2015 TE toe alignment off after 15,000 miles?

[Tlowe]

Went in to the stealership for my routine warrantied 15k mile inspection, fluid top up and so on. When I went to pick it up they told me toe was off? I am aware of what these values mean but I'm curious what you guys think about this, seeing as my truck only has 15k miles on it. I haven't hit any curbs at anything higher than just barely rolling, no wreck, no lock up breaking, nothing.
One thing that ran through my head is if they are just doing this to get an extra $50 out of me for an alignment. They said this can cause improper tire wear but my tires are all wearing very evenly and my MPG is average right around 19-20 even with a good bit of city driving.
Interested to see what you guys think!
BTW I did do a quick search and didn't find much about this specific issue, if there is something that discusses it, please direct me that way.

Attached is the alignment sheet.

 

[Engineer]

If it was mine I would get it adjusted, you mention you haven't seen tire wear but you also don't know how long it has been like that.

IIRC Toyota Specs .15 each side max, I had some vibration problems for some time and the item that seems to have fixed this the most was having the toe set max positive by specs on each side.

 

[Tlowe]

Thanks for the response!
Ok, I think I will just bite and do the alignment. What causes this though? Is something bent or is a one of the shafts that turns the wheels stretched or something??? i can understand caster and camber but I just haven't seen anything about toe being out of whack for no reason.

 

[wfo9]

Thanks for the response!
Ok, I think I will just bite and do the alignment. What causes this though? Is something bent or is a one of the shafts that turns the wheels stretched or something??? i can understand caster and camber but I just haven't seen anything about toe being out of whack for no reason.

If you can understand caster and camber moving, then you must understand toe moving since a change in those will directly impact toe.

 

[Tlowe]

Hmm.. Interesting, I know basics about these parameters, I wasn't aware that they had any affect on toe.
Seems as though I have some research to do! thanks again guys for the replies.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

That looks like a "quick-checker" I've never really liked those machines, they don't seem to be as accurate as I'd like. To me it just says "total toe is off" which means either the steering wheel is off-center (because maybe when they did the quick check the didn't make sure it was centered properly) or because the alignment is actually off...

 

[meder24]

It is possible your alignment has been off since new. I have seen on other vehicles as well as my current 4R, just because it is new doesn't mean that the alignment is in spec. I had mine aligned before I drove it off the lot when new and it needed adjusted even with just 3 miles on the odo.

 

[Tlowe]

Wow now that's interesting. Yeah I definitely will take it back to them and see what the deal is. I know in my case it's very little and won't really ruin anything if I leave it but it's good to have that all in check anyways. On the subject of alignments, other than the dealership, where is the best place to get aligned? I hear phrases like laser alignment which seem fancy :boxer: the reason I ask is because where I live there is a littering of those really broke down who knows if it's even open auto shops. I've also heard bad things of places like firestone etc..

 

[ToyoDriver]

The toe on my '16 SR5 was off from the factory.

 

[wfo9]

Wow now that's interesting. Yeah I definitely will take it back to them and see what the deal is. I know in my case it's very little and won't really ruin anything if I leave it but it's good to have that all in check anyways. On the subject of alignments, other than the dealership, where is the best place to get aligned? I hear phrases like laser alignment which seem fancy :boxer: the reason I ask is because where I live there is a littering of those really broke down who knows if it's even open auto shops. I've also heard bad things of places like firestone etc..

Pretty much every alignment rack these days uses lasers. It can be done more manually, but it would simply take too long. The laser racks give real time feedback as the adjustments are being made.

The problem with alignments is that most techs are really lazy and won't do it right. They typically only adjust toe (since that is easy and universal).

And to be fair.. every vehicle is different.. Toe is universal, but adjusting caster and camber is not always possible. IT depends on the suspension design.

Bottom line, find someone who knows what they are doing and is willing to do it right. The shop is not that important... the guy turning the wrenches is.

And I agree... that report looks like some sort of scam. The only way to check alignment is to put it on an actual alignment rack. Stupid dealers are always looking for ways to steal money from owners. Don't ever trust anything they say. It's sad, but true.

 

[jtc44]

The problem with alignments is that most techs are really lazy and won't do it right. They typically only adjust toe (since that is easy and universal).

