Tyler121 Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 My 1994 ES300 is running insainly well for being this old. The only problem i have is that it pulls to the right. I took it to Firestone and got an alignment done on it. They showed me the before and after specs saying that the front left and rear right were miss aligned. They fixed the problems, I get in my car and it still pulls to the right. So now my car pulls to the right, and the steering wheel is turned to the left while going strait...is there anything else that could be wrong instead of the alignment?
blk_on_blk Posted November 1, 2007 Posted November 1, 2007 If your steering wheel is off center now, I'd seriously second guess the Firestone alignment. They can show you all the specs they want, but if it's still pulling, and now the steering wheel is off, then your alignment is still out of whack. I'd take it to another shop (I've never heard many good reviews of Firestone's work).
Tyler121 Posted November 1, 2007 Author Posted November 1, 2007 well the steering wheel was a little off to start with, but now its more and the alignment isn't fixed...
TomWoodLexus Posted November 2, 2007 Posted November 2, 2007 Was the steering wheel straight before the alignment? I see this sometimes in the shop. I do an alignment, the specs are nearly perfect, and someone comes back in a month with a pull, thinking that alignment is the only thing that could have done this! But alignment happens to be the least likely candidate for a pull. I have found these things that have been responsible for a pull in the past: Tire pressures tire sizes, tire tread depth unusual tire wear tire pull- it's how the cords in the tire make the vehicle pull roads (yes, road crown can screw with you!) alignment seized brakes
TomWoodLexus Posted November 2, 2007 Posted November 2, 2007 oh yeah, I don't mean that in a negative way towards you, just keep these things in mind. It does sound like a bad alignment from the fact that your steering wheel is not centered. Also, worn parts will make that happen, but that is why a pre-alignment inspection is done.
amf1932 Posted November 2, 2007 Posted November 2, 2007 Improper centralizing of the steering wheel does not mean that the wheel alignment is bad. In other words, all they have to do to correct the steering wheel is to adjust the tie rod ends. and then recheck the proper toe-in.
Tyler121 Posted November 2, 2007 Author Posted November 2, 2007 well i hope it doesnt have anything to do with my tires since they are new. They are about 3 weeks old...so is there anything else that could cause the pulling to the right?
mkeeney Posted November 7, 2007 Posted November 7, 2007 well i hope it doesnt have anything to do with my tires since they are new. They are about 3 weeks old...so is there anything else that could cause the pulling to the right? Did it start when you got the new tires? Tires aren't perfectly flat across the tread and one side may be bigger than the other. There is a spec for conicity on tires and OEM tires are held to a higher standard than replacement tires. Try swapping the two front tires to see if it pulls the other direction to rule out the tires. You may have a bad tire.
zockslexus Posted November 9, 2007 Posted November 9, 2007 check in this exact order. it is as per fsm. tires (out of round), wheel balance wheel alignment steering linkage hub bearings steering gear suspension parts.
Tyler121 Posted November 9, 2007 Author Posted November 9, 2007 so is the best way to check the tires is switching the front two?
Tyler121 Posted November 9, 2007 Author Posted November 9, 2007 o and thanks everyone for the responses
zockslexus Posted November 9, 2007 Posted November 9, 2007 take the front and put it to the back, both sides. or have them balanced at a shop...should be like 10 bucks a tire.
LEX man44 Posted November 25, 2007 Posted November 25, 2007 take the front and put it to the back, both sides. or have them balanced at a shop...should be like 10 bucks a tire. I had the same issue with my 99 ES and went round and round taking it to 3 different alignment shops...... Lexus dealer ship was totally usless saying that it could be the frame misaligned and cost me $100 for nothing. I finally put new tires on and still pulled. Took it to Sears and the guy switched the the front tires, aligned it and it and got me straighted out. So in my case it turned out to be the tires. But the guy at Sears was willing to work with me whatever it took to alieveate the problem so find someone that feels your pain. To be honest I was ready to trade the car in because of this. It was a drag to have to pull on the steering wheel the oppisite direction the entire trip whenever I got on the road.
Adnan Malik Posted January 30, 2008 Posted January 30, 2008 I have the same problem. The reason is the chamber (shock absorber) is not straight. They are in negative. What you need to do is to change the Bolt with bigger one. Try to get Camry bolt. As FIRESTONE to change the bolt in the chamber.
Tyler121 Posted January 30, 2008 Author Posted January 30, 2008 omg!!! thank you so much. it is so annoying to drive like that an i am so ready for it to stop. once again thanks man!
jet_a_jockey Posted January 31, 2008 Posted January 31, 2008 omg!!! thank you so much. it is so annoying to drive like that an i am so ready for it to stop. once again thanks man! I had this same problem with my 94 shortly after I got it, as well as a high speed wobble. new tires+balance and an alignment took care of it. It doesn't take much, just a rough bump or a pothole to throw your alignment out of whack, especially with low profile tires. I think one of the biggest killers of my alignment has been railroad tracks.
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