Just got some lowering springs installed at a place other than the dealer. I then went to the dealer to get an alignment and they couldn't/wouldn't do it.

They said their machine didn't have the right specs to do the alignment on a lowered car.

I fail to see how aligning the car would be any different with lowering springs. I only lowered it less than 1 1/2 inches.

Anyone else have this experience or is my dealer feeding me lies? Or is there validity to their denial?

Seems rather strange though, since they offer lowering as an option.

Sounds totally lame. Alignment goes with the spring install. If they didn't have the specs they should have made an effort to get them. IMO

Ken

I called a few of the local dealerships in my area and got 2 nos and 1 yes.

One of the places said that a lowered vehicle can only be aligned if cam adjusters are installed and they don't have the parts to do that. I know very little about cars, so if anyone can verify this, I would appreciate it.

Since I know plenty of Scion owners have lowering springs, has anyone else had problems aligning their xB? I can't be the only one.

On another note, I wound up taking the car to a reputable independent brake and alignment shop. They aligned it for me with no problem, but I had a serious steering wheel shake after the alignment. I took it back to them and they said it was perfectly aligned. I got the tires balanced and it made the shake better, but it is still not totally gone.

Is there something special about aligning a Scion with a lowering kit? Please enlighten me.

Thanks.

According to TRD, if you had installed the TRD springs or an equivalent, the Scions can be aligned with no problem using factory specs and no special equipment. I don't know what you put on, but normally it would not be a big deal. You do have some dealers out there that take one look at a car with mods and go straight for the negative mode and get very unhelpful. Good luck.

Ken
trdsparks.com

I had Hotchkis springs installed which only lower the car another half inch more than the TRD springs. I actually would have used TRD springs if it didn't cost $500 to install at the dealer.

I actually had a dealer tell me they couldn't do the alignment without even asking if they were TRD springs.

Is there something specil about the TRD springs that make it different from other springs? I would think not, but as I mentioned, I am no mechanic.

BTW, thanks for your replies and input.

Not defending anyone but everyone knows if you dont get it installed at the dealer they will give you a hard time. Everyone here has a brand new scion of some sort. I dont like the dealer but if its going to void my warranty or give me a hard time. u might as well get it installed there and get everything in writing. You wouldnt take your old clunker and get anything installed at the dealer you will take it to an outside source because its cheaper and your car doesnt have warranty to begin with.

I understand your point, but I am not talking about warranty work here. I wanted to pay them for a common service.

BTW, the dealer said they COULDN'T align it, not WOULDN'T align it. They said they couldn't do any car that was lowered.

I would like to know if anyone else has had problems with alignment on an xB with lowering springs.

Anyone?

they are not lying to you..Some Alignemnt racks (older models) do not have the rigfht sensors to align to the specs on your car, up unitl 1 year ago if you lowered your car our dealer wouldn't be able to do it, so you will here no's and the dealer is not screwing you either..

they won't align LIFTED trucks either. many after market places won't align lifted truck, so it does not surprise me that they won't do it. If I lower mine I will have my dealer do it, or the dealer that sponsers ScineryIE as they have the parts to do the lowering....

I understand your point, but I am not talking about warranty work here. I wanted to pay them for a common service.

BTW, the dealer said they COULDN'T align it, not WOULDN'T align it. They said they couldn't do any car that was lowered.

I would like to know if anyone else has had problems with alignment on an xB with lowering springs.

Anyone?

Just an update:

After speaking to several people including people at Hotchkis (who have 2 xBs on lowering springs), I have been told repeatedly that there is nothing special about aligning a car that has been lowered less than 2 or 2.5 inches. It should be aligned to factory specs, which the dealer should be able to do. It does not require any special specs or a camber kit, it's just a plain old alignment.

I really doubt the dealer has the equipment to do an alignment. Most Old' G's know how to do an alignment the traditional way. Of course I’m being vague but if you'd knew the old fashion way of doing it then there wouldn't be a problem in aligning your car.

I suggest going to a shop that has an idea of how to align your car. Most places will look you straight in the eyes and tell you they do. I have, on one hand, know the differences and when they are full of sh*t.

Good luck

dude if you paid more than 150bucks than you should have gotton an alignment done!! We charge 65bucks for the install and there is a shop next door that does alignments for 60bucks. Scionlife memeber "squirrel" had his alignment done at www.autoinnovations.com :D

I had my alignment done on my xB less than a minth after getting it. The shop I go to, Auto Innovations, has one of the latest computerized racks. I've been going there for a while now. They work on my Matrix also.

Of course the xA, xB, and now the tC are so new, there may or may not be any specs. BUT, since the xB has relatively the same front end as an Echo, I had Steve and Orlando use the Echo specs.

