Alignment out of spec

Just got an alignment after replacing lca bushings, upper ball joints, steering rack bushings and tie rod ends. What would make the left side just slightly out of spec still?

 

An experienced alignment tech?

What is the condition of the LBJs?

 

What was the reason given when they handed the keys and report to you? Did you ask? I'd call the shop up or go back and ask them to explain it to you. Also ask if they inspected your suspension components and verified everything was OK (see highlight below). A good shop should be checking your suspension components as part of the alignment service.

 

The only place you should get anything aligned is at a good frame/body shop. Never ever ever at places like PepBoys. Ever, ever ever. If you are lucky they might be able to get the toe-in right but you don’t want them touching anything eccentric. Besides, they normally wouldn’t be able to free anything up because most are prohibited from using torches. Probably in our best interest...

 

Some lazy ass didn’t feel like doing his job.

 

Does anyone have recommendations for a shop in Southern California?

I do my research but I figure someone might have a good shop.

 

OR, a competent tech was equalizing settings to the best of his/her ability on a truck that has bent components. Evening things out to achieve acceptable tire wear and handling is called 'real world' sometimes.

 

Are you lifted?

 

This^

 

Where in Southern CA?

If you're in the LA area then go to RPM Garage in Monrovia. I live about a mile from them, they do a great job. They work almost exclusively on 4x4 Toyotas and do great alignments on lifted/modified rigs.

 

I'm in the central Orange County area but I get around because of my work, girlfriend and pick your parts.

Monrovia is about 30 minutes from were I work in Anaheim and if they basically specialize then its worth it.

 

They're an all around repair/maintenance shop but they do alignments as well, they install all kinds of stuff on Toyota 4x4s and then get them aligned properly right there in house. I trust them to do mine. They are a pretty small shop and seem to be pretty swamped every time I go there, so I would be sure to call ahead and have them schedule you in.

 

So the alignment tech just gave you the truck like this and didn't make any suggestions as to why the alignment wasn't able to get within spec?

Sounds like you need to find a new alignment shop.

Curious why you went through all the trouble of replacing the upper ball joints, bushings, tie rod ends, but left the lower ball joints?

The LBJs should be first on your list, and then replace all that other stuff while you're in there...

 

Something is most likely slightly bent. Sometimes it is very hard to spot a bent component. The number is only out of spec by .3 degrees and is different from the right side by less than 1 degree. They should have explained that after you got the print out of the alignment. It will not harm anything being out by that small of an amount.