A dealership tried to pull this with me a few months ago. I asked the service advisor why he felt I needed an alignment done and he said "it's standard after 20,000 miles." I decided on the spot that would be the first and last time I went to them for any kind of service. Glad to see your video confirms my suspicion -- thanks for these videos, they truly provide a great service for folks!
You are one of the few mechanics not trying to sell unnecessary alignments. True honesty (especially with vehicles) is at a premium these days. Much appreciated.
As mentioned in this video, check your tire wear. My 2021 Camry hybrid LE (steel wheels 205/65 R16) is 302 K miles as of today and I'm shopping around for my 4th set of tires (yes 100K miles a set) , and I still driving on the same factory alignment.
I want to discount tire and gotta free Thai repair the other day. They used a gauge or a amp on the cell phone to measure the treadfrom each side of the tire and stuffit was kind of interesting
holy moly. at the rate you drive you'll easily hit 1 million miles in a few years. you should get on a news or post it somewhere at least, might be a world record
The first time I had to do an alignment at the dealership, the alignment itself was fine but the steering wheel wasn't centered (off by less than a cm from the outer diameter of the steering wheel, but still noticeable for me). I also rotated my tires to rule out a tire issue. Even after 2 more visits they didn't think it was a problem. So in the end I decided to try adjusting the toe equally on each side a tiny bit, and after hours of trial and error I was able to get the steering wheel straight. Never felt so accomplished working on a car in my life, even for something so minor! Come to think of it, there might have been a chance that i misinformed the dealership service advisor by saying it was a "pull". I definitely learned something new. Thanks for the videos as always!
Centering the steering wheel is of the utmost importance, they are supposed to take your car for a drive to make sure of that. I would have addressed it as soon as possible .
Your alignment was not complete-have them correct the steering wheel misalignment or take it somewhere else. Your signals will never correct properly and your steering angle sensor will always sense the vehicle being turned.
Man, if I was near you, I’d hug you 🙂 You can’t imagine how much your Scotty Kilmer like old school wisdom is appreciated. It becomes more and more rare these days to see professionals who prefer to both look at the big picture and dissect the issue to pinpoint the exact problem. Most people these days prefer to use “compartmentalised” thinking and offer you standard, “safe” answers. Keep up the good work, AMD!!!
Nice comment until you compared him to Scotty Kilmer. So much nonsence comes out of Kilmer's mouth that divides Americans. You'll never get that from this channel. Thank the Lord ALL Americans are safe and respected here.
@MrLuigi-oi7gm I don’t see the contradiction between AMD and Scotty. Both great mechanics who are honest. The one difference is that Scotty has a longer life and professional experience and he can allow himself to speak his mind at times. AMD, on the other hand, prefers to play it safe and not to step on any toes. That’s all there’s to it as far as I can see.
Thank you for confirming my thoughts on routine alignments. I routinely inspect my tires for wear pattern and maintain proper air pressure. My wife’s 2011 Camry has 90000 miles and never had an alignment. Tire wear is even and drives straight just like it did when new.
It goes without saying, but needs to be said: CORRECT tire pressure is a must first, the same PSI in both front tires, otherwise it will pull. Easy fix and diagnosis.
In Australia, it may seem that your car is pulling left when driving on most country roads, but the roads have a left camber wich helps with drainage, but is also done to prevent cars pulling right into oncoming traffic if you fail asleep at the wheel.
Just an fyi. Former tech. I dont know if all hunter alighment machines do this. I would see some "techs" change it manually on the computer and on the print out on the top it would say "modified". Thats how they would do some alignments when they didn't want to work on the vehicle. so just be on the look out when the service writer lets you know what was done.
Thank u! I vaguely remember my alignment place doing that. Not sure if I had larger tires or if my 97 Camry had difficult/rusty parts, but I WILL check from now on.👍🖖🇺🇸
Quick tip for alignment pulling issues. When you think your car is pulling one side before you take it to mechanic shop or dealer,do quick test your self. Drive the car different streets see if the car pulls other streets and pulls same direction like first you feel? If not or it now pulling opposite direction don’t west your time or money. That’s road crown. Don’t forget to correct all tire pressure before doing this self testing very important.
Thank you for this informative video. Most car owners especially this new generation doesn't know about this. Like my daughter who brought her car to the dealership for an oil change and telling her the car needs an alignment every 30,000miles. Glad that I always give her tips and videos of yours and she knew how to avoid this kind of marketing by the dealership. Salute to your channel!
Good video, but I feel you missed giving a pretty good tip: You can get an idea about toe-in issues by running your fingers across both the front wheel treads left to right and right to left. They should feel identical in both directions. If you feel a little bit of a sharp edge on the tread in one direction but not the other, then that tire has been getting "dragged" slightly sideways due to poor toe-in.
