So I go to an alignment shop to get my TL aligned after my unlicensed kid steals the car, which is two weeks old, and curbs it...apparently hard since I had to replace a chewed up wheel, though mainly for aesthetic reasons.

The guys at the alignment shop near work tell me the dealer won't release the alignment spec's until late April. Until then, go to the dealer or wait. I don't want to wait.

Well, the dealer charges $90/alignment. A lot of alignment places offer "lifetime" packages for a few bucks more.

Anybody else experience this or have any insight on why this would be the policy? Or is this just a "local matter?" Thanks.

 

The alignment specs. are definitely available. Just not to your shop yet, apparently. There's probably an update they get from some supplier on alignment specs every once in a while, and it's not out yet.

The specs are in the TL service manual:

Camber Front minus 0 deg. 30 min +/-30 min
Camber Rear minus 1 deg 0 min +/- 30 min
Caster Front plus 3 deg 17 min +/- 45 min
Total Toe-in Front Zero +/- 2 mm (zero +/- 0.08 in)
Total Toe-in Rear IN 2 +/- 2 mm (0.08 +/- 0.08 in)
Front Wheel Turning Angle Inside Wheel 35 deg 6 min +/- 2 deg
Front Wheel Turning Angle Outside Wheel 30 deg 12 min "(Reference)"

I double checked the above with the service manual (04 TL), and used "minus" instead of "-" to keep it clear, and Zero for "0" in a couple of places. The word "IN" in the toe section and "Reference" in the turning angle section are direct quotes of what's in the manual.

Obviously, alignment shops can't be expected to buy copies of service manuals for every car, so they are left at the mercy of whoever their info supplier is.

 

Hope this helps.
I had my car aligned after I put the spring kit on it and they used the measurements from an 99-03 TL. Left the car feeling horrible. They fixed it to the 04 specs and now it feels great.

FRONT:
Camber: 0 degrees 30 minutes +/- 30 minutes
Caster : 3 degrees 17 minutes +/- 45 minutes (Max difference 0 degrees 45 minutes)
Toe: 0 mm +/- 2 mm
Turning AngleInward) 35 degrees 6 minutes +/- 2 degrees
(Outward) 30 degrees 12 minutes (Reference)


Rear:
Camber: -1.00 degrees +/- 0.30 minutes (Not adjustable on stock TL)
Toe: 2 mm +/- 2mm

Max Difference between right and left camber 0 degrees 45 minutes
This information is straight off the service manual, can't take any responsibility for it.

 

funny this topic comes up...I got the TL aligned last week and the alignment sheet says it is based on an '03 CL....anyone know if this will create problems?

 

Thanks for the great info. I used this info to determine my wheel shop is staffed by a bunch of jackasses and I need to take my business elsewhere. Yikes.

 

VTEC: Yes, it will create problems. I believe I read somewhere that you have the comptech spring kits installed. If you also have the camber kit, the 03 cl alignment calls for the rear camber to be 0 deg. to -0.5 degrees. The 04 calls for -1.0 the car feels really weird with less than -1.00 deg. Really sketchy and affected by bumps.
If you don't have the camber kit, then they can't screw with the rear camber. I would look for errors in the front caster, the spec was much lower in the 03.
If you don't have the camber kit, ask for them to give you the alignment sheet. I'm willing to bet that your rear camber will be around -1.8 degrees, that's way too much and you'll ruin your tires prematurely aside from increasing the oversteer tendencies of the car.

Take it back and have them redo the alignment to the 04 specs. You will be able to get this done through warranty since they didn't match the manufacturer's specs.

 

BTW - the specs are also in the owners manual, however many places will not input manually the specs into thier system :banghead:

They messed mine up using the 03 specs, and readjusted the rear camber (yes it is adjustable, but only slightly +/- 0.3) and the car was much different, not as stable.

Was unable to find a shop with updated calibrations for the 04 TL, even the dealer.

 

need4speed
I'm not sure how you say the rear camber is adjustable, it is a solid link with no offset screws. The rear toe is slightly adjustable but the rear camber is not.