Alignments

[still-one]

I was busy this week when I decided to keep my '11 for another year. At just over 42k miles I replaced the tires on Wednesday, has the heated windshield replaced Thursday, and had the oil changed and a wheels aligned at the dealer on Friday.

The cost of the wheel alignment was quoted at $199. They did have a 10% of coupon I used.

 

[94speedster]

Go local, and stay away from the dealer. The factory-recommended alignment specs are off, and will result in uneven wear on the tires. I have four cars (LR4 & 3 911s) and take them all to a local alignment specialist. His is a family business, and his wife runs the front office. They charge $65 for all alignments, and I even use him for my aggressive track alignment on my GT3 (lots of negative camber & some toe). Again, $65. Porsche dealer tries to charge $500.

My $0.02,
-B

 

[mbw]

Go local, and stay away from the dealer. The factory-recommended alignment specs are off,
-B

A little more detail.... how can the factory spec be off?

 

[LR34]

A little more detail.... how can the factory spec be off?

I believe the LR3 had a technical bulletin (LTB00116?) released back in 2008 about revised alignment specs, but I have not seen anything regarding any issues with LR4 specs.

 

[94speedster]

A little more detail.... how can the factory spec be off?

Sure. Align the car to the "factory" specifications, and then monitor tire wear. If you have uneven tire wear, then you need to change the specs!

The LR3 factory specs were WAY off, and we corded our first set of front tires at 8k miles. So we altered the camber & toe (up front), and got 40k out of next set of tires...

The LR4 has been better, but it did need some adjustments from spec. I don't have the specs readily available, but am due for my "annual" with my alignment guy in a few weeks... I will post final numbers to this thread.

-B

 

[mbw]

Did it wear fast on the outside or the inside? or was it just camber or also a toe issue?

 

[94speedster]

Did it wear fast on the outside or the inside? or was it just camber or also a toe issue?

For the LR4, it needed more front toe... I'll post the specs once I take it in to the alignment shop. It will be 6 weeks since I don't put on the winter tires until November 1st...

-B

 

[Biagetti]

I had an alignment scheduled this morning at the LR Dealership here in Jacksonville. When scheduling on the phone I told the one advisor that the rods are on and run full time.... he didn't see any issues and the appointment was scheduled.

I get there and a different advisor was in... the tech took it back, realized the rods were on and then the advisor approached me as I was drooling over the shiny new Rovers in the showroom... he told me that they can't touch it to meet the LR specs!!!!

I've tried calling local tire places and shops, and I haven't had anyone that will do the alignment on the LR3...

Anyone else have this issue of trying to get an alignment with rods on full time? What National Tire Chains have you guys used with success because I haven't found it?!!

 

[ougrad1]

Go local, and stay away from the dealer. The factory-recommended alignment specs are off, and will result in uneven wear on the tires. I have four cars (LR4 & 3 911s) and take them all to a local alignment specialist. His is a family business, and his wife runs the front office. They charge $65 for all alignments, and I even use him for my aggressive track alignment on my GT3 (lots of negative camber & some toe). Again, $65. Porsche dealer tries to charge $500.

My $0.02,
-B

I had the same experience as 94speedster when I first bought my LR4 in 2010. My tires were wearing out badly even with consistent rotation at 5K. My local Discount Tire store said that my Conti's suck and I needed an alignment. I did call my dealer about getting it done at a local shop and they were cool with it as long as the local shop used some laser-based alignment machine since it is more accurate and apparently necessary for our trucks. I ended up taking it to Christian Brothers by my house since they had such a machine. I paid $85 where my dealer was charging $189. It made a big difference in driving and my tire wear was back to normal/even.

 

[Biagetti]

Yes, the dealer charge for alignment is outrageous and it was my last resort... well I hoped to get it done at that cost but now back on the search of someone who will do it!

The parts guy (had to get one last lug that I forgot to order to replace the last swollen one! So excited to use just one socket now!) brought up a performance shop on the other side of the city for me... I will call tomorrow.