When to have the alignment done

[cornedbeef]

Just got my alignment today and when I got it back I noticed a considerable dribble on my shocks everytime i hit a bumpy road. Meaning it seems rough ride compare to before...I don't have the smooth ride anymore. Should I take it back to the garage? Is there something they touch that it lowered the spring/shock and ruin my nice ride because of an alignment? Is this possible?

 

[HenrySoren]

I get them aligned about every 15000 miles.
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[TacoRunn0517]

Reviving an old thread just because this issue came up. I've had my TE for almost a year and have put almost 34K miles on it (all city/highway). I've been to my Toyota dealerships at every 5K mile interval and not once was I given the recommendation to get any sort of alignment. As of this post, I'm getting my Runner inspected at a local auto repair shop and they said that I should get it done. I've passed on it (asking $100) but it did get me thinking when should I get it done. I know I plan on getting new tires in October to take advantage of the Discount Tire Special and was planning on doing alignment then. Is there anyone doing high miles on an annual basis care to give some insight? This is where this forum proves its worth. Thanks in advance.

 

[Antoddio]

Reviving an old thread just because this issue came up. I've had my TE for almost a year and have put almost 34K miles on it (all city/highway). I've been to my Toyota dealerships at every 5K mile interval and not once was I given the recommendation to get any sort of alignment. As of this post, I'm getting my Runner inspected at a local auto repair shop and they said that I should get it done. I've passed on it (asking $100) but it did get me thinking when should I get it done. I know I plan on getting new tires in October to take advantage of the Discount Tire Special and was planning on doing alignment then. Is there anyone doing high miles on an annual basis care to give some insight? This is where this forum proves its worth. Thanks in advance.

Don’t do it unless you are having issues. They can’t correct a problem that doesn’t exist but they sure as heck can cause a problem or they can just take your money and do nothing. Heck send me the money and I’ll align it over the Internet for ya. LOL

 

[TacoRunn0517]

Don’t do it unless you are having issues. They can’t correct a problem that doesn’t exist but they sure as heck can cause a problem or they can just take your money and do nothing. Heck send me the money and I’ll align it over the Internet for ya. LOL

Haha figured as much. That check is in the mail!

 

[catrains]

high miles and a wheel alignment .. I find this very very funny..


high miles IMO 100K plus miles.. need wheel alignment that's when the steering wheel is out of wack and the tires look like sh*t....

discount tire and other shops will break the tie rods and other parts like the boots and possibly damage the control arms . then they will adjust to the wrong spec... do not do it unless Toyota says the tire wear is N/G..

 

[TacoRunn0517]

high miles and a wheel alignment .. I find this very very funny..


high miles IMO 100K plus miles.. need wheel alignment that's when the steering wheel is out of wack and the tires look like sh*t....

discount tire and other shops will break the tie rods and other parts like the boots and possibly damage the control arms . then they will adjust to the wrong spec... do not do it unless Toyota says the tire wear is N/G..

Funny in what sense? Putting over 34K miles over 12 months is a lot given the average miles driven by Americans(https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/bar8.htm). I'll be at 100K in less than 3 years. So asking for any insight from people with high mileage Runners would only make sense. I'll buy my tires from DT and have my mounting and alignment done at my local Toyota dealer. Thanks for your "insight" though.

 

[catrains]

your 4 runner has low miles on it so with no off road driving alignment is not required unless as I stated before there are issues.

a 4 runner of any model year with 34K miles is basically new ..

since you do put 34K on it in one year that would be higher than an average vehicles use but not a hi mile vehicle .

I do my own alignments .. my 2000 truck I aligned back in 2000.. then my tie rod was worn so I aligned it when I installed the rod ... I have 175K miles on the truck and steering wheel straight tires rotated every 10-13K miles and I get 80K miles on a set of tires all tires worn the same .

so I did the alignment twice .. if your alignment is wrong then your steering and tire wear will reveal you need alignment ..dealership when rotating the tires will tell you that you do need alignment if its wrong.

discount tires shops will break stuff don't do it..