What’s up everybody! I need an alignment, I feel it pulling at highway speeds but I have to get the rear trailing arms replaced (most likely) next Monday at the dealership for the creaking I’m hearing over bumps. Will that throw off the alignment or am I good to get one now? Really wanted to get an alignment before I go to the dealer since it’s an hour drive but if this has any chance of affecting the alignment I’ll wait.

 

I understand that there is some toe adjustment but otherwise no other alignment adjustment on the rear. I heard this from my alignment guy when i got things measured a few weeks ago. When I had the rear trailing arms done last week, my service guy said a toe adjustment would be part of the job. I didn’t see a line for this on my invoice though. No alignment issues for me.

 

If you haven't had an alignment done yet, I'd wait until you get the arms done. Any time you have major suspension work done, it wouldn't hurt to have a complete alignment check.

 

what is going on with the rear trailing arms that they need to be replaced?

 

Thanks guys. Good thing I didn’t get that alignment yesterday my gut was telling me to wait. I can’t stand the random pulling especially going over 70MPH. The steering starts to feel so light and pulls all over the road. Happened out of nowhere after I had some tires replaced. Maybe my wife hit a pothole and isn’t telling me. Hopefully they align it after the trailing arms but doubt they will. I’m getting that squeaking and creaking in the rear over speed bumps and based on what I seen here they replace the trailing arms if they’re a good dealer or they lube them at the bear minimum. Hoping for replacement.

 

"Hopefully" they'll align it? No, tell them to align it!

 

Well I’m going to hope it’s the standard procedure when they replace the arm. I just don’t want to give them a reason to only lube it. After I see they replaced it I will make sure. Hopefully they will replace the arms and not try to lube them

 

Yes, I understood that Lexus instructs the techs to do the toe adjustment on the rear as part of the fix.

For the guy asking why these get replaced; If you notice squeaking from the rear when going over undulations or speedbumps (not fast), you'll hear it. They are supposed to lube them the first time, and if it comes back, replace the rear trailing arms. Some dealers will immediately replace them, which saves a future trip.

 

I’m curious if when they replace it are they using an updated part or the same one that will eventually go bad.

 

IF any improvements/updates have been made it would be the TA bushings, but OEM replacement will probably be exactly what was installed originally. Some aftermarket suspension parts offer high tech bushing material which equals a tighter, more responsive system. Stay away from pot holes = longer life for bushings.

 

I brought in my 2017 rx 350 awd earlier in the week for the same creaking issue and the dealer is replacing the rear trailing arm under warranty.

 

Can you let us know if they do an alignment of any kind after replacing them?

 

Yep will do. So far I’ve asked the service rep and he said he would ask the tech. He mentioned it probably doesn’t need alignment but I don’t know any better to disagree. Any thoughts?

 

Here’s the message I got from the service rep:

It looks as though the tsib calls for a check of the tow adjustment only after the replacement of the arms. It won't be a full alignment though just a check and adjustment on the rear tow if needed.

Any thoughts?

 

I can almost guarantee 9 out of 10 dealers aren’t even bothering to check the alignment