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Purchased a Firestone Lifetime Alignment Plan

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by The Critic, Jul 24, 2011.

  1. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    For my '11 Prius...

    With the store special and the national specials this weekend, I paid $122. Considering the roads around here and the kind of driver I am, it will pay for itself after two alignments. You can come in as often as you want for an alignment. Of course, my somewhat local Firestone shop is great which is mainly why I felt comfortable buying it.

    Although their alignment rack is the older Hunter DSP600, they have the code link adapter that will perform the required steering angle sensor reset (aka zero-point calibration) after the alignment.

    Does anyone else have one of these policies? It seems to me like it is a must buy for anyone who has a good local Firestone shop and plans to keep their car for a while.
     
    #1 The Critic, Jul 24, 2011
  2. Gary Otto

    Gary Otto Member

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    I did have one on a 98 Sienna. Always great service....they were also right across the road from where I worked. I wish Sears still offered one....but now you must pay each time.
     
    #2 Gary Otto, Jul 24, 2011
  3. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Around here "good" & "Firestone" can't be used in the same sentence. My local shop insisted they needed a "Certified Hybrid Specialist" to do an oil change. I haven't been to a mechanic in years so I'm happy to see that someone else is keeping them employed.
     
    #3 JimN, Jul 24, 2011
  4. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Of the many things that can go out of alignment on a car, the only thing that the typical Firestone operation will adjust on a Prius is the front toe-in. (and maybe the sensors)

    Front camber and caster will be ignored as well rear toe and camber.

    What you bought was a lifetime front toe-in adjustment plan that will most likely be used as a reason to get you in their shop so they can sell you other services.

    Fortunately you know enough to be able to adjust the front camber and rear camber and toe yourself and have Firestone check your work afterwards.
     
    #4 xs650, Jul 24, 2011
  5. mickey513

    mickey513 Member

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    Bought a couple of these for my prior cars, cost me more than what it was worth. Had me prematurely replace a front set of performance tires they claim was bad with only 10k miles and caused pull, replace tires per their suggestion, same result. Took to suspension specialist and they fix it in less then 30 mins, laugh at me for going to Firestone.

    A few other occasions the alignment was worst then before I came. Techs didn't know what they were doing. Had to come back a few times before they fix it (different Firestone from first one).

    Lesson learn, when it come to alignment, pay as you need and avoid major chain shops. Not all Firestone of course will be like the ones I visited but from talking to one of their employees there. The mechanics are newly grads or dealership rejects.
     
    #5 mickey513, Jul 24, 2011
  6. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    The chain stores are indeed a crapshoot, but I've had alignments done before at this location and the work was satisfactory. Plus I do sort of know the owner and the techs there. The Prius is a fairly easy car to align due to the toe-in being the only factory adjustment.

    I plan to stay away from rear shims unless they are absolutely necessary.
     
    #6 The Critic, Jul 26, 2011
  7. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Front camber is also adjustable by swapping out the two bolts where the wheel bearing housing bolts to the strut tube. Toyota lists the different bolts in their parts list and discusses how much change they make in the shop manual.
     
    #7 xs650, Jul 26, 2011
  8. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    I know, and GM recommends elongating the mounting holes on the strut, which is probably the better way since camber bolts inherently weaker.

    Point is, that is not an existing, "factory" adjustment. Assuming the car was aligned correctly from the factory, let's hope I won't need to resort to crash bolts or shims to get the alignment in spec.
     
    #8 The Critic, Jul 26, 2011
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