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Odd handling after front end alignment

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Old Dec 16, 2006 | 01:51 PM
  #1  
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Default Odd handling after front end alignment

My 99 GS400 has become kinda twitchy after the DAIZEN bushing installation and subsequent front end alignment. It definitely has not done this ever before, even through two sets of tires.

I'll try to post the current alignment spec sheet below, but what it feels like it is doing is following every road irregularity. It makes it kind of "darty" or "twitchy". Hopefully that makes some sense. It's at it' *worst* when changing lanes. Toe in/out ajustment perhaps?
It can do it while driving straight down a road also, it just seems to depend upon road conditions. There are a RARE few roads where it doesn't exhibit the problem, but most roads around here have typical mid-west, high traffic issues.

The weird thing is that I did NOT have these issues on the same tires just before the bushing swap. Too bad I don't know what the alignment was at beforehand either!


Any idea's?? It's driving me NUTS!
(oh yeah, the 'before' stats on the paper are out of whack because it's immediately after swapping bushings, balljoints, and tie rod ends)
Attached Thumbnails Odd handling after front end alignment-lexus-alignment-2.jpg  

Last edited by BA_GS400; Dec 16, 2006 at 02:30 PM.
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Old Dec 16, 2006 | 02:22 PM
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does your steering change direction by itself and u have to fight the steering?
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Old Dec 16, 2006 | 02:27 PM
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Sometimes, yes. (Both Left and Right) I must say that I am fairly familiar with the basics of Toe, Camber, Caster, etc and a little on how it affects my driving, but, I've just never felt this before. <shrug>


I'm not constantly fighting the wheel, but, if there is a road irregularity, then yeah, I'm probably making minor steering adjustments,....even when going in a straight line.


PS. Document looks better up above now!

Last edited by BA_GS400; Dec 16, 2006 at 02:31 PM.
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Old Dec 16, 2006 | 02:48 PM
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i had the same problem (seee previous thread of mine). Turns out it was my camber wear that wore out a bit too much. I had my tires flipped and now much of that problem went away. i'm on OEM bushings though
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Old Dec 16, 2006 | 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by GSteg
i had the same problem (seee previous thread of mine). Turns out it was my camber wear that wore out a bit too much. I had my tires flipped and now much of that problem went away. i'm on OEM bushings though
I'd say this is it. You were running your tires on a previous toe setting that was out of spec. So you wore the tires, if even only slightly, to where now with proper (and different) toe your existing tire wear is now fighting the now proper alignment specs. Also since you have the Daizens in now, there is now slop, so you will now feel the darty tires. Tires make all the difference in the world since they are what connects your car to the road.
A tire breakdown and rotation with balancing will likely cure Most of it and...time!

Good luck~
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Old Dec 16, 2006 | 05:58 PM
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So, you're saying I should put the front tires on the rear of the car and then....


to even things out ya know.....


Seriously, thanks for the thoughts. It's about time for new tires incidentally.
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Old Dec 16, 2006 | 06:16 PM
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I was actually gonna do that. haha
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by BA_GS400
So, you're saying I should put the front tires on the rear of the car and then....


to even things out ya know.....


Seriously, thanks for the thoughts. It's about time for new tires incidentally.
If it is about time.....gitrdone! I see you are in Ohio these are a great choice in tire- the Bridgestone RE960 high performance all season and get unbeatable marks. I am buying these soon. Here is a link from the Tirerack forum-
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=221624

G
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Old Dec 26, 2006 | 01:47 PM
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UPDATE:

Sorry for the holiday delay!
I rotated the tires front to back and still exhibited similar problems.

As I had mentioned (I think), I needed new tires anyway so I went ahead and got those before the holiday traveling and LOW AND BEHOLD my problem seems fixed!!!

I'm shocked. Never would I have guessed that this was the *only* problem, but, the ol Lex performed very well for over 250 miles this past weekend.
All 4 old tires did exhibit visual camber wear for what it is worth.

I also got the Hunter 9700 (?) Road Force balance for these old 17" steel wheels. This is the first time the car has had NO vibration since I bought it 3 years ago. (through 2.5 sets of tires and now, finally, the new bushings)

All the planets are finally aligned and the car rides like it should!!! Too bad it took 3 years to get here!
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Old Feb 4, 2008 | 09:52 PM
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I just got a alignment too and have noticed my car drifting to the right.

They said I need a new inner tie end soon.

I got my tires balanced and mounted and then had the alignment done all at Sears.

Did my tires go out of wack and need to get new ones?

Or can the bad inner tie end cause the car to drift right?

Hmm..................
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