12-02-2019, 02:14 PM
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#1
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Member
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 191
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 191
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"Lifetime" Alignments any good?
I am replacing LBJ's, inner and outer tie rod ends and steering rack bushings and will schedule an alignment. My local 4wdParts wanted over $210 for an alignment, they finally said they could do for $155. (Bay Area prices!). Scheduling is over a week and they take forever but I know they have a new machine and are used to huge tires etc. They seem to do a good job.
Big O has $109 or $59 with a Groupon, also a 3-year Alignment for $209 and I can get $100 off Groupon coupon they said they honor. Scheduling is very easy, probably a 2 hour turn around.
I have 1" over stock tires on '99 springs so pretty close to stock.
Just wondering of peoples long term alignment experiences, the Firestone shops
near me have horrible reviews.
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12-02-2019, 02:21 PM
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#2
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 528
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Never had a problem with the firestone shops. Worse case you just bounce around until you find one with competent techs. Alignments these days are straight forward with all the tooling.
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12-02-2019, 02:31 PM
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#3
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Member
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 417
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 417
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I agree. Firestone has been ok for me. it has been hands down worth it.
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IG: @4runnerfiend- 1999 SR5: TRD Supercharger, ELocker, Wheelers T1 Coils-tundra 5100's, Built Right UCA's, LC 8 wraps-Fox 2.0 with CD adjuster, Rokmen lower links, Savage skids, Hot Metal Fab Front Tube bumper, Savage Rear tube bumper, TruckShopSD Sliders, DuroBumps, RidgeGrapplers, Doug Thorley Headers, yellow top, XRC 12k, ARB single compressor.
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12-02-2019, 02:41 PM
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#4
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Member
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 309
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 309
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I tried to do a life time with Firestone in Feb for my 2019 after changing the front suspension to TRD Pro. After waiting several hours, they said they didn't have the download for my year and couldnt do it(wow). Went to a local tire shop, they did it as I waited and asked the tec questions about the caster. Got a 2yr for $175. Gone back everytime I change something, no problems. I bring donuts!
Find a good competent place and stick with them.
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2019 SR5 Premium 2WD - TRD PRO Front Struts & Coils w/ Toytec 1" Perch Spacer / Dobinson's C59-505 Rear Springs / ICON VS 2.0 Rear Shocks / TRD PRO Grill & Valences/ TRD CAI /URD MAF Calibrator / TRD PRO Wheels / BFG KO2 275 70 17
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12-02-2019, 03:12 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Odessa/Midland TX
Posts: 3,711
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Odessa/Midland TX
Posts: 3,711
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I've had Firestone lifetime alignments since 2010 and still it is free to me!
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12-02-2019, 03:33 PM
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#6
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Elite Member
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Jose, California
Age: 58
Posts: 5,264
Real Name: Tim
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Elite Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Jose, California
Age: 58
Posts: 5,264
Real Name: Tim
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Yep, another vote for Firestone.
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"My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it!"
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12-02-2019, 08:19 PM
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#7
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Age: 26
Posts: 152
Real Name: Roman Schnobrich
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Age: 26
Posts: 152
Real Name: Roman Schnobrich
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I've had lifetime alignment for the past two years with Firestone. I wanna say it was $180 originally, and totally worth it so far.
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12-03-2019, 02:33 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Trying to figure this out
Posts: 1,462
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Trying to figure this out
Posts: 1,462
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I was hesitant in getting the Firestone Lifetime alignment. I brought my concerns of getting dropped (modified suspension, non stock sized tires) to the branch mgr and reassured me to see him if other location mgrs give me that modified confirmation drop policy.
It's been smooth sailing for 3 years now. My only 2 complaints is
1-the alignment tech who has a rolling tool chest full of tools chooses to whip out the channel locks or a tool with a serrated bite instead of using the built in wrench flats on the itr and otr.
2-The up sell sales pitch (coolant flush, AC maintenance, charging system maintenance, etc) every time I visited.
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12-03-2019, 10:25 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: TX
Posts: 1,196
Real Name: Daniel
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: TX
Posts: 1,196
Real Name: Daniel
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I've heard good and bad things about Firestone.
My own experience says that it *may* not be worth it.
