This alignment shop is trying to tell me I need a 4 wheel alignment....

[MudbogPete]

I told the guy that my 1997 4 runner has a live rear axle and it only needs a 2 wheel alignment. He said no, you need to align all four wheels.

This sounds like a scam to me. :50cal: They are charging $67.50 for a 4 wheel alignment.

What do you guys know about this ? How much is reasonable for an alignment ?

Thanks.

 

[MudbogPete]

.... so no one knows any thing about alignments on this beast ??

 

[peter78]

On my first set of tires, the back tires were wearing uneven. The tire place, a Goodyear store, said I needed a 4 wheel alignment. This store is right next to where I work and I have used them for years, I trust their work. After the alignment the tires are not wearing uneven.

I have read in other Forums where 4Runners need alignments more often. So, I don't think getting a 4 wheel alignment is a scam. In the future I will do alignments more often.

 

[lally911]

My mechanic who worked at a toyota dealer for 12 years also recommended
a 4 wheel alignment when I had odd
tire wear so I don't think its a scam.
Keith Lally

 

[EDGE]

Hate to bring an old post back from the dead but, 4Runners need front wheel alignment, lets break it down their are 3 adjustments on each front wheel,

camber: the wheels look like this with negative camber / - \ BMW's or a 350Z have more negative for cornering just look at them, \ - / that would be considered positive and thats what on like daily drivers but each car has a factory spec setting.

caster: best described as what makes the wheels/steering wheel return to center after a turn, basically look at the front wheels on a shopping cart thats caster.

toe: thats either pigeon toed, walking with your toes pointed in or dragging the inside of the tire, ever see a pair of shoes that the inside of the sole is worn more then the outside, and duck toed would be walking with your toes out, driving and your dragging the outside of the tires

So their you have it, only the front wheels should have 1 of those 3 adjustments, sometime certain vehicle don't have adjustments for all 3, my pathfinders only had toe adjustments but later on they came out with a camber kit, caster is left alone only touched if you crash otherwise it stays, camber and toe are the 2 focus points.

Trucks like 4Runners don't have 4 wheel alignment or any truck with a solid axle, a camry or corolla does why cause you can find adjustment on the rear wheels, what adjustments are on a solid axle.

The machine goes on all 4 wheels but thats just to use the laser pin points and see where the wheels are and find out where it's at to put it back to spec, but you can't adjust a solid axle, ask the guy to show you what adjustments he made to the rear, their are no nuts that you can turn to make the wheels in the rear pivot out or in, their solid.

 

[Thai]

Thanks, Edge for the good explanation.

 

[EDGE]

No problem gotto keep the little guy informed so he can hit back with solid information:50cal:

 

[LrndTheHardWay]

21 years after the last post and THIS is exactly the info I needed

 

[FishNHard]

solid info is timeless LOL LOL

 

[Hungryhawk]

Regarding wheel alignment I think there is an art factor. I pay about $90 in LA area. It takes talent to get a great front end alignment. Equipment varies from shop to shop. I have seen alignment techs bouncing vehicles to settle suspensions when getting readings.
It is possible to bend runner frames. The multi link rear axle cold get bent/moved out of position.
The measurements diagonally front to other side rear should be same both driver & passenger sides. And axles should be perpendicular to center of frame.

 

[Garry890]

They should do a 2 wheel thrust alignment. Not 4 wheel

 

[Hungryhawk]

4 Wheel independent vehicles benefit from alignment of both F& R axles all 4 wheels.
With our live axle rear I agree 4 wheel alignment seems like the shop does not know what they are talking about.
But, if your frame got bent (say accident) then it would make sense. Not sure how moving the axle into proper position could be done, unless the bent frame is straightened.

 

[<<<<]

4 wheel alignment CHECK is useful in 4Runner equipped with unadjustable rear axle. If slightly off line in back then similar front correction is necessary or steering wheel will be off center while perfectly aligned. Rear adjustment is impossible with stock control arms. Adjustable Lower Control arms can let you dial vector in if necessary after lift or any mod that caused life axle to move out of true center.

 

[T4R2014]

The machine checks alignments on all four wheels, think of it as paying a little extra for a check on the rear. Inherently not a scam and when have you ever seen a two wheel alignment? Sure, lousy alignment techs might have zero clue how it works as it pertains to your vehicle, so go ahead and tell him you want him to adjust the camber in your rear axle if you want to clown his existence. At minimum you might find out some worn bushings or bad rear wheel bearings are throwing something off in the back.

 

[1 4Runnerwithdogs]

4 wheel alignment vs 2 wheel alignment

I told the guy that my 1997 4 runner has a live rear axle and it only needs a 2 wheel alignment. He said no, you need to align all four wheels.

This sounds like a scam to me. :50cal: They are charging $67.50 for a 4 wheel alignment.

What do you guys know about this ? How much is reasonable for an alignment ?

Thanks.

Here in Florida I got a FRONT wheel alignment for $60.00 My 2016 has no adjustments in the rear. It's 4WD. You didn't say whether you had a two or four wheel drive. Doubtful there are adjustments in the rear. I'm a former front end and brake tech.Hope this helps. For giggles, ask what a two wheel alignment costs.

 

[1 4Runnerwithdogs]

Hate to bring an old post back from the dead but, 4Runners need front wheel alignment, lets break it down their are 3 adjustments on each front wheel,

camber: the wheels look like this with negative camber / - \ BMW's or a 350Z have more negative for cornering just look at them, \ - / that would be considered positive and thats what on like daily drivers but each car has a factory spec setting.

caster: best described as what makes the wheels/steering wheel return to center after a turn, basically look at the front wheels on a shopping cart thats caster.

toe: thats either pigeon toed, walking with your toes pointed in or dragging the inside of the tire, ever see a pair of shoes that the inside of the sole is worn more then the outside, and duck toed would be walking with your toes out, driving and your dragging the outside of the tires

So their you have it, only the front wheels should have 1 of those 3 adjustments, sometime certain vehicle don't have adjustments for all 3, my pathfinders only had toe adjustments but later on they came out with a camber kit, caster is left alone only touched if you crash otherwise it stays, camber and toe are the 2 focus points.

Trucks like 4Runners don't have 4 wheel alignment or any truck with a solid axle, a camry or corolla does why cause you can find adjustment on the rear wheels, what adjustments are on a solid axle.

The machine goes on all 4 wheels but thats just to use the laser pin points and see where the wheels are and find out where it's at to put it back to spec, but you can't adjust a solid axle, ask the guy to show you what adjustments he made to the rear, their are no nuts that you can turn to make the wheels in the rear pivot out or in, their solid.

You are excellent in your explanation. Are, or were you, a front end tech?
Great job! (Says a front end and brake tech,)

 

[T4R2014]

Here in Florida I got a FRONT wheel alignment for $60.00 My 2016 has no adjustments in the rear. It's 4WD. You didn't say whether you had a two or four wheel drive. Doubtful there are adjustments in the rear. I'm a former front end and brake tech.Hope this helps. For giggles, ask what a two wheel alignment costs.

I mean, the default driveline bias is in the rear axle regardless of 2WD or 4WD, it wouldn't make a difference in indicating whether or not there's adjustability in the rear.