Its been aligned only twice, the first time when I installed Spy springs, and the second time when I installed the TEINs.

So is the alignment mandatory then? I've heard people saying it's not necessary for springs like TEIN and TRD, since the drops aren't too much?

Thanks

So is the alignment mandatory then? I've heard people saying it's not necessary for springs like TEIN and TRD, since the drops aren't too much?

Thanks

Well, I look at it this way. When ever a car is lowered, it will change the geometry of the front end, however slight. Just becuase tyhe steering wheel is centered doesn't mean your tires will still wear the same, nor will it drive straight. The toe will change, and will effect how the tires will wear. I would rather pay $60 or so now for an alignment, than pay $200(+) for two front tires later. Just my 1.5 cents.

At our dealership, alignment is included.

So is the alignment mandatory then? I've heard people saying it's not necessary for springs like TEIN and TRD, since the drops aren't too much?

Thanks

Well, I look at it this way. When ever a car is lowered, it will change the geometry of the front end, however slight. Just becuase tyhe steering wheel is centered doesn't mean your tires will still wear the same, nor will it drive straight. The toe will change, and will effect how the tires will wear. I would rather pay $60 or so now for an alignment, than pay $200(+) for two front tires later. Just my 1.5 cents.

Makes perfect sense and I will add $60 to my suspension mod list then :) Thanks

Okay, from what I read here, you guys are advising an alignment after the TRD springs are installed. However, I've spent the suspension budget on the installation and now don't have the cash for the alignment. Is it really a precautionary measure to align or an absolute necessity? The certified mechanic I used told me to occasionally rub the inside of the front tires to check for excess wear. Will this tell me if the alignment is actually required?

I don't want to ruin the tires, but I also don't want to spend money that I don't have to. A dilemma...

does it affect the camber to the point that their machine won't work right? Doesn't make much sense to me, but that's the only thing I can think of...something to do with the camber issue.

just take it somewhere else

Okay, from what I read here, you guys are advising an alignment after the TRD springs are installed. However, I've spent the suspension budget on the installation and now don't have the cash for the alignment.

I don't want to ruin the tires, but I also don't want to spend money that I don't have to. A dilemma...

You'd better scrape up the money. I didn't bother to get mine aligned because I knew I was going to get new tires in the spring anyway.. and my tires did get worn quick. Better to spend the 40-60 now than 200+ later.

when i had my goldlines on, the dealer wouldn't guarantee a perfect alignment because of the 2" drop

when i had my springs installed the tech didn't even ask me if i wanted an alignment done. he just did it!

So yes in all honesty, you should have had the dealer align your car.

there is nothing to an alignment....back when I did alignments I dropped my suburban 4-6 and the only part difficult about it was getting it on the rack without getting stuck. once it was on the rack I aligned it back to factory specs. Even with airbag suspensions you put the vehicle at the height it is going to be driven and align it their for optimal performance/tire wear. as for the guy who had shaking after the alignment, the alignment is not "perfect" or there would not be shaking, tell the manager of the shop to drive the vehicle and ask him if it's "perfect" after that. I work at a dealership, our techinicians won't do an alignment on a lowered car b/c they think it's a pain in the ___...not because the equipment won't allow it. your being jerked around, take it to a local, reputable alignment shop, having an alignment done by someone other than the dealer wont void your warranty

Not defending anyone but everyone knows if you dont get it installed at the dealer they will give you a hard time...
no, i got my TRD springs installed at the dealer after which i could not hold my steering wheel straight, they said it was the aftermarket wheels i put on and refused to do an alignment, so i switched back to my stock wheels, same problem... this has been a month ago and i've yet to go back to them and _____ about their misdiagnosis.
and i'm still ____ed

as far as the service side goes.... DEALERSHIP=STEALERSHIP

hell yea i agree with you completely, i'm only going there for my next 2 "FREE" oil changes, after that, i'm done with those a-holes.

here's my whole story:
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=391929&highlight=alignment#391929

The dealer nearest to my home (Frontier Toyota) would not do mine only because I had chrome wheels. Now, if this is true or not, I don't know.

I had my dealer align my xB with hotchkis springs no problem.

I bought TuRD springs & had them installed with both Hotchkis bars at a local Goodyear store who also fits 20" wheels on xB's The worst problem is that on the xB, the camber is not adjustable, so you need to buy an eccentric camber bolt kit (avail. from highonscion.com, I think??) to properly align w/ lowered springs & tire change. The difference is amazing. Smooth easier steering , and seems like less torque pull on acceleration. Go to someone who specializes in lowered cars & big wheels. The people I went to have the best rep in the area......ain't cheap though. 8)