Dealer doesn't perform alignments on TRD Tacomas?

My truck is in for it's 50k mile service at the local dealer (no mods to the truck). I requested a 4-wheel alignment because it is pulling right on the highway. The service advisor gave an explanation that makes zero sense. Has any one ever heard this?

They don't "perform alignments on TRD tacomas because of the larger wheels and short wheel base"..."if we make any adjustments it will put the wheels even closer together and you get shaking on the highway."

I consider myself rather versed in suspension geometry and can't even comprehend that gibberish. Has any one else heard of a dealer saying something like this?

 

As you likely already know, that's a completely bullshit answer and whoever you talked to has no idea what they're talking about. It would honestly make me question their ability to perform literally any other maintenance task.

 

Aren’t the wheels and wheelbase on the TRD trims the same as the “base” models?

I would run far, far away from that service department if someone tried to feed me that BS

 

It may be the 4 wheel alignment requirement. There will be no issue with a front wheel alignment request.

 

aka "we just don't want to do it"

 

Go to a different dealer or SA

 

There is no 4 wheel alignment on the solid rear axle, but a front alignment is a must. That guy is a tool.

If it's pulling it may not be the alignment. Try swapping your front tires to the other side of the truck. Tire related pull is more common.

 

pretty sure theres nothing to align on the back wheels unless something is installed wrong

 

As the others mentioned, you can only do an alignment in the front. Unless it was free, I would take it to an alignment shop specialist to get an alignment done. For certain work, the dealer is great. But for wheels/tires/alignments, I would go elsewhere where that's all they do.

 

Or they don’t know how.
(Seriously, good help is getting hard to find. And the help that is “good”, you have to train on the job. And pray they don’t leave once you spent all your time training them.)

Or they don’t know how to explain that you can’t do a 4 wheel alignment.

Sure you can fool around with the leaf springs and try to shift the axle one way or the other with what little slop is in the alignment pins. But that’s not worth it. Not worth the it all.

But the unfortunate truth is, it is most likely what you said. “They don’t want to.”
And even worse, that’s an easy sell. OP specifically ASKED for service. A simple explanation and that job could have been SOLD.

 

Yup, I think I'll go to an alignment place. I wasn't sure if this was a SE Toyota thing, or just this specific dealer/service advisor. Thanks guys.

 

And PS. 4-wheel alignment as the only option on the service form. There was no front end alignment option.

 

Mine does

 

I go to a SE Toyota dealer and they did an alignment on my TRD Sport, so I call BS lol

 

always opt for the 5 wheel alignment. The spare needs lovin also

 

That’s normal.
It sounds more thorough.
You either can, and do, a 4wheel alignment.
Or you can’t, and don’t.

 

How high was that customer service rep?

 

Hahaha wtf.

I don’t understand why they would make up such BS that makes no sense whatsoever.

 

Must be busy, times are good!

I could see a shop not wanting to deal with a heavily modded, off road butt-beat, un maintained, jalopy,,,,, but a stock truck doesn’t make sense.
Good news is- it didn’t cost you anything but a little bit of time to verify they aren’t a good shop.

 

I do 6 wheel alignments. Don’t forget about the positioning of that steering wheel.