Steering Wheel not straight (crooked) after wheel allignment at Firestone. twice

I hate it when that happens! Sitting still, you don't know if the wheels are turned or not. 3 tries at the dealer, different excuse each time. Try 4 at Tire Discounters when I bought new Michelin's finally got it! Must be rocket science.

 

Try turning the caster down .5 degrees on driver side to accommodate for the road crown on the streets. And ask them if they are sitting in the car when doing the alignment because angles change when you are in vs out of car. Also if you have cheapy tires or uneven wear, that might also effect the steering wheel tilting to the left or right when you drive.

 

I do my own alignment (my Tacoma didn't fit on the alignment machine at the dealer). I've learned alot mostly on the order on what to align first, second, third and fourth and have everything straight.

If you want me to make a video on getting your steering wheel straight let me know!

 

Firestone is shit, they "set the Toe and Let it go". If they gave the techs more time/pay on these, you might get a decent alignment. An alignment at Firestone is like getting Fries at any fast-food "restaurant". The employee doesn't give 2 shits about the end result, they're just doing their job!

 

lmao! Ah that cracked me up.

 

Sad thing is its the 100% truth, a few months back a former Firestone Manager told me about the "set the toe and let it go" bs! My wife's grandma bought her the lifetime alignment from Firestone. I knew her struts were done, after 6 alignments not one note from the techs about the torn boots and blown shocks. I see it as a straight Fuckyou to the customer.

 

Please Please make a video. I would totally appreciate that. and I am sure a lot of others can use that too.

 

Alright I just got off work and will make the video shortly.

 

I'm pretty proficient at doing my own alignment, but I'd still like to see a video. It's good to see other methods incase yours is shitty. I use a $30 angle finder from harbor freight and a piece of pipe cut to fit my wheels. Accurate enough to set camber and caster within +/-.1°

 

Alright here it is.
Again this is assuming your caster, tow and camber is all good and straight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbQoH-ANan8

 

I work for Bridestone Firestone corp.
As a certified technician.
I can assure you, that the alignment of the steering wheel can be off on a Tacoma due to being aligned with out weight in the driver's seat.
I set my own 2012 Tacoma, to find out that the wheel turned to the left approximately 1/2" once I set in the truck. You also have to compensate for any component flexation (wheel spread) under load.
I weigh 190# so if a bigger guy than me sets in it(my older brother at 6'5" 300#), it turns even more.
So I adjusted it to set 1/4" to the right, to compensate for this.
Our alignment machine is newer and freshly calibrated.
Yes this can happen to anyone.

The beauty of the lifetime alignment service is, you can have it aligned or checked monthly if you wish.
There is no limit to how many times you can get it aligned.

We have regular customers who come in for oil changes and rotations and also have the alignment checked every service.
It pays for itself.

 

This just sounds Like Corporate Mumbo Jumbo!

If you are a certified tech and take the time to make sure your work is up to or beyond industry standard, thats great!

All I know is after 6 Lifetime Alignments at the same Firestone location nothing was said, which is surprising cause no vehicle should need an alignment every 4-5k miles. I had my wife take her car to a different Firestone for an alignment and had her mention it drove funny and they gave her a $1000 estimate to replace all four struts/shocks!

 

a little on my background.
i spent 15 years working for a private ambulance company, where your work had to be right the first time every time! you had to be quick and efficient at your job!
i cannot speak for all Firestone locations, just the one i work for.
our team is hand picked by our manager (each member has a specialty).
if anyone of our team remotely tries to gouge a customer there would be hell to pay. maybe it is a midwest thing to be honest!
i would like to think all of our stores were run this way, but sadly in today's society, i would bet some are too tempted by greed.

we service a couple fleets of tow vehicles that do come through every 3 weeks. we always check the alignment. some are out some are good to go, but the customer has purchased the right to have it done at anytime for the life of the car (as long as they own it).

 

Glad to hear you and your shop take pride in your work. I've found its very hit and miss on people taking pride in what they do.

I just find it amusing that shops are failing to recommend work on customers vehicles. That just shows their lack of business skill and any sort of concern they have for their customers safety. (Recommending work = potential business)

 

OP,

Overtime I go to Firestone, I have this problem as well. Let me know what you decided to do to fix this issue

 

i have worked at two different dealers in my younger years who had a standing order, If a customer doesn't ask for it, don't say anything!
i won't work for a place like that anymore.

 

My steering wheel is better now after 3rd visit to firestone (in 2 weeks). but there seems to be no free play when the steering wheel is dead center. I thought that there used to be a little play but there is none there now. When driving, I need to always slightly move the steering wheel either left of right just to keep it straight. Shouldnt the truck just drive straight without me having to adjust it or hold it tight?

 

Thank you. thats a great video. I appreciate your time on this

 

firestone told me that they cannot adjust the caster or my truck because it was max or whatever.. so both my caster value is like 3.33. how can I adjust the caster to the correct value? or how do you make your truck caster adjustment?