 92
Likes: 2
From: UT
Alignment and the caster BS
A bit of history......the front struts on my car were needing to be replaced, and my tires were ready to be replaced, so I went ahead and bought 4 new tires and took the car to the dealership to replace the struts and align the car (required as part of the strut replacement).
When I went to pick up the car, they indicated that I had to get some parts installed on my car to allow them to properly align the vehicle (apparently a TSB addresses this, but expired 12 months or 20k miles from original purchase date).
I'm baffled at the idea that a car can roll off a line and not have the ability to be properly aligned......maybe I have zero concept of how a car is designed, but I don't get it.
Anyways, I've attached the printout from them on what they were able to align the car to.
The parts list quoted to fix this are:
48614-50030
48617-50030
48617-50050
Add in about $600 labor to get the car to point straight and not shoot for the right shoulder.
It seems to me that if the right and left side both need to be fixed, there should be an equal number of parts. It also seems to me that if only 3 parts are installed that I could potentially run into anissue down the line if there is something else causing alignment issues.
I read that there was a CL vendor looking to produce a kit that would allow for full caster adjustment (would help resolve the 22" wheels eating tires), but would that resolve my issue at all?
If the aftermarket kit will give me full adjustability and correct whatever &*^% is not right on my car, it's almost pointless to have the dealership do this work if they only have to do something similar down the line because of something else being off with the alignment.......right?
help?!?!?!?
/vent.
When I went to pick up the car, they indicated that I had to get some parts installed on my car to allow them to properly align the vehicle (apparently a TSB addresses this, but expired 12 months or 20k miles from original purchase date).
I'm baffled at the idea that a car can roll off a line and not have the ability to be properly aligned......maybe I have zero concept of how a car is designed, but I don't get it.
Anyways, I've attached the printout from them on what they were able to align the car to.
The parts list quoted to fix this are:
48614-50030
48617-50030
48617-50050
Add in about $600 labor to get the car to point straight and not shoot for the right shoulder.
It seems to me that if the right and left side both need to be fixed, there should be an equal number of parts. It also seems to me that if only 3 parts are installed that I could potentially run into anissue down the line if there is something else causing alignment issues.
I read that there was a CL vendor looking to produce a kit that would allow for full caster adjustment (would help resolve the 22" wheels eating tires), but would that resolve my issue at all?
If the aftermarket kit will give me full adjustability and correct whatever &*^% is not right on my car, it's almost pointless to have the dealership do this work if they only have to do something similar down the line because of something else being off with the alignment.......right?
help?!?!?!?
/vent.
Last edited by 09LS460; Jun 9, 2012 at 11:58 PM.
Driver
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 180
Likes: 13
From: Texas
I have my LS in for the similar issue - I wonder what they will tell me? Do you have any warranty coverage? I have the Platinum warranty which I hope will take over even if the TSB warranty is null.
I have doubts about Lexus and their know-how on suspension....my 1995 SC had rear suspension issues as well. Both problems are what I call 'rookie' issues - things that any company with experience in building a car should not incur.
I have doubts about Lexus and their know-how on suspension....my 1995 SC had rear suspension issues as well. Both problems are what I call 'rookie' issues - things that any company with experience in building a car should not incur.
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