Alignment problem

by **Timbo** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 11:10 am

I would like to know if anyone else has had this problem and how it was resolved.

My Solara has pulled to the left since the day it was new. It went back to Toyota 4 times without a fix. I finally contacted Toyota Customer Assistance. They had me bring it back again and I took a ride with one of the dealer's senior mechanics. He confirmed that it pulled to the left. However, all they did was realign the steering wheel so that it was no longer at the two o'clock position when going straight. The alignment problem was still there.

After this, I gave up on Toyota and took the car to an independent alignment specialist to get it fixed. He also confirmed that it pulled to the left and the left wheel Camber was way out of spec (he provided the details) but said that Caster and Camber are unadjustable on the car! Can this be true?

Now what? I have a new car and neither Toyota nor anyone else can fix it? Any suggestions? Thanks!

by **FLASH** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 11:21 am

I've had a very similiar problem in that my car has pulled to the right since day one. I just got my new rims/tires on, so they did an alignment for me, and it still pulls to the right a little bit. I also had the dealership do an alignment when I bought it, but it's always pulled slightly.

by **Fletch** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 11:46 am

If alignment can not be corrected by adjustement, the suspension components (i.e. control arms, springs, etc.) may be damaged or have enough product variation that you will always pull. There are some good general alignment websites out there. Perhaps if you are armed with some more info, you could convince Toyota to start swapping out components. Good luck

by **Jai_Jai_Binks** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:09 pm

Normally For me when it pulled to the right...I had my wife take my solara to a firestone and purchased a lifetime warranty on those puppies for $125. haven't gone in since...I know i've heard ryan refuting to firestone suggestions in the past....but they have worked great for me!

by **Jai_Jai_Binks** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:15 pm

Normally For me when it pulled to the right...I had my wife take my solara to a firestone for their lifetime warranty. I know from my other car's exp at the dealership...they don't get it right (at they have not got it right at all for me in the past). I recall ryan refuting to firestone suggestions in the past....but they have worked great for me! :bday:

by **happy_aggies** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:42 pm

Buy a camber kit around $20.
That should fix the problem.

by **HKSV6SLE** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:43 pm

get a camber kit....most suspension shops can correct it....when i wanted my dealer to do an alignmnet they wouldn't even touch it...but i got my camber corrected and no problems with pulling ever since...

by **Timbo** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 6:29 pm

Thanks for all the replies.
I sent off another letter to Toyota Customer Assistance(!) today. It will be interesting to see what they say. I provided the actual readings provided by the alignment shop. Frankly, I'm not expecting them to do anything but inconvience me by having me bring the car in for nothing again. Their service really sucks.

Where can I get this Camber kit? That sounds like the right solution.

by **happy_aggies** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 7:09 am

Search the web.

I found one for $17.
http://www.streetstyler.com/CamberKits.htm

by **Guest** » Thu Oct 09, 2003 10:46 am

i had my car aligned, and the paper they gave me said they weren't able to get my SAI in spec. What is SAI?

Alignment problem

Alignment problem

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