I have been my own mechanic for the last 15 years (mostly Toyotas) and I wish I had AMD when I started. Most things he teaches here cost me lots of time and money over the years. Best wishes AMD you are the best!
My local Toyota dealer just tried to upsale a 4 wheel alignment today when I took my Venza with 15,500 miles for its 15K maintenance. They said my front toe was out, and I needed an alignment. I do not drive aggressively, I have never been in an accident or hit any potholes. Total BS, man!
This is a GOOD guy! I wish he could be my mechanic. I would not ask him ANY questions and allow him to maintain my vehicles and feel so comfortable. Good Bless You Car Care Nut 💙
Excellent explanation on tire basics, a lot of us get this very wrong because we've been handed the wrong information down from generations. I now understand the distinction 👍
I live in Michigan, we are the land of pot holes, usually can avoid them if on a secondary road, but sometimes on freeway driving they come so fast can’t react fast enough and hit it, thats the only reason I get a alignment yearly
Here too, stiff suspension on my truck and rough roads mean I have it checked yearly and always corrected. Keeping those adjusters clean from rust makes repairs possible.
Toyota dealerships service departments must really be hating you. You provide honest information and education. Thank you for your channel. Just today, my local dealer tried to pull this stunt on me. Said there was a slow leak in one tire that was not repairable and quoted me a price for a new set of four tires, and of course, a price with the recommended wheel alignment. Even with their buy three and get one free, the price was several hundred dollars more than the local Discount Tires store or Costco. (p.s. They would not rotate the tires on the right side of the car, electing to keep the slow leak tire on the rear. Guess they didn't think I would ever check my tire pressure or notice the TPMS light.)
After my Forrester was struck behind the passenger rear wheel while parked by someone driving over 30mph it mas moved over 6 feet. I had to fight the driver's insurance to have a rear end alignment. The insurance company told me it was impossible to cause alignment issues. The repair shop found damaged parts, my muffler was damaged and I was told without the alignment my new tires would have been damaged and needing replacement within 6000 miles.
All four original tires (General Tires) on my new 2005 Camry LE started wearing on the outer portions of the treads. The door jam sticker stated a really low PSI for the ties...I think it was 26PSI. I thought that was too low so I ran the tires at 32 PSI, then 35, then 37. No matter what I did the outer edges of all four tires were wearing first...even after rotations. There was no tire pull and I had the alignment done. Many opinions later a foreman of a tire chain speculated that the side belts of the tires were not properly supporting the tire. After the tires were replaced with another brand...problem solved and gone! Go figure! BTW...my 2020 Camry LE came with Bridgestone Tires...no problems...smooth as silk.
I had a subframe deadset kit installed on my GTI. It replaced the factory subframe bolts with higher quality bolts with locking collars. This resulted in the caster correct to near identical in the front wheels. Routine alignment is well worth the cost.
My car just turned 10 years old. It's never had an alignment, but all my tires wear equally. Rear tires aren't worn in the middle. Front tires aren't worn on the sides. I try not to hit potholes, that might bend parts.
I have an MR2 Spyder that I bought used. The rear tires were set up with camber in them, for better handling is what I was told. The tires did not last long before the inside edge started cupping. I had it set back to factory settings. Hope that helps on my new tires. Thank you for all the great info you give. You are a blessing to many people.
Check your front tires for wear for camber wear. That will determine if u need an alignment or when u let go of the steeering if it goes to the side or not
Here in Malaysia, people around me advise to do alignments every 3 months, and it helps to make the tires wear out more evenly. Also, if we're working in the e-hailing sector, every driver is required by the government to enter an official car health test every year. And one of the things they test us on is the alignment, where the tires go on a huge treadmill and gets tested. And i've failed the whole course many times just because of this one alignment test.
Back when I worked at an NTB, we would have customers come to have their tires rotated and balanced or have an alignment. Ten minutes later, they would be back at the shop saying their car was "still shaking" or was "still pulling". If they told us this in the first place, a proper diag could have been performed the first time around. Always tell the person behind the counter if your car is having an issue. It saves everyone lots of time.
Many non-car people don’t know how to describe the issue. Not their fault, they just know something is off. A good mechanic or service tech can ask a series of questions and gather information required for a correct diagnosis.
A quick mention for cars with automatic lane centering: When driving, the car may require you maintain a light, but steady, pull on the steering wheel while driving on a STRAIGHT road. If you release the steering wheel the car may dart to one side. This reaction is NOT steering pull. Instead, it is the car's automatic lane centering system testing if you have your hands on the steering wheel. So, be sure to turn off any automatic lane centering before feeling for, or diagnosing, steering pull. In many cars this is the method the steering computer uses to tell if you have your hands on the steering wheel as required for safety regulations.
