Firestone Lifetime alignment

Atomic6

Atomic6

New member
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. :noidea:

 
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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......
 
Atomic6 said:
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. :noidea:

Click to expand...


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. :rockon:
 
when you have a modified suspension, do you have to provide them the alignment numbers as opposed to them looking up the OEM?
 
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. :dizzy:
 
BoarderDave said:
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. :dizzy:
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
Atomic6 said:
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.
Click to expand...
hah yep. Same here.. :becky:
But oh well, like was mentioned in the thread - it really doesnt take em THAT long to do it. It's not crazy intense with the tools and technology they have these days either (from what I observe from a distance - hah). Hopefully its one of those easy tasks that give the mechanics a break from the more difficult stuff. :yo:
 
I bought one when I got 265/75/16s. Later I added a 3" suspension lift with SPC UCAs, and I just added 285s. Every time I seem to go there, they seem to get it, "close". But only after a lot of reminders that it is a lifted vehicle, and that they don't have computer settings to use other than stock specs. I might try a different Firestone next time. The last time I went in, I brought my SPC Light Racing UCA settings cheat sheet.

I made an appointment for when the store opened. I got there early, then slowly learned that they booked not two, but FOUR appointments for the same block of time, and one machine. I could already tell that it would not get that much attention. An hour later they came back wanting to quickly wisk me out of the waiting room. The alignment paperwork was not very impressive as a fair amount of my specs we're still in the red. There was a lot of talk about the difficulty of lifted vehicles and that they don't have a good way to do it unless they take about two hours to make it happen. And they said that level alignment is not included in a lifetime alignment. At any rate I left feeling that they just wanted to get me out of there.
 
Atomic6 said:
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. :noidea:

Click to expand...



I will never go back to a Firestone for anything. I'm sure they're all different, but my local Firestone has ruined the name for me.
 
x2 which one was it? I go to the W Colfax (Westland), or the Belmar location. Never have issues except last time they told me that they couldn't do it because I had play in my drivers side tie rod ends. Picked it up and drove home, checked the tie rod ends and no play at all. I'm thinking the tech was lazy or didn't know how to align a lifted truck. Gonna take it back in until they do it.

FWIW I bought my lifetime alignment immediately after I lifted it 3"
 
atalarico said:
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.
Click to expand...

00Spork said:
x2 which one was it? I go to the W Colfax (Westland), or the Belmar location.
Click to expand...

It was the W Colfax location in Lakewood. To be honest, I bet I could go in there again and not have an issue but I'm not going to chance it. I like the Arvada location better anyways.
 
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