Firestone Alignment w/ SPC UCA...what a joke

Driver Front Cam

Driver Rear

Passenger Front - And an old UCA Washer lol


Passenger Rear

Just a photo to show my setup, and what id consider decently clean components. Tie bar isnt a rust bucket or anything...

 

That looks pretty cherry actually. If you're ever up in the DFW area, I'll align it for ya.

 

Yeah caster and camber is not too bad I guess...the toe'd out thing that's visable, probably in better light, is what has me jaded.

 

I know this isn't a thread about UCAs, but here are my Spec's after the Camburg UCAs and Bilstein 6112s.
As you can see my caster is high for being lifted. A higher caster helps track straight down the road. The half degree split compensates for road crown. I did you back in and move camber back out to the positive 1.0 on both sides. Drives a bit better.

 

Well same tech actually worked on it with another I didnt see yeaterday. He mentioned it was siezed again but would give it a try, and the disgruntled front office dude was gone and everyone was friendly for the most part. I also told him if he would please try again, because he seemed reluctant, so I also mentioned i'd buy him a 6 pack....Well im happy to say im at least all in the green and I happily bought the homie a 6 pack of Modelo....And I was out of there in 20 min, like it was nothing!

How do yall think these numbers look?

 

It can be a thread about whatever helps us get better results from Firestone! I read a lot on the high caster setting on TW before I went in the first time. I feel comfortable I can get additional caster adjustment by flipping the rectangular washer a different way on the SPC balljoint. Might try to give that a shot today.

Thank you everyone for the help and input. Got some things to go learn. First things first "DIY string jobs"...

 

It may be that they rolled the threads on the jam nut last time alignment was done. I've seen that a few times.

 

Well said. Many people often don't look at things from more than their own perspective. I think it's healthy to put the shoe on the other foot every once in a while.

 

2 years & 10 + alignments - I went in a week before this photo and my LCA bushing was toast and they said fix it and bring it back.. then they refund me lol

 

That's amazing!

 

Thanks for the breakdown, and I feel ya that's why I decided to leave in a good mood still and call once I got home. I am sorry if I frustrated you, I greatly value good customer service and those working in the service industry.

 

Man I have heard that a lot but honestly I dont know where it comes from. I had a very built LX470, came from ih8mud to here. LR was one of the first to make a UCA with an AHC bracket for those suspension systems. My brother has the forged on his 3rd gen taco...and these 1st gen ones havenbeen nice after upgrading the ball joints to the new ones. And honestly wanted camburg this go around but got a great deal. Fingers crossed i guess..

 

After looking at the pics of the cams, you posted, there's a ton of room for improvement on those shity alignment numbers you have. By the numbers you have, the truck must pull to the right.

I hate to tell you, but you wasted good beer on a lazy tech.

 

its hard work to turn those 4 bolts

 

Yup, it's pulling right after driving it around this morning, thinking ill try the DIY method or give Duggys Garage a shot. Sucks but im down to learn something new too.

 

Much appreciated man, going to dig into this later!

 

Yikes

 

This situation sounds more like an issue with the business model for free lifetime alignments than anything else. A modified vehicle should either have an increase in price or just not be allowed to purchase the package. Blaming the customer for the company's inability to manage the services that it offers isn't going to help anything. People just want the work done on their car that they've paid for.

A tech throwing a tantrum because they weren't handed an easy job is laughable.

 

Haven't read the thread just going off the title here, but I've had a Firestone lifetime package since I got my truck stock. It's anything but stock now, I have SPCs, Kings, blah blah blah.

Firestone does factory spec alignments and factory spec alignments do not involve adjusting the upper control arms. If you ask them to adjust the SPCs they won't do it, or they'll say they will but they won't. Your best bet (and what I finally did) was to find a local 4x4 shop that does alignments. They'll know exactly what to do.

I only use my lifetime package at Firestone if I need a toe -n- go alignment, since that's really all they're good for if you have aftermarket suspension on your truck.

 

So they can charge you 4 billion dollars for an alignment?