Hey CL Family,

My "new" old 2011 LS 460 with Sports Package has been drifting to the right and I had brought in the car to a dealer. They performed an alignment but they also sent me this message.

The toes were off on the LF and RR (before is what you came in with and actual is what it is now after adjustment). The left front caster and camber are both slightly off the specification. Car has a very slight drift to the right. Not pulling at this time. To attempt to adjust both of these back closer to the specification, my team leader is recommending to shift the subframe.
What are your thoughts? The dealer gave me an estimate of $700.
I don't even know what is done to shift the subframe so the car doesn't drift right.
What caused the subframe to even be off? Is this a common occurrence?
Please let me know your thoughts about this.
One other thing, are any of you familiar with the Lexus battery warranty? I took it to an indie shop and they said that my battery is at 9.8v instead of 12v.
The dealer is saying that the battery is fine.
I don't know who to believe.
Thank you in advance everyone.
I need all the help I can get.
Much thanks!

 

Wouldn’t that just involve loosening the subframe mounting bolts from the bottom and then yanking it around?

 

1. If the battery was at 9.8V, the car would crank extremely slow and likely would not start. See if there is a date code sticker on the battery - if it is older than 7 years, it is nearing end-of-life.
2. The subframe is attached with bolts that might allow some adjustment if loosened and moved around, but the car may have been in an accident before to cause the misalignment.

 

If the car has never been in any kind of accident then I can't see how the subframe could have shifted. I just finished changing my engine mounts and I dropped the subframe down but did not remove it entirely to create room to get the mounts out. You have to remove the 4 large bolts which are 22mm and the 4 smaller bolts that connect to subframe to the bumper reinforcement. Once you do this it is possible to shift the subframe.

This would be an easy and simple job for the dealership to do with the car on a lift although they would likely unbolt the lower control arms from the subframe. I personally don't think it's a $700 job since I'm sure they could do it in about 2 hours max. Unless they come back and tell you that they need to replace the upper controls arms mounting plates.

 

This is the alignment before and after specs.

 

Thank you everyone for your input. The car wasn't in an accident that I'm aware of and that Carfax has on their report. Since there is a Carfax guarantee, I wonder if this might be something they might cover. But $700 is a lot. Not sure where I can take it to maybe get it readjusted. It was only a suggestion from the Lexus tech although if he found that it was off spec then something did happen to it.
I guess I'll know more when I pick up the car.

 

Usually the dealership is where you get the most precise alignment but it my experience if anything is within spec or close to spec already they really don't try to dial it all the way to spec. Looking at your before and after it seems like the tech really did not do anything and is trying to upsell you on a bigger job but that's just my opinion. I've been around long enough to remember when the Lexus dealerships at least act like the cared. If I were you I would take the car to a shop that just does alignments and see what they say/do before I commit to anything else. It depends on how YOU feel the car rides.

 

Just picked up the car, this is the dealer note on the issue: Front Camber and Caster found slightly off spec. Car drifts slightly to the right. $700 to shift subframe in an attempt to adjust Camber/Caster.

What is the exact issue with the car? Anyone with the experience and knowledge, please do share.
This is annoying me now since I don't really know what the correct fix is, or if there's even a fix for this.
Thank you guys in advance.