Rear Alignment Needed?

My 2004 Prius has just over 40K miles. This evening I had the OEM tires replaced with Bridgestone Turanza EL400's at my local Firestone dealer.

After replacing the tires they did an alignment check and gave me a spiffy printout with pictures of my tires and struts and all. All the numbers were "green" except the right rear wheel, which was "red" and showed a toe of 0.38 degrees.

The Firestone guy recommended an alignment for $69.95. I told him I wanted to think about it because I recalled something about the rear alignment on the 2004 Prius not being adjustable. Now I've been reading posts in Priuschat all night, and people are talking about shims and bolts, and I really don't know what all, but I can't seem to find a definitive post so I can talk to the Firestone guys without sounding like a moron.

Will the Firestone guys really be able to do anything about my car's rear alignment, or should I take my Prius back to the dealer? If I do have an alignment done, what are the *optimal* specs (not just the okay specs)?

From my printout:
Left front:
0.9 degrees camber
3.5 degrees caster
-0.05 degrees toe

Right front:
-1.0 degrees camber
3.2 degrees caster
0.02 degrees toe

Left rear:
-1.2 degrees camber
0.17 degrees toe

Right rear:
-1.7 degrees camber
0.38 degrees toe

I should also say that I've never experienced the handling problems that others have mentioned. I drive mostly suburban roads, with the occasional expressway trip.

Thanks for any help or advice you can give me.

Barbara in Illinois
2004 Prius, Salsa Red, which replaced 2002 Prius, Brilliant Blue Pearl

 

I've been moderately good about keeping tire pressures at 42/40, and the tires were rotated at the regular Toyota-specified intervals when being serviced at the dealer. I last checked the tread depths myself last September (It's winter in Illinois. I don't poke around the tires in winter.) and I had between 4/32 and 6/32, with the greater wear on the outside of all four tires. When I had my 40K service done at the dealer, they told me that the tires were "almost bald" and should be replaced. I had been noticing some lack of traction, I'd just gotten a bonus at work, and I figured "40,000 miles, I guess it's time."

I haven't noticed any pulling or drifting, but I'll pay more attention to it over the next few days. I guess if it were really bad, I'd already know, right?

Barbara

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(John in LB @ Mar 16 2007, 05:33 AM) [snapback]406682[/snapback]</div>

 

I just came back from a trip into Chicago, a total of about 90 miles by expressway (not freeway; I wish!). I didn't notice any problems or tendency for the car to wander out of the lane. My husband in the passenger seat said he couldn't tell by road feel or sound that the new Bridgestones were any different, and neither could I except that they certainly have better traction.

I'll continue to monitor the tread depths and leave well enough alone about the alignment. If I notice signes of uneven wear, I'll . . . well, I don't know what I'll do, since the rear alignment isn't adjustable by other than homemade-looking shims.

And didn't someone o Priuschat say that letting the dealer replace their rear end was a big mistake?

Thanks all. I feel much better about letting things be for a while.

Barbara