summerayu

1st time, got a broke wheel lock, firestone took it off using a socket and screwed up the alignment.

2nd time, the left front wheel hit a pole.
After the alignment, the car pulls a little to the right
Went back for the 3rd time, the steering wheel crook to right completely and they didn't give me any refund. Of course, I left a very bad google review.

4th time, went to the acura dealer for the alignment. Seems to be ok this time, but the car still pulls a little to the right. (I guess it's the new continental DWS's problem, not too bad though, then I just left it as is)

Schedule the 5th time for tomorrow in a Honda dealer, maybe I parked too close to the curb and hit lightly on the curb when I was doing parallel parking in downtown yesterday, or maybe park in the sideway groove (not sure). Feel that the steering wheel crooked a little to the right (not too bad) when leave my hands off the steering wheel.

Looks like it's really hard to get a perfect alignment sometimes.

What do you guys think?
Any experiences?

I am really frustrated anyway.

MandoTL

Your steering wheel should be straight not slightly left of right.

I got new tires roughly 3 1/2 weeks ago, got my first alignment once I got the new set. I didnt know they needed to be 0 in toe for front and back & steering wheel. Well I was off on the left side so it would pull slightly which I didnt like almost 3 weeks after the 1st alignment.

I took it to the Acura Dealer, sure enough I was out of alignment on the left and they got it right smack in the middle 0 TOE. No more pull or crooked steering and asked them about suspension damaged but they stated it might be San Diego's horrible roads or the shop you took it at didnt get it directly 0.

I look back at the print out sheet for the 1st alignment it didnt have 0 Toe for either front or back, but it was like .05 rather than 0. Well now that I know they made the mistake I feared it was a damaged or worn suspension problem and it wasnt, the REP told me everything looks fine.

So make sure its 0 in TOE for front/ rear/ and steering wheel.

07NBPTL-S

You should invest in lifetime alignment.. It's around $180 at Firestone and seems like it would've paid itself off a long time ago for you.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

An out of level steering wheel has nothing to do with the alignment just a lazy worker. Most never need an alignment unless some damage done, worn parts with tires wearing uneven. Don't need zero in front, but the back it certainly is the preferred setting, no negative toe.

summerayu

There are two Firestone in my areas. I had very bad experience with one andy coworker had a bad experience with the other. That's why I didn't choose Firestone at all. Maybe they will do a decent job, but not in my case

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

big box shops

my dealer always takes good care of the car for me. and yes, i pay out the ear for it, but it beats wasting my time and energy trying to take to the idiot shops with lazy employees that could give a damn.

if your alignment gets corrected and you still have a pull...you may need to have your wheels and tires road force balanced. the conti's can be finicky to balance sometimes and may cause a radial pull due to an out of round tire. i had this happen with mine. the lazy big box shop half assed the balance job and i had a pull. i had the dealer RFB and it got rid of the pull. my alignment was spot on.

MandoTL

This what my Acura dealer told me, since I had bad experience with those quickly lube chain shops in the past and recently my first alignment at a local Tire shop(had great reputation).

So second time, paid the extra 10 bucks to go to an acura dealer rather than pay the $80 in most places, and he explained to me how it works but all Toes need to be 0. Just stating what the Service Rep. mentioned. Sorry if I gave the wrong info.

Decayin

Got a lifetime alignment the other day at Firestone for $150 out the door.
Guy was really cool, he used to have an RSX and was close in the community
with RSX owners. Buddy of mine has an RSX and referred me to the guy at Firestone and gave me a discount which is why its $150, not $180.

TVL65

I had the same problem on my 07' TLS after hitting a curb. The dealer would align the car & it would go out after just 600 miles or so and pull to the right. I finally took it to a auto body shop who had a alignment specialist look at it. Although the dealer had initially did the repair & replaced several suspension parts something was still bent (tweaked) but would cost alot of $$ in trying to find the problem. The solution? They installed an aftermarket ADJUSTABLE ball joint & dialed in the specs. No more problem! Car goes straight now & its been 8 months.

Bruce Banner

iTrader: (2)

I never thought of lifetime alignment. They certainly do pay off after about 2-3.

Wacker

Keep in mind the crown in the road (for water runoff) will cause a pull to the right as rolling objects tend to head down hill. If you get on a 4 lane divided highway (with a crown and median) and get in the left lane, what happens? You should notice a pull to the left. All of my cars have always had a slight pull depending on what side of the road/interstate I'm on.

Different counties, states, and municipalities use differing degrees of crown depending on annual rainfall and other factors.

Hope this helps.

summerayu

Got back from Acura Dealer again, yeah, got it fixed. The previous guys who did the alignment a few weeks back didn't really made the steering wheel straight. That's why the steering wheel crook to the right a little bit, but the tow is alright and within spec. This time the technician really did a good job, he even slightly adjust the caster (lower frame) to make it not pulling.

Right now the cross caster is 0.6 within spec and previously it was 0.8

So thanks everyone's input and I guess I will be careful about driving anyway.

It's so hard to get a perfect alignment sometimes.

06NH6MTTL

iTrader: (1)

I work at sears and have a lot of experience with alignments and it is not difficult on the tl by any means. But to keep the steering wheel straight i sometime have to use a steering wheel depressor because of the tight steering dynamics. I also think you should try to avoid potholes, poles and curbs.... are you trying to bend your wheels or mess up the already cursed compliance bushings!!!!!!