Front End Alignment.

[Cristobal]

My tires were worn out and I got four new ones at the Pep Boys. The old tires and alignment seemed fine.

I purchased alignment on all four wheels. The car is a 1996 Toyota Avalon. It is front wheel drive.

Now the car consistently drifts to the right, but only at speeds over 50 m.p.h.

Do you have any thoughts?

 

[Nick1994]

Rotate the tires and see if it goes away. If it does go away, then you have a bad tire. If not, they need to re-do the alignment and check for any front end problems.

 

[Oro_O]

Go tell them and have them check it again. I had this issue after an alignment at Les Schwab and it settled a bit and they re-adjusted it. They will check the wheel balance again and alignment.

 

[ZZBottom]

Did you get a print-out of the alignment results? That would prove they at least thought they nailed it within specs.

 

[901Memphis]

Yes if they aligned it you should not be drifting. Take it back and demand a print out of before and after specs.

 

[Dave Hess]

Take it back, another tech doing [censored] quality work.

 

[antiqueshell]

ALWAYS....ALWAYS get a repair order and when you have things like alignments done demand to get the printout of the alignment specs before and after, also TELL THEM TO ONLY SET TIRE PRESSURES BEFORE THEY BEGIN THE ALIGNMENT...NEVER AFTER the tech will often try to trick the rack into reading a spec that will read acceptable on a setting that is just outside it.

 

[pbm]

I would only get an alignment at a dedicated front end shop or at least a tire center. Pep Boys techs probably aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.

 

[Gokhan]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal
My tires were worn out and I got four new ones at the Pep Boys. The old tires and alignment seemed fine.

I purchased alignment on all four wheels. The car is a 1996 Toyota Avalon. It is front wheel drive.

Now the car consistently drifts to the right, but only at speeds over 50 m.p.h.

Do you have any thoughts?

It's always a good idea to buy lifetime alignment, which costs only about twice as one-time alignment. You can take the car to the shop as many times as it's necessary. Firestone sells lifetime alignment.

Still, take it back until they have the job done right. Few technicians can get the alignment right these days.

 

[Silverado12]

A bad tire will make the car pull.

 

[HangFire]

Originally Posted By: Silverado12
A bad tire will make the car pull.


Quite right. Get a flexible measuring tape and measure the circumference of the tire's tread near the inner and outer edges. If it's conical it will pull the vehicle towards the smaller side.

 

[artificialist]

Have them cross over the front tires. If the car pulls in the opposite direction, you know you have a defective tire.

Also, whenever getting a wheel alignment, always be sure the mechanic makes a before and after picture.

 

[Cristobal]

Tires rotated. Problem has vanished!

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal
Tires rotated. Problem has vanished!
Take it back and get a new tire under warranty!

 

[Oro_O]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal
Tires rotated. Problem has vanished!


Rotated how? I agree, it sounds like the problem tire got moved to the rear, where the issue is masked and will creep back up later.