The first thing to check if your car is pulling is tire pressure. Buy a good gauge and check your tires regularly. If your car has a tire pressure monitor that actually reads pressure (not all do), then checking is very easy. A tire with low pressure will cause a pull in the direction of the low tire. This can happen before you get an actual tire pressure warning. I got a 2008 Honda CRV, and the steering wheel did not center correctly. Toe was off only two tenths of a degree. After an alignment, centering was perfect. It doesn't take much to throw alignment off. One average sized Illinois pothole can do it.
Good evening, I also enjoy watching your videos and agree with alot of your experienced view points. Also being a professional technician and shop owner for 16 years can't agree more with Toyota being the best buy for your $$. Having worked for "mom and pops", "chain stores" and Ford at 2 dealers in my youth, past and getting Ford certified then becoming a Master ASE tech Plus L1 ect.. (I only own Toyotas now in my older age) Just wanted to add to your view in my opinion on the alignment chat. I have extensive back ground in Suspension, Tires, Steering and Brakes ect.. I believe it is very important to know where and how your customer drives and what the vehicle is used for. Highway (smooth)more, to city (pot holes, rough) more, owners who have rims / hub caps damaged from curb rubbing {toe}. Snow/Salt belt to Arizonia or even off road ect.. does effect wear and tear on vehicle. Not to mention towing, hauling heavy loads (Van/Trk) or even people who have cars with exessive weight in back seat or trunk always. "Not to be off base" but even if a driver is of the large size in a small vehicle and or a vehicle that see 3 or more passengers always compared to only driver. Weight distrubution does effect handling, steering & vehicle stance. Areas of possiblilty that can effect drift, pull to be added in my opinion would also be incorrect air pressure all around and difference between tires, not to mention owners not following door jam OEM specs and following only the tire sidewall for PSI. Incorrect type of load and speed rated tires put on vehicle, miss matched tread patterns, and AWD vehicles having 2 tires different in tread depth { more than 2/32} from other 2 tires and so on, 2 new, 2 old ect.. From a few weeks ago in your video on motor mounts. Transverse engine vehicles also can have a touque steer condition from worn loose or sagged mounts on the transmission and engine that missalign axle angles under take off or even cruising speed. And off the top of my thoughts - living in the snow/salt belt, Brake drag - Caliper pins not releasing, seized causing front & rear drag to drum brakes being missadjusted / uneven, one adjusted tighter than other, to actual parking brake cable corrosion that causes cable to slighly apply. Cables on older automatic transmission vehicles seem to never get attension or used and even on the rear caliper ratcheting type can just corrode and not allow piston adjustment, not to mention actual brake pad rust, hang up in slides {wheel drag}. Exellent video and continue the path, If you ever do come up to Road America again you are always welcome at our house as we live a few miles away from track. Anyway take care and God Bless.
I have a 1981 Toyota 2wd pickup. Mostly driven on gravel roads. Never needed an alignment. Last year I changed some of the worn out steering components and did my own alignment. No problems with steering or irregular tire wear.
I just had a 4 wheel alignment done on my 2004 Oldsmobile Alero FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER and jesus christ THE CAR GOES STRAIGHT WHEN I LET GO OF THE WHEEL NOW. IT'S CRAZY. and I replaced the front suspension AND NOW THE CAR FEELS LITERALLY NEW.
My 2012 Venza pulled very hard to the right. We began hearing a knocking sound when hittting bumps. I found that the right rear strut was worn out. I replaced both rear struts...car tracks straight now. This video helps that situation make sense.
Thanks for the information this will save me a lot of money. I just got a new set of tires today and declined the alignment and now I'm super glad I did. The other tires had worn beautifully.
Thank you. I had struts replaced and I was told to go have an alignment done and since I had a major component changed I will go get an alignment done. The avalon has 102,000 miles on it.
Are your tires wearing unevenly? Is your wheel straight and the car drives straight? Does it pull? If no, to pull and yes to straight wheel, sound tires, and drives straight...you don't need an alignment. I would think an alignment would have been done, or at least a site alignment.
@@CollegeRecruitsNW The shop that replaced the struts obviously didn't have an alignment rack; after replacing front struts, an alignment should be done and yes, I'm a mechanic.
You are,my friend not the only one of the best mechanics ever you are an amazing,very humble man, very oriented to every and each aspects of a problems. I am amazed with your videos and truly enjoyed them.
Something I think would have been valuable to touch on is a “tire rotation” every service. Move the fronts to the backs and the back to the fronts. I have 63,000 miles on my current set of tires, they probably still have another 20,000 miles left in them. Tire rotations go a long ways to help even tire wear.
