I'm having new tires mounted and an alignment done tomorrow at my local dealer (because it will be in for the airbag inflator replacement). It is a 2011 SH-AWD TL. I was reading over Acura's alignment procedure and checking and adjusting the rear toe comes before checking and adjusting the front toe. Although it does not explicitly state that the rear toe should be adjusted first, I'm assuming they wrote the procedure in this order for a reason. If they align the front first then adjust the rear toe, is that going to screw up the front measurements? And by how much? Also, when adjusting rear toe, the manual says to replace the self-locking nuts. How necessary is this? I highly doubt they will replace them.

 

so as long as the alignment is in spec when you receive the car, why does it matter how they do it.. ? If you were DIYing, it'd be a different story, but there's a level of detail you don't really need to worry about.

 

I was about to say, if dude really wants to know each minute detail, he can walk into the garage bay while his car is being worked on and ask questions...

I know you're not supposed to go into the bay, but if you walk in there like you know what you're doing... no one will question you and you can proceed to talk to tech working on your car.

 

FWIW, my indie alignment tech does the zeroes out the front, then the rear, then goes back to the front, then the rear until it's exactly perfect. He's a perfectionist and worth every penny when it comes to something like alignment.

 

Ive never watched my indie mech. doing the alignment but he does a good job, so i dont have to watch

 

I don't watch because i don't trust him. i watch because the way he does alignments is like watching an artist painting on his canvas.




plus we all know i love to watch

 

lol if i watched like that, i'd be like...yo, just teach me, so i can do it at home.

 

totes can! just buy your own Hunter alignment rack and lift : Hunter Wheel Aligner and Wheel Alignment Equipment - Wheel Alignment Machines and Accessories for Automotive Shop and Garage Equipment

 

Adjusting rear toe affects front toe at the same time, hence why rear alignment is done before front.

 

That answers my question. Thanks.

Believe me, if I had the time I would. Unfortunately I do not and will dropping the car off all day. I've have bad luck with dealers and multiple indies. As soon as I find a seemingly good one, they disappoint. Latest example of dealer disappointment was not replacing the torque-to-yield bolts on the LCAs of my 2008 MDX even though I had provided them with new ones, and over tightened them by at least 20 ft-lbs. During the same visit, they failed to tighten the lug nuts on one of my wheels. I had to bring the vehicle back after I got back from vacation and stood there and watched with the service manager as they replaced the bolts, then had to stop them because they were about to use an impact gun to tighten them.

I work on my own vehicles whenever possible and try to avoid taking them in for service unless I absolutely have to. For instance, if it requires special equipment that wouldn't be feasible for me to purchase.

 

Well consider yourself lucky then, because they are few and far between.

I'll give you another example, the self-locking nuts the rear toe adjustment are supposed to be replaced if they are loosened. Do you honestly think the shop is going to replace them? I think not. These are a dealer part, so I would hope the dealer would, but highly doubtful. An indie shop--definitely wouldn't.

 

Based on the service manual, it sounds like only the front and rear toe are adjustable. Is this correct? If so, something may be bent because the alignment sheet from the previous owner shows the passenger's side camber as being out of adjustment before and after the alignment. The only thing that was adjusted was toe. I figured the mechanic was just being lazy.

 

I don't think camber/caster are adjustable on these cars. Camber out of spec may be due to age and sagging suspension components. You can always get a camber kit to alleviate this.

 

Doesn't sound like it is...just front and rear toe.

I'll check when I get home, but I don't think it was out by much. The car tracks straight, doesn't seem to have any handling issues, and the tire wear is even. I'll have the dealer do a complementary check with their Hunter Quick Check system when I drop it off in the morning.

 

i agree with you

 

So I had the dealer do a quick check using their Hunter Hawkeye and both the front and rear tow were (barely) out of spec. The caster and camber was fine, so that's good to know.

 

...whereas the printout from the previous alignment (not sure where it was done) showed the toe spot on and the passenger's camber out of alignment. Guess I'll trust the dealer since I was standing right there when they did it. Plus I'd like to think the camber is in spec because otherwise that means worn or damaged suspension components.