Wheel Alignment

smarano · 11-26-2006, 01:27 PM

I'm considering having my car's wheel alignment checked as a precaution after having gone through an incident in which I unintentionally drove the car over a 5" high sidewalk at about 20mph while turning into a parking lot.
In the process, I am going to ask the dealer to set the alignment to 0.05 toe-in. If he refuses, I am willing to take it to a shop that WILL.

My question: I was planning on changing out the Integrities to a better set of tires in about 2 months. They will be the same size (185x65). Will the change-out of tires affect the alignment, and thus should I wait until AFTER I purchase the tires to have an alignment done?

tumbleweed · 11-26-2006, 02:36 PM

Steve, check your previous topic, I posted the same thing there you just mentioned. +.05 degrees of toe in. If they don't want to do it tell them that +.05 is well within the specification for the front toe. The spec is -.1 to +.1 degrees.

No need to wait for the tires. When they do the alignment they put the machine on the wheels not the tires.

200Volts · 11-26-2006, 09:21 PM

I would ask for 0.05 to 0.01 of toe IN. To me, this tracks better then 0.00 to 0.05. (yes, could just be in my head).
Make sure the back is in spec.. If not , have them order a shim kit to fix.

galaxee · 11-26-2006, 10:24 PM

there is no shim kit, unfortunately. however the likelihood of needing one is rare anyway.

smarano · 11-30-2006, 02:03 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 26 2006, 10:24 PM) [snapback]354343[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

there is no shim kit, unfortunately. however the likelihood of needing one is rare anyway.
[/b]

Just got back from dealer's service department. They were very agreeable and responsive and didn't blink when I asked them for copy of alignment specs printout. In fact, they were actually concerned that I would be dissatisfied that it was off by 0.01 (from the 0.05 toe-in I requested) and stated that it's very difficult to hit the numbers exactly.

For the record, reading directly from the form they gave me, it indicates that they set the 'Total Toe' to '0.06in.'
I told them that 0.06 was fine. I assume that's OK?

tumbleweed · 11-30-2006, 04:14 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stevejm @ Nov 30 2006, 11:03 AM) [snapback]355814[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

For the record, reading directly from the form they gave me, it indicates that they set the 'Total Toe' to '0.06in.'
I told them that 0.06 was fine. I assume that's OK?
[/b]

If it tracks good .06 total should be just fine. If it still feels flakey to you you can have it set to +.05 on each side, total of +.1 degrees, but I don't think there would be much difference. I'm glad you seem to have found a dealer with a good service department.

smarano · 11-30-2006, 06:13 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tumbleweed @ Nov 30 2006, 04:14 PM) [snapback]355910[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

If it tracks good .06 total should be just fine. If it still feels flakey to you you can have it set to +.05 on each side, total of +.1 degrees, but I don't think there would be much difference. I'm glad you seem to have found a dealer with a good service department.
[/b]

Yes. And for the record, it's East Coast Toyota in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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11-26-2006, 01:27 PM	#1
smarano Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 50 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I'm considering having my car's wheel alignment checked as a precaution after having gone through an incident in which I unintentionally drove the car over a 5" high sidewalk at about 20mph while turning into a parking lot. In the process, I am going to ask the dealer to set the alignment to 0.05 toe-in. If he refuses, I am willing to take it to a shop that WILL. My question: I was planning on changing out the Integrities to a better set of tires in about 2 months. They will be the same size (185x65). Will the change-out of tires affect the alignment, and thus should I wait until AFTER I purchase the tires to have an alignment done?

11-26-2006, 02:36 PM	#2
tumbleweed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 1,692 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 33 Thanked 104 Times in 84 Posts Friends: 0	Steve, check your previous topic, I posted the same thing there you just mentioned. +.05 degrees of toe in. If they don't want to do it tell them that +.05 is well within the specification for the front toe. The spec is -.1 to +.1 degrees. No need to wait for the tires. When they do the alignment they put the machine on the wheels not the tires.

11-26-2006, 09:21 PM	#3
200Volts Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northern CA Posts: 362 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I would ask for 0.05 to 0.01 of toe IN. To me, this tracks better then 0.00 to 0.05. (yes, could just be in my head). Make sure the back is in spec.. If not , have them order a shim kit to fix.

11-26-2006, 10:24 PM	#4
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	there is no shim kit, unfortunately. however the likelihood of needing one is rare anyway.