Always such quality info. Helped me dispel some myths I’d had about alignments. Hearing it’s not a maintenance item makes me feel better. I love watching these videos to support AMD the way he supports us all by making them!
I have not watched the video yet, but the title says it all. I'm a 30 year alignment tech. And yes,wheel alignments do matter. Suspension fatigue, and other wear factors come into play. Also any component changes effect the geometry. 1/64 inch of change can affect everything. Even a simple strut change can mess things up.Toe in is the most influential factor, for tire wear. Caster ,Camber can influence vehicle stability. And don't forget the rear. Alignment also influences fuel economy. And tire wear.
Perhaps you can help: I have a 2014 370z - I bought new in 2014. I don't drive it like a Prius... so - every single time I have changed tires - since the day I bought the car - the front right tire has strange wear on it. I have had alignments but recently I am told that the front right has abnormal tire wear due to camber - and that I need to replace the upper control arms. Oddly - (this is why I am asking) - It's not typical negative camber wear - where - the inner part of the tire is abnormally worn. It's all over the entire tire - as if it's scrubbing. Funny enough (laugh at me!) - I have always felt that if I am going faster around turns - the car always feels more confident around right turns for some reason. I have had some nice tires on the car: PS4's, and now some comfortable vredenstiens for winter use. I do plan to make some changes to the suspension with adjustable coilovers, and some NICE forged upper control arms ( I don't buy junk! ) - so it's going to be about $2500-$3000 in parts alone - to maybe drop the car about a half inch, and refresh the now 110,000 worn suspension. My question to you is this: What would cause this strange tire wear? why would this happen since day one? The 370z in general just eats through tires - so I have never gotten > 18 months / 15,000 miles out of set of tires... other than stupid tires - it's a pretty low maint vehicle, and fun to drive... Most of the miles on the car a highway/long distance travel - I don't drift the car or do any stupid chit... Have never hit a curb or anything like that... Generally speaking - I am the slow driver that all the tourists are passing!! Until we hit some fun corners and then it's game on!
@@07wrxtr1 370Z shares the same platform as the Altima,s. Biggest problem is the rear aluminum, subframe. It causes alot of rear camber sag. Stock specs are about 1.2 negative camber and almost .05 degrees toe in. Good handing, but compromising tire wear. I found my tears always wore faster than the front. 350s are rear wheel drive. Altimas are front drive. I've still experienced the same problems.
@@iamredrunt172 Yeah I thought the 370z was merely an updated 350z with a longer wheelbase? I do plan to update the rear subframe bushings - Z1 sells a number of various upgrades - everything from the subframe collar inserts - to the rear differential bushing.
Excellent. One other reason that a wheel alignment is mandatory is if you replace the steering rack. Otherwise I have replaced tyres before without alignment and no issues. Best thing to do to extend the life of tyres is check tyre pressures and rotate them every 10000 miles or so.
This video have clarified me a lot with my Toyota Tundra 2010. I will try with rotating the tires. I noted front tires are outer edge wear, inner edge is fine. Let see how it goes. Thank you very much.
Literally going Saturday to have my tires installed. I haven't been seeing some of the new uploads so I was catching up on videos and saw this. Man the timing is perfect because I just told myself I was going to wait because i didn't think I have a problem and I don't want to spend 200 bucks for nothing on top of tires. You are totally right though all my young life I was told when you get new tires you have to get an alignment. I don't know any different until I started working on my own cars and noticed that they are almost never out of spec. The only time I really needed one was when I installed and new sub frame and suspension on a SUV. I'm happy that I found this channel It' s made a huge difference in how I approach taking care of my cars.
and you know your wheels are put of spec HOW?!? I guess you have an aligmnent machine that measures your camber, caster and toe down to the hundred degree inciuding your runout in your driveway hunh?!? I hate how people use their emotions to try and make things logical...what dummy would spend HUNDREDS on tires and NOT check their wheel alignment?! I started in 2004 out of school as a tire guy then an alignment guy and was ASE Certified in Suspension and Steering BEFORE I ended up at the Toyota Dealer...alignment should be check and tires rotated every 5 months or 5,000 miles if you want the maximal life from your tires....anything else that is said is idiotic....when I got to the dealer I noticed that even Dealership technicians are absolutely CLUELESS about alignment machine in the corner..let alone suspension theory... I made tons of money doing alignments for technicians who spend hours trying to do an alignment and have ZERO understanding of them...ALWAYS CHECK yoru alignment when buying tires...alignments are thrown off NATURALLY from potholes, rough roads, etc. There is no such thing as"always in spec"...that is just dumb...KEEP that attiotude and Just Tires wil lOVE to see you coming
Thankyou for being truthful, God bless. Over the years of owning a vehicle Ive learned that shops will scam and I'm much more careful about getting things worked on.