Bottom line, find someone who knows what they are doing and is willing to do it right. The shop is not that important... the guy turning the wrenches is.

This and this.

My dealer (Mark Miller in SLC) has typically provided me with fantastic work and customer satisfaction over many years, but alignments are one thing I won't pay them to do. In their defense, running an OME kit with stock UCAs doesn't make their job easy, but even 3 of their "best" efforts couldn't produce a caster higher than 1.5*. I eventually found a small mom and pop, who spent an extra 20-30 minutes, got me up to around 2.5* caster and only charged me $50 (nearly 40 less than the dealer.)

So short story long: as [MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION] said, save your money, ask around and find a shop that cares because all that fancy equipment doesn't mean a lick if they don't spend the time.

 

[Tlowe]

Stupid dealers are always looking for ways to steal money from owners. Don't ever trust anything they say. It's sad, but true.

Oh I don't bother listening to their b.s.
I was test driving a lifted Tundra while it was being serviced and I was asking about the lift, the sales guy told me there was an added leaf in the rear and a spacer in the front (this was true as I had already looked at it). I then asked him how they would do a lift on my 4Runner and how much it would be etc, he said they would do the same, spacer in the front and an added leaf in the rear! Little did I know my 4Runner has rear leaf springs!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

It is possible your alignment has been off since new. I have seen on other vehicles as well as my current 4R, just because it is new doesn't mean that the alignment is in spec. I had mine aligned before I drove it off the lot when new and it needed adjusted even with just 3 miles on the odo.

I haven't seen a Toyota have an alignment issue from the factory.

Typically people complain about a pull or a off-center steering wheel due to things NOT related to alignment (tire conicity, tire pull, ect.) Not saying that's the case with you, but just saying.

As I said above, that print-out looks like a "Quick Alignment Checker", in my experience they can usually be somewhat accurate on Toe, but when it comes to Camber & Caster they are almost always off. Additionally if you've seen that most of the time lube techs are doing the quick checks, there's a margin of error there.

"Total Toe" means that both sides added together exceed the specified value, Total Toe can be use to determine which way the vehicle is pointing; so if the quick check was done and the wheel was turned slightly, that'd easily throw those numbers off.

Does the vehicle pull and/or does the steering wheel not center on FLAT, LEVEL, ground?

 

[Tlowe]

Does the vehicle pull and/or does the steering wheel not center on FLAT, LEVEL, ground?

Nope I have absolutely no problems with pull or wheel being off center on flat road while driving.
It's actually so good that I can completely let go of the steering wheel on highways and it will track straight for as long as the road is straight.
This is what pointed towards me saying that this is just a bunch of hooey so they can extort $50 from my right cheek.

NOTE: Before I catch hell for saying I took my hands off the steering wheel for long periods of time, this was purely for testing purposes and my hands were hovering above the wheel at all times. Also not for longer than 5-10 seconds.

 

[drew539]

Alignment Check

Went to the dealer today. They recommended an alignment since I had 19k miles. I asked, shouldn't you check the alignment first, before determining if I need it done. The reply was that it cost the same to check the alignment as it does to perform the alignment. I declined it. Is that correct about costs to check vs perform?

 

[Kashoggio]

Went to the dealer today. They recommended an alignment since I had 19k miles. I asked, shouldn't you check the alignment first, before determining if I need it done. The reply was that it cost the same to check the alignment as it does to perform the alignment. I declined it. Is that correct about costs to check vs perform?

Depends on if they have a quick check rack or an old rack that it takes the tech some time to set it up. Also depends on their policy if they charge full of half price for the alignment check.

 

[catrains]

my toe was off like yours purchased july 2016 new. had a slight bump steer issue . I set the toe in , it was slightly out . perfect tire wear and also when hitting bumps the vehicle does not change direction.

when the vehicle hits bumps the height drops down with the OEM soft springs. then the toe sits out ward like they say yours is.

you want toe set inward slightly and that is the spec on most vehicles like this. you can check this your self. use fishing line run line from rear tire to front see how the wheels are set use two lines so you can check both sides at the same time with the steering wheel exactly straight .. the leading edge of the tire should be in to the other tire .

if its in then its B/S .. looking for some easy cash ..

I would also use some marker to mark all the front end adjustments if you do bring it in for alignment . then check to see if they just did nothing .