Anyone have issues with Firestone's Lifetime alignment? I've had mine for about 7 years and I've never had an issue... until today.

When I first purchased the lifetime, the 4Runner only had a 1.5" BL. Since then I've added a 3" suspension, 1.25" wheel spacers, SPC UCAs, 285/75-16s, etc. After each modification, I never had an issue with the local Firestones. They actually commented how much they liked my 4Runner! A few times they had issues aligning it perfectly since they aren't allowed to adjust the UCAs (since factory arms aren't adjustable) but usually it was great.

As I'm sitting in the waiting area this morning, the manager says I should have never been sold the lifetime alignment in the first place. Once the suspension is modified, it voids the alignment agreement (which I totally understand). I've had modified suspension for over 4 years and I've been in dozens of Firestones with no issues at all though!

In the end, the manger was pretty cool and didn't seem to mind too much. He didn't write anything in the system or cancel the lifetime alignment. Also, his tech actually achieved the best alignment I've ever received. He didn't just try to get it within specs, it's almost dead-on.

It's no wonder it took so long to get it brought to the managers attention. The guys up front just send the ticket to the shop and the techs just do what it says. They don't care if you lifted it and it voids the warranty of the lifetime alignment because alignments there pay out like an hour and a half or something crazy like that when it takes them 15 minutes to do. While we would get annoyed with them, we always welcomed an alignment because it was easy money, ESPECIALLY the "liftetimes" as we called them because they never took long.

while I don't have one, my son does, and it seems every time he is in they find a problem = $$$
but then again, hes driving a Honda pilot
which for him is always $$$$$
which then again leads to a phone call.....hey dad....can I borrow....... or can you fix......

and I notice, you drive a T4R but also have TR-6 in the driveway

Ive had a couple issues but got them fixed same day and quick due to them being complacent. I drove off two different times with my steering wheel crooked.

This previous time I brought it in for the first time since I changed out the suspension and they never mentioned anything about my suspension.

when you have a modified suspension, do you have to provide them the alignment numbers as opposed to them looking up the OEM?

They will only set it back to factory settings

Never had a problem with the suspension. That said I only have two guys that I trust to do my alignment, both master techs at my local firestone. I've gone to another firestone and they told me my tie rods where seized because the moron was turning the wrenches the wrong way. I about lost my mind...

I had it on my old lifted Tahoe and it was never an issue that the suspension was lightly modified (4" Rough Country lift with 33" tires). I could see if you went custom job with a long travel kit or something where you are significantly putting things way out of OE range - they might claim they can't.. but I wouldn't think it should be that big an issue with what you've described.

I have it on my 4Runner now as well - however, I'm still stock suspension so it doesn't cause any issues at the moment.
If anything - I feel like they get mad at me because I take it in too often to ensure I'm always in alignment. haha.

They sold me my lifetime warranty with the suspension upgrade already in place..

Nope never had a problem with them at anyone of the ones I have been to


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Haha, I'm the same way. If I think it's a bit out of alignment at all, I'll take it in since it's free. They must hate me as I never get anything else done there because I do all my own work.

Oh, that's odd. I thought suspension geometry changes from the OEM specs when you modify.

That's weird. Which Firestone was it (since I'm also in Denver)? I have the lifetime one and I've taken it to the Denver location by Cherry Creek and the Arvada one up on Wadsworth. I purchased mine before I lifted my truck too.

I have a 2.75" lift (read sig for details) and yeah they've always struggled to get it "right", but I always forgot to tell them the specs that ToyTec recommends for my lift. The steering wheel never seems to be centered, and they've only given me grief one time when it was realllllly off center and I took it back. They gave me the whole lift spiel but I told them that I'd been coming there for years (true) and never had it that poorly centered. It was corrected, but still a little off center.

I've taken it to Stan's Alignments as well after big parts changes like when I replaced all of my tie rods and LBJs last summer, and I think they do a better job. They're a speciality alignment shop that does all sorts of lifted and lowered cars. Race cars, bro-dozers, you name it, and they work on it. I think it's like $40-50 through them, but the biggest reason I like them is because they're a few miles from me so I don't have to drive too far on really out of whack alignments.

I bought my lifetime alignment with the truck's suspension already modified--no problems!