I got the lifetime alignment when I got my new tires from them. I forget what tires, but they were some of the cheaper ones that they offer (I think with only a 40k mile life expectancy, which I'm coming up on).
Anyways, I've had 4 or 5 alignments (from 2 different shops depending on where I am) and rotated the tires every other oil change (I use dino oil so that's every 6k miles, although I went 9k miles once) and I still have pretty uneven wear. The tires are cheap and on their last leg, but still, the wear shouldn't be as uneven as it is, IMO. I can't really prove anything, though.
Last edited by AntleredRuin; 12-03-2019 at 10:31 AM.
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12-03-2019, 10:33 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Palos Verdes, CA
Posts: 1,973
Real Name: Leon
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Palos Verdes, CA
Posts: 1,973
Real Name: Leon
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I've been using Firestone's lifetime alignment. Can't beat the price (hehe), but you gotta watch them. Here's how mine came home after the last alignment:
I'll keep going back to them, since it's free, and you get the printout of the alignment numbers when they're done, but I'd check their work afterwards. But that's just me.
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1997 4Runner Limited 4WD E-Locker ~200k | Falken Wildpeak A/T3W 265/75/16 | Pro Comp 69 16x8 | OME 2906 | B&M 70264
Addicted Offroad Front Bumper | Spiker Engineering High-Lift Hood Struts and Ultragauge Mount
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12-03-2019, 01:00 PM
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#11
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Member
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MD
Posts: 216
Real Name: Joe
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MD
Posts: 216
Real Name: Joe
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I've been happy with the lifetime alignments, had it since 2012 on the 4R and a couple vehicles before that. I think it's the best deal out there, but it depends on the tech at the location. If not happy, go to another location.
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'99 T4R SR5 V6 4WD Imperial Jade Mica | 199mm TBU
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12-03-2019, 06:07 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Posts: 1,500
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Posts: 1,500
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Definitely worth it even though they usually only adjust the OTRE but at the very least it's been useful to have the printout to make sure my alignment is close to normal after doing suspension work. Finding good alignment techs are tough. Even the handful of smaller independent shops I've been to weren't consistent with their work. The crazy thing is over the summer I found the best alignment tech I've worked with so far at a Firestone down the street from my house & this was the first time I had been to that location. I actually saw him adjust my tie rods AND lower cams and take it for a test drive a few times before finishing up. I was surprised to see that he got all my alignment numbers within factory specs. He was the first alignment tech since owning my 4runner to do this. The only reason why I even rolled the dice on this Firestone location was because a new independent shop I was trying out that recently did my alignment did a pretty bad job twice & I paid full price both times (they did a great job of balancing my tires though). They fed me the usual BS of bad/worn parts preventing proper alignment & the inability to properly align lifted vehicles. I ended up doing a diy alignment in my garage & took it to Firestone to have it checked which is how I was able to find the first alignment tech to get all my numbers in the green, even caster. I made sure to tip him to show my gratitude.
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1. Black 2002 SR5 4x4 5vz: Front Toytec Ultimate coilovers/eibach 600#, SPC UCA, durobumps Rear Bil5100/Superflex, SS adjustable panhard, PCK, durobumps Body Lift 2" 4crawler Tires 315/75/16 BFG KO2 Wheels SCS F5 Matte black 16x8 3.5bs Armor Custom bolt on rock sliders (no frame drilling)
2. Black 2001 SR5 4x4 5vz: stock
3. Black 2018 TRD Pro (wife’s): Armor Custom bolt on rock sliders (U-bolts)
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12-03-2019, 06:16 PM
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#13
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Member
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Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 138
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Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 138
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Hah. I probably have you all beat. I got my lifetime alignment from Firestone at around 2005 when the first set of tires wore out. 14 years! Totally worth it for me.
I will say that when daily driving, the alignment on these rigs doesn't really get out of whack. I pretty much just have them align it at the next tire change and it's never off by much.
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2002 4Runner 4WD SR5 - Original Owner
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12-06-2019, 12:10 PM
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#14
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Member
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 36
Real Name: Chris
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 36
Real Name: Chris
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I got a lifetime alignment at Firestone 1.5years ago. Went back to get an alignment and they don’t have me in their system. They have someone else listed under my phone number. So I’m shit out of luck because I can’t find the receipt.
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