"Lifetime" Alignments any good?

[Capnemo]

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.

 

[APhelps]

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.

 

[4runnerfiend]

I agree. Firestone has been ok for me. it has been hands down worth it.

 

[hwnrunner]

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.

 

[nissanh]

I've had Firestone lifetime alignments since 2010 and still it is free to me!

 

[mtbtim]

Yep, another vote for Firestone.

 

[RomanSchnobrich]

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.

 

[HiLife]

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.

 

[AntleredRuin]

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.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

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.

 

[jkoni426]

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.

 

[fourfive]

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.

 

[negusm]

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.

 

[SFsquared]

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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