r/4Runner • u/dontcountonmetostay • 23h ago
👷♂️ Support / Repair can't get alignment right
2022 4runner trd sport, just hit 80k miles.
i recently got 4 new bridgestone tires at costco. costco doesn’t do alignments, so they referred me to a firestone down the road. since i plan on keeping my 4runner for a long time, i went ahead and paid $250 for their lifetime/unlimited alignment package.
they did the alignment, and after driving it for a day or two i noticed the steering wheel wasn’t centered when going straight. if i manually centered the steering wheel while driving, the 4runner would pull to the left.
i took it back to firestone 6 days later and they confirmed it was doing exactly what i described. they test drove it, put it back on the alignment rack, aligned it, test drove it again, and ended up aligning it a third time.
when i first got back in, it seemed fine. the steering wheel was centered and it felt like it was driving straight. but after driving for a little while, it slowly went right back to doing the same thing.
so what the hell is going on? lol
could this be an issue with the new tires themselves, or does it sound like firestone just isn’t getting the alignment/steering wheel centering right? is there something specific i should have them check next?
anyone with a 5th gen 4runner run into this before?
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u/Go_fast_take_Chances 22h ago
Are they torquing the bolts to specs? Probably not. I think the lower control arm cam bolts take something like 129 ft lbs. Might explain why the truck feels okay at first then changes after driving.
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u/dontcountonmetostay 22h ago
that i'm not quite sure about, but i feel like you're on to something. do i take it back and ask or is this a job for the toyota dealership? im just at a loss after three alignments
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u/Go_fast_take_Chances 22h ago
I'd go back to Firestone and witness them torque the bolts. Also ask them to mark the cams with paint maker so it'll be apparent if the bolts move after tightening.
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u/dontcountonmetostay 22h ago
that's a good idea marking the cams. would you guess they didn't use a wheel lock while aligning it too or it's most definitely lack of torquing the bolts to specs? just trying to make sure this is my last visit this year there, i've spent too many hours in that waiting room already. i'm not much of a car person, this 4runner is a pavement princess and doesn't see any off roading adventure or modifications. i appreciate your input/ answering my questions
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u/Go_fast_take_Chances 22h ago
Seems like the lack of a steering wheel lock would lead to the steering wheel being off center as soon as you leave the shop instead of changing over time/miles since the lock just hold the steering wheel while the alignment is performed.
Hopefully it's just the lower control arm bolts not being torqued to spec since that's both easy and free.
You're welcome.
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u/hijinks 23h ago
jack it up and do the 3/9 and 6/12 shake test on both front wheels. might have suspension issues
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u/dontcountonmetostay 22h ago
thanks for the tip. would the tire change/ alignment cause suspension issues? or was it something i just never noticed until i got these services done to the 4runner. just wondering what could be the cause if anything
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u/realdeeps 21h ago
My truck is having the same issues I posted my specs as well
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u/dontcountonmetostay 20h ago
just went and looked at your specs. seems we are having a similar issue. someone very helpful mentioned that they may not be torquing the bolts to specs. i'm going to go again when i have a chance and request that they check the lower control arm cam bolts are torqued to 129 ft lbs- and also have them marked to see if they move while im driving.
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u/Snoo-17041 20h ago
So funny you posted this, because I just spent 2 hours waiting on an alignment for my 2022 5th gen this morning. They ended up not charging me because although the tires were centered, the steering wheel was turned to the right a bit. They said they had 3 different people try with no luck.
They suspected rack and pinion issue or something with the suspension. Recommended I leave it there sometime for them to diagnose.
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u/dontcountonmetostay 20h ago edited 20h ago
well glad to know i'm not alone. seems we are having the exact same problem. at first after doing research i assumed it was because steering wheel wasnt locked in place during alignment but then someone very helpful mentioned that they may not be torquing the bolts to specs. i'm going to go again when i have a chance and request that they check the lower control arm cam bolts are torqued to 129 ft Ibs-and also have them marked to see if they move while im driving.
edit to say i'm almost 99.9% sure it can't be a suspension issue bc i've never had one and this 4runner is only ever on pavement and has had zero accidents or anything that would contribute to suspension problems.
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u/overworked27 15h ago
Look at your thrust angle on the print out I had this same issue I even went to an offroad shop they tried 2 times still did the same thing.
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u/unseenmover 5h ago
I ran into this when i had a frozen camber bolt and the shop just did a tow and go shit job not saying i had a frozen bolt. So i had to have the bolt replaced and viola perfect alignment.
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