My dealer said I needed 4 new tyres, which i knew, and the first time I've ever seen that they charge for a wheel alligment. It's a 2021 model car with 40,000kms. I said no all good I'll get tyres from somewhere else.
In the 20 years I've owned my 2003 4R I've never had a wheel alignment and never rotated the tires and all of my tires wore evenly and it drove just great.
Leasing a 2023 BMW x3m ordered it back in October 2022. The vehicle came with high-performance non runflat tires staggered. I currently have 32k miles on it. I went to get an oil change and they told me I needed a new set tires which did needed them because I inspected them myself, and they also told me I needed an alignment, because of the toe is wearing on the outside of the tires.. he quoted me on in stock tires which were run flats ,and my car did not come with run flats along with alignment which all together mount & balance etc $2500. I don’t have an issue with my steering and my tires look like they’re worn out pretty evenly since they’re high performance tires as you stated toe will wear your tires out ,because this is a high-performance SUV. When I got my car it had only 7 miles on it ,and now it has 32K . have gotten way more life expansion out of those high-performance summer tires ,so I know I don’t even alignment. I just need new tires that’s it. Thank you , this video has educated, and furthermore Not only did I get cheaper tires from somewhere else , they were also an upgrade from my current tires Which I paid for everything $1300 versus $2500. Thanks for the video.
My 19 year old F250 has never had an alignment. My tires wear evenly, and it handles great. I realize as tie rods, and suspension components wear, things can go out of spec. I do 4 wheel alignments and custom suspension setups for Porsche 9111s, along with lowering and corner balancing. I have all of my own equipment, including a special alignment platform, so I know a little bit about the subject.
YEah right..an F250 that sits in the driveway and probaly hasnt more than a hundred miles on it in a year..and WHEN was th elast time you put in on the rack and had ti measured?!? Eyeballing it and saying "I dont need an alignment" or a truk you dont drive as an example is misleading..I havent been to the Dentist in 40 years either!!
When I lived up north - Canada - in very cold environment, -40 at night was common for ~2 months I had alignment done late spring after pot holes were filled. Lived 30 years now in USA and have never had alignment, currently own car I’ve had for 12 years and 135,000 miles.
I went to a Lexus dealership with a slow speed pull and did exactly what you said not to. They gave me the car back and it still pulled! Turned out to be a front tire issue as you described.
My Range Sport needed new tyres and brake linings after 50K kilometres. I was taught to drive with anticipation, and minimise brake use. I was complimented on my gentle driving. Unfortunately the tyres get a battering, with deep pot holes, and hitting the kerbs in a parking lot. So regular wheel alignments as needed. I believe the correct term is “parking by ear”. Other seniors will understand.😂 I do request printed alignment reports. The RR was very sensitive in its handling, so minor deviations in the alignment caused noticeable changes in handling behaviour. Tyres are rotated regularly, with best tyres on the front. I swapped the RR for a Lexus NX300 F sport, a delightful vehicle, with its smaller size much more suited to city driving. But I still miss the RR. Jax tyres in Sydney offer a free wheel alignment when you buy tyres from them. A promotion that is very appealing, and which gives them the opportunity to upsell brakes etc. So far they are very ethical, with no overselling.
I've done this for decades. New tires + alignment check Rotating your own tires and measuring the wear Alignment only when needed. I think I've done an alignment once, maybe twice on my cars throughout their life.
Thank you... very sound information and advice. My Toyota service always wants me to do a alignment even after I got one done. Everytime I drive in... supposedly there is a laser that measures it.
In the US, Tires Plus offers car lifetime alignment. Really awesome deal if you just got a new car and expect to drive it for a decade+ until the wheels falls off ... I have a 2011, and not sure how they are making money from me ?!?!? :)
It's a third party insurance company that Tires Plus and their sister company (Firestone CAC) deal with. I did 4 alignments with them. Right after the fourth time and with brand new tires, my car got hit and totaled. Now they're off the hook.😅
Thank you for making this video! I have a '21 es 300h and I've grappled with this issue since I got the car. I'm in Phoenix and we have very aggressive crowning. Gotten my alignment checked multiple times (alignment was good, no charge, good ppl), tires are new, balancing is good. Good to hear this for peace of mind
In 2021 I almost bought a new ES 300h but the wheel size available during covid was 19" That's an invitation to all kinds of alignment and vibration issues. I turned around and bought a new Camry hybrid LE 16" wheels, with cold weather pkg. So, I had the thing I wanted 'a heated steering wheel" in a car with plastic hub caps😊
@@landshass2849 haha yeah, the wheels look very cool but I'm terrified of curbs 😅. I have the heated steering wheel in my sienna and I never thought I'd use it when I got it, but it's one of my favorite things about the car. Toyota forever
Back in the day I had a brand new Ford F 150 pickup with bias ply L78-15 tires. The truck would catch any imperfection in the road and would 'pull' into those imperfections. I had aligned a number of times and it never helped. Eventually I put a set of Michelin radials on it and the 'pulling' disappeared. What a difference it made!
