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can alignment machine be off?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by ATlam, Dec 17, 2021.

  1. ATlam

    ATlam Member

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    I went to les Schwab for an alignment today. I bought the car at 172k miles . It's now sitting at 284k so I put over 100k on it. I did Uber for a year and hit countless potholes on the road . Just recently have both front and rear struts/shocks changed.

    The alignment tech told me everything is perfect and nothing is needed to be done, my steering wheel is slightly to the right going straight but it's just a bit. Can their machine be wrong? I expected at least a few red values.
     
    #1 ATlam, Dec 17, 2021
  2. ATlam

    ATlam Member

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    20211217_103953.jpg Here is a pic of the report.
     
    #2 ATlam, Dec 17, 2021
  3. dbstoo

    dbstoo Senior Member

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    Any machine that is meant for calibration can be off. But there is no reason to mistrust it unless the car is showing symptoms such as uneven tread wear or pulling to the side when you take your hands off the wheel.

    You mention hitting potholes and having the shocks replaced. Chances are that things were aligned / adjusted when the shocks were done.

    A wise man once said that perfection is often achieved when the errors cancel each other out.
     
    #3 dbstoo, Dec 17, 2021
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Does the car drift to the right or left? Or does it pull to either side?
    If it steers straight, you're fine. If just the steering wheel is off center, the alignment place
    SHOULD have straightend that out. It's easy to do by turning the toe adjustments evenly
    on both sides.

     
    #4 ASRDogman, Dec 17, 2021
    Michael49 likes this.
  5. ATlam

    ATlam Member

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    it drives straight, but it can feel unsteady turning corner at decent speed (like exit ramps from freeway). It has brand new struts and shocks so I'm not sure what else I have to replace to make it more firm and steady.
     
    #5 ATlam, Dec 17, 2021
  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Sway bar bushings. Control arm bushings. Tie rod ends, inner and outer.
    Hug bearings.........
    Did they replace just the strut cartriges, or the bearing also? Alot of places only replace
    the actual strut and reuse the old worn top bushing/bearing.

     
    #6 ASRDogman, Dec 17, 2021
  7. ATlam

    ATlam Member

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    just the struts, i will look into the other components, thank you!
     
    #7 ATlam, Dec 17, 2021
    Raytheeagle and ASRDogman like this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how are the tires?
     
    #8 bisco, Dec 17, 2021
    Johnny Cakes likes this.
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Slowing down a bit might help too !! :)
    Tires could also be a factor.
     
    #9 sam spade 2, Dec 17, 2021
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