Why is my alignment off? - Toyota Yaris Forums

detroiter · 06-02-2010, 01:27 PM

Just wanted to see what others opinions might be...

I took the car in today to get the tires balanced and rotated, along with an alignment check. So first they put the car up on the lift and take the tires off to balance and then rotate them. Then they pull it over to the alignment machine.

They come back and say the front right toe is off quite a bit and the rear right is out of spec as well. I understand the front could be off because I ran over a decent sized pothole not too long ago. But the rear, I'm not sure how the rear toe could be off since it's non adjustable. I never had an issue with the rear being out of spec..

Rear Left toe was .12
Rear Right toe was .35

The limit was .31

So my question is if I never had an issue like that before, how could it be now? Was it perhaps from lifting the car up to rotate the tires and setting it back down, the springs didn't sit back in all the way 100% before doing the alignment? Or could it be something faulty with the machine? (It was done at Belle Tire and a pretty reputable one, so I don't know how possible that might be).

Is that a number that I should be really concerned over?

detroiter · 06-02-2010, 02:58 PM

So I took it to a different location to get a second opinion. They said the same thing, that the rear was off...but this time around, it was the opposite side! That's really bizarre if you ask me. First it was the right rear, now it was the left rear. Strange!

markitect · 06-02-2010, 03:24 PM

I have trouble considering any bell tire reputable, after my, now fiancée took, her car there and they put in new rear brake adjusters and didn't adjust them at all. They are lazy. I would ask to see their most recent alignment rack calibration.

Or they simply aren't doing it right and they are both really .20-.25

HTM Yaris · 06-02-2010, 03:40 PM

Yeah mine was that way as well . Just get the rear shims from Garm . Have the shims installed . You should be fine .

detroiter · 06-02-2010, 03:58 PM

Is it hard to install the rear shims and how well do they stay placed?

HTM Yaris · 06-02-2010, 04:17 PM

Yes , they are hard to install . You will need a computer setup . It involves taking the hub off . Once they are on , they are on .

Talk to a reputable alignment shop . Its hard for you to do but fairly easy for the shop to do b/c the have the computer .

MUSKOKA800 · 06-03-2010, 09:31 AM

All it would take to throw out the rear alignment is a slight bend in that flimsy rear axle/cross bar. This is likely why the owners manual says to never jack the car by the rear axle or under the rear spring perchs. Always use the body jack points.

That said, when I took mine in for an alignment check they lifted the rear from under the springs. Mine had slightly extra toe at the right rear but they advised it shouldn't be an issue and after about 50,000 kilometers it has had no ill effect to tread wear.

06-02-2010, 01:27 PM	#1
detroiter Drives: 2008 Polar White LB Auto Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,238	Why is my alignment off? Just wanted to see what others opinions might be... I took the car in today to get the tires balanced and rotated, along with an alignment check. So first they put the car up on the lift and take the tires off to balance and then rotate them. Then they pull it over to the alignment machine. They come back and say the front right toe is off quite a bit and the rear right is out of spec as well. I understand the front could be off because I ran over a decent sized pothole not too long ago. But the rear, I'm not sure how the rear toe could be off since it's non adjustable. I never had an issue with the rear being out of spec.. Rear Left toe was .12 Rear Right toe was .35 The limit was .31 So my question is if I never had an issue like that before, how could it be now? Was it perhaps from lifting the car up to rotate the tires and setting it back down, the springs didn't sit back in all the way 100% before doing the alignment? Or could it be something faulty with the machine? (It was done at Belle Tire and a pretty reputable one, so I don't know how possible that might be). Is that a number that I should be really concerned over? __________________ I live my life a quarter pounder at a time. And for those 500 calories or more, I'm free. I need FRIES! Two of them. The big ones. Oh, and I need them tonight. You're lucky the double shot of BBQ sauce didn't blow the seam on your nugget box. There she is, 2 pounds of pure beef. My dad ate it in 9.0 seconds flat. Check it out, it's like this. If I lose, winner takes my happy meal. But if I win, I take the burger and the toy. To some people, that's more important.

06-02-2010, 02:58 PM	#2
detroiter Drives: 2008 Polar White LB Auto Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,238	So I took it to a different location to get a second opinion. They said the same thing, that the rear was off...but this time around, it was the opposite side! That's really bizarre if you ask me. First it was the right rear, now it was the left rear. Strange! __________________ I live my life a quarter pounder at a time. And for those 500 calories or more, I'm free. I need FRIES! Two of them. The big ones. Oh, and I need them tonight. You're lucky the double shot of BBQ sauce didn't blow the seam on your nugget box. There she is, 2 pounds of pure beef. My dad ate it in 9.0 seconds flat. Check it out, it's like this. If I lose, winner takes my happy meal. But if I win, I take the burger and the toy. To some people, that's more important.

06-02-2010, 03:40 PM	#4
HTM Yaris resident senior View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south Carolina Posts: 814	Yeah mine was that way as well . Just get the rear shims from Garm . Have the shims installed . You should be fine . __________________

06-02-2010, 03:58 PM	#5
detroiter Drives: 2008 Polar White LB Auto Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,238	Is it hard to install the rear shims and how well do they stay placed? __________________ I live my life a quarter pounder at a time. And for those 500 calories or more, I'm free. I need FRIES! Two of them. The big ones. Oh, and I need them tonight. You're lucky the double shot of BBQ sauce didn't blow the seam on your nugget box. There she is, 2 pounds of pure beef. My dad ate it in 9.0 seconds flat. Check it out, it's like this. If I lose, winner takes my happy meal. But if I win, I take the burger and the toy. To some people, that's more important.

06-02-2010, 04:17 PM	#6
HTM Yaris resident senior View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south Carolina Posts: 814	Yes , they are hard to install . You will need a computer setup . It involves taking the hub off . Once they are on , they are on . Talk to a reputable alignment shop . Its hard for you to do but fairly easy for the shop to do b/c the have the computer . __________________

06-02-2010, 03:24 PM	#3
markitect Drives: Yaris Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 199	I have trouble considering any bell tire reputable, after my, now fiancée took, her car there and they put in new rear brake adjusters and didn't adjust them at all. They are lazy. I would ask to see their most recent alignment rack calibration. Or they simply aren't doing it right and they are both really .20-.25

06-03-2010, 09:31 AM	#7
MUSKOKA800 Drives: Scion FRS RS2, ‘21 Crosstrek Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chatham, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,729	All it would take to throw out the rear alignment is a slight bend in that flimsy rear axle/cross bar. This is likely why the owners manual says to never jack the car by the rear axle or under the rear spring perchs. Always use the body jack points. That said, when I took mine in for an alignment check they lifted the rear from under the springs. Mine had slightly extra toe at the right rear but they advised it shouldn't be an issue and after about 50,000 kilometers it has had no ill effect to tread wear. __________________ TRD Upgrades: 18" Wheels wrapped in 215/35/18 PZero's, Sportivo Shocks/Struts, Lowering Springs, Swaybar, Axle-Back Exhaust, Oil Cap, Rad Cap, Signage. Aftermarket Goodies: Piggies SS, K&N Drop-In, Blitz S/C, DC Header, NST Pulley) Toyota Options/Accessories: Sport Pedal Covers, Sport Shift Knob, Ipod Interface, Summer Mats, Winter Mats, Cruise Control, Auto-Dim Mirror, Echo steelies with winter boots.

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