My 2000 dodge dakota x cab 4x4 has 316k and i never had it aligned. 5 sets of Tires so far since i bought it new in 2001 and they still wear even. I've replaced a few tie rods and adjusted the toe myself. And i grease the front suspension at every 3k when i change my oil. My upper and lower ball joints do not have zirk /grease fittings. So i use a grease needle on my grease gun and inject grease into the rubber boots. And also rotate the tires as well. Alignments are a rip off especially when you only need a front end Alignment and they insist you need a 4 wheel Alignment. When its impossible to adjust the rear differential assembly. This is my experience and my opinion. Do as you wish. And have a great day!
Another correctly done video with spot on recommendations. I would say here in chicago land there are more bumps than in beautiful florida that may increase rate that toe would go out a bit but recommendations are still spot on.
Two things he doesn't mention. 1. Potholes can throw your alignment off. 2. I drive on mountain roads with tight turns. My tires wear unevenly, especially the front. I rotate them every 5000 miles. However my Toyota dealer will not rotate side to side. Only front to back. I think that is wrong. Some tires are made to only rotate in one direction, but most are not. So why not rotate both ways?
1 Million Subscribers.... Wow, that's some Achievement... You so very well deserve it... I Love watching your videos.. God Bless You and your family .... Cheers from Melbourne, Australia...👍👍😊😊
im glad this was made into a video, becasue it goes to show. my dads old 98 civic only had an alignment 2 times over 15 year period. I would say its needed after a longer period of time like every 4-6 years because of pot holes, or wore out struts etc. its rarely needed. Now I off-road in my tacoma and I do my own alignments with my set up, and it does change a from a 0.5-1.0 degree difference from my last alignment., mostly in my camber which makes more sense with all the rocks and drops plus my lift, wheels and tires, heavier set ups will wear the vehicles alignment more than stock set ups. great video too
Wheel alignments, oil change stores, brakes, ... If you don't know a reliable mechanic, and there aren't that many left, just assume they are lying. 2 recent episodes: 1 - Neighbor, who like me, does most of his mechanical work, was pulling a wheel off in his garage and I stopped by and asked. He replied rotors and pads. So, being the inquisitive type, I watched as he removed the wheel and observed that the rotor and pads were in great shape, only slightly worn. I asked why he bought the pads and rotors and he said he he had oil changed and the "mechanic" advised that the front pads and rotors were shot and they could replace them with no wait for $400. He ended up with some spares. 2 - Wheel alignment. My grandson called from a tire store "my car needs to have a camber kit" put on the rear suspension because the camber is out of specs and will wear out your new tires quickly. I told him to tell them he could not afford that immediately and bring it by. I have toe plates, camber gauge and a level floor. You guessed it, the camber was in specs for the car. I sent him a video about tire wear so he would know when to be concerned.
Solid advice all around! My general rule of thumb is just align the car with a new set of tires to CYA. Otherwise, if it's driving perfectly straight, I don't bother messing with it. It's also kind of a pain because I'm pretty picky and my car is lowered on coilovers with adjustable camber plates and control arms, and most shops won't touch it lol
In my career, I found pull to be 95% tire-related. AMD, I know that you are very knowledgeble and honest. I did have a pull, or more correctly a bump-steer because the factory incorrectly installed the spring shims on a 2003 Camry XLE purchased new, binding the strut bearings, which caused the twist on the springs to steer the car left on bumps.
I usually get a lifetime alignment plan from Firestone when I buy my first new set of tires. It is about $200 bucks, but then I get it done 10x (about every 20k miles) and the ride is subtly smoother.
There are many things the can cause a vehicle to need an alignment...such as replacement of components like the struts, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc. Striking objects or going through potholes might cause bending which is enough to disturb the correct alignment. When the car is aligned to factory specifications, your tires last longer and you have better control over your vehicle at highway speeds.
I have a 2019 Spark with 80,000 miles on it. A few days ago, I noticed the car pulling to the left, and I immediately thought it might be an alignment issue. I took it to a shop and got an alignment done, only to find out the real problem was "tire separation" on the right front tire. I ended up feeling like I wasted $100 for nothing.
you are the best mechanic an human being, I done 10 alignments on my Rav 2019 and still steering wheel is not straight and the car is pulling left, I am dying because no one is able to do it. in UK i can't find a proper mechanic to help me with alignment. thanks
AMD, THANK YOU for the great info, again. No one has been able give a solid answer - why does the Avalon ‘22 and others state to rotate front to back and NOT side to side as well. One day I’ll maybe get a scientific answer. 🤔
I had a 2005 Scion XB. 262000 miles, never needed an alignment. I just bought a 2006 Scion XB. I found a receipt in the glove from the shop the previous owner bought tires from. They bought an alignment, and they were also charged for new TPMS sensors. This car doesn’t have a TPMS system!
I've heard conicity described as "radial pull", but as drawing [7:46] showed, a difference in edge to edge diameter means a probem: the wheel is at a fixed rpm, but the difference of tire diameter is demanding two speeds at once - one side is dragging, forcing steering. Quick fix until replacement can happen? Rotate front & rear, but plan on inspection soon. I experienced pull last on a vehicle that the inner tie rod was worn out/not holding consistent alignment position. Mechanic spotted the problem and correctly refused to perform the alignment I requested: it would have been a waste of time and had to be fixed first and...uneven tire wear was also apparent. In that case, tire wear was not the cause but the symptom of the bigger issue.
The world needs more mechanics like you.
Seriously! I love this channel!
A dealership tried to pull this with me a few months ago. I asked the service advisor why he felt I needed an alignment done and he said "it's standard after 20,000 miles." I decided on the spot that would be the first and last time I went to them for any kind of service. Glad to see your video confirms my suspicion -- thanks for these videos, they truly provide a great service for folks!
These Dealerships and Shops out here really gouge you and they have no conscience! They legally rob people without a gun..So disgusting.
It’s a quick $100, pure profit, non- inventory able item
I drove a 2006 Sonata over 12 years with no alignment
Caster is an angle dumb ass
@@juniormoore3953 - manufacturers need to bring back those cars! That was even before TPMS sensors were mandatory!
so close to 1 million subs dude, this channel deserves it!
Something we can All get behind. Honesty and integrity is a rare commodity these days. I’m for supporting it.
AMD, I don't think my car needs an alignment but I am really enjoying these little chats . 😁
@@Azaelult he seems to prefer it over Ahmed
Great info. I wish your shop was nearby. A competent trustworthy mechanic is hard to find.
But for that to be the case, you would have to be living in Chicago.
You are one of the few mechanics not trying to sell unnecessary alignments. True honesty (especially with vehicles) is at a premium these days. Much appreciated.
That would explain all the trouble I had last Tuesday with my shopping cart at Walmart.
Lo😂
Walmart has terrible carts. You have to test the one you get to make sure it will roll straight.😩
Time to change the wheels
Did you tell them to do an alignment on it
Must have been a Toyota Shopping Cart .... never happens with a Lexus Shopping Cart 😅
As mentioned in this video, check your tire wear. My 2021 Camry hybrid LE (steel wheels 205/65 R16) is 302 K miles as of today and I'm shopping around for my 4th set of tires (yes 100K miles a set) , and I still driving on the same factory alignment.
I want to discount tire and gotta free Thai repair the other day. They used a gauge or a amp on the cell phone to measure the treadfrom each side of the tire and stuffit was kind of interesting
It really depends on the life the car has lived and the roads it drives on.
What,100k of driving a year? I am considering buying the same car, can you give me the pros and cons?
That is a ton of driving! My back hurts just thinking about 100K per year!!!
holy moly. at the rate you drive you'll easily hit 1 million miles in a few years. you should get on a news or post it somewhere at least, might be a world record
The first time I had to do an alignment at the dealership, the alignment itself was fine but the steering wheel wasn't centered (off by less than a cm from the outer diameter of the steering wheel, but still noticeable for me). I also rotated my tires to rule out a tire issue. Even after 2 more visits they didn't think it was a problem. So in the end I decided to try adjusting the toe equally on each side a tiny bit, and after hours of trial and error I was able to get the steering wheel straight. Never felt so accomplished working on a car in my life, even for something so minor!
Come to think of it, there might have been a chance that i misinformed the dealership service advisor by saying it was a "pull". I definitely learned something new. Thanks for the videos as always!
Centering the steering wheel is of the utmost importance, they are supposed to take your car for a drive to make sure of that. I would have addressed it as soon as possible .
Your alignment was not complete-have them correct the steering wheel misalignment or take it somewhere else. Your signals will never correct properly and your steering angle sensor will always sense the vehicle being turned.
Man, if I was near you, I’d hug you 🙂 You can’t imagine how much your Scotty Kilmer like old school wisdom is appreciated. It becomes more and more rare these days to see professionals who prefer to both look at the big picture and dissect the issue to pinpoint the exact problem. Most people these days prefer to use “compartmentalised” thinking and offer you standard, “safe” answers. Keep up the good work, AMD!!!
I love the comment but let's not pull Scotty into this channel, lol
Nice comment until you compared him to Scotty Kilmer. So much nonsence comes out of Kilmer's mouth that divides Americans. You'll never get that from this channel. Thank the Lord ALL Americans are safe and respected here.
Don't compare this man to that Scotty kilmore click bait hack
I like ol Scotty 😂. He tells the truth about Toyota and other car brands. A bit over the top, perhaps, but he's ok😊
@MrLuigi-oi7gm I don’t see the contradiction between AMD and Scotty. Both great mechanics who are honest. The one difference is that Scotty has a longer life and professional experience and he can allow himself to speak his mind at times. AMD, on the other hand, prefers to play it safe and not to step on any toes. That’s all there’s to it as far as I can see.
Thank you for confirming my thoughts on routine alignments. I routinely inspect my tires for wear pattern and maintain proper air pressure. My wife’s 2011 Camry has 90000 miles and never had an alignment. Tire wear is even and drives straight just like it did when new.
It goes without saying, but needs to be said: CORRECT tire pressure is a must first, the same PSI in both front tires, otherwise it will pull. Easy fix and diagnosis.
In Australia, it may seem that your car is pulling left when driving on most country roads, but the roads have a left camber wich helps with drainage, but is also done to prevent cars pulling right into oncoming traffic if you fail asleep at the wheel.
Just an fyi. Former tech. I dont know if all hunter alighment machines do this. I would see some "techs" change it manually on the computer and on the print out on the top it would say "modified". Thats how they would do some alignments when they didn't want to work on the vehicle. so just be on the look out when the service writer lets you know what was done.
Thank u! I vaguely remember my alignment place doing that. Not sure if I had larger tires or if my 97 Camry had difficult/rusty parts, but I WILL check from now on.👍🖖🇺🇸
Quick tip for alignment pulling issues. When you think your car is pulling one side before you take it to mechanic shop or dealer,do quick test your self. Drive the car different streets see if the car pulls other streets and pulls same direction like first you feel? If not or it now pulling opposite direction don’t west your time or money. That’s road crown. Don’t forget to correct all tire pressure before doing this self testing very important.
Thank you for this informative video. Most car owners especially this new generation doesn't know about this. Like my daughter who brought her car to the dealership for an oil change and telling her the car needs an alignment every 30,000miles. Glad that I always give her tips and videos of yours and she knew how to avoid this kind of marketing by the dealership. Salute to your channel!
Good video, but I feel you missed giving a pretty good tip: You can get an idea about toe-in issues by running your fingers across both the front wheel treads left to right and right to left. They should feel identical in both directions. If you feel a little bit of a sharp edge on the tread in one direction but not the other, then that tire has been getting "dragged" slightly sideways due to poor toe-in.
I have been my own mechanic for the last 15 years (mostly Toyotas) and I wish I had AMD when I started. Most things he teaches here cost me lots of time and money over the years. Best wishes AMD you are the best!
My local Toyota dealer just tried to upsale a 4 wheel alignment today when I took my Venza with 15,500 miles for its 15K maintenance. They said my front toe was out, and I needed an alignment. I do not drive aggressively, I have never been in an accident or hit any potholes. Total BS, man!
This is a GOOD guy! I wish he could be my mechanic. I would not ask him ANY questions and allow him to maintain my vehicles and feel so comfortable. Good Bless You Car Care Nut 💙
Calm down 😂
This is the best explanation of tyre wear, alignment and pulling I have ever heard. Thank you sir, for such wonderfully complete information.
Excellent explanation on tire basics, a lot of us get this very wrong because we've been handed the wrong information down from generations.
I now understand the distinction 👍
I live in Michigan, we are the land of pot holes, usually can avoid them if on a secondary road, but sometimes on freeway driving they come so fast can’t react fast enough and hit it, thats the only reason I get a alignment yearly
Here too, stiff suspension on my truck and rough roads mean I have it checked yearly and always corrected.
Keeping those adjusters clean from rust makes repairs possible.
You are the most qualified and honest mechanic on youtube!! I do not trust my dealership.
Toyota dealerships service departments must really be hating you.
You provide honest information and education. Thank you for your channel.
Just today, my local dealer tried to pull this stunt on me. Said there was a slow leak in one tire that was not repairable and quoted me a price for a new set of four tires, and of course, a price with the recommended wheel alignment. Even with their buy three and get one free, the price was several hundred dollars more than the local Discount Tires store or Costco. (p.s. They would not rotate the tires on the right side of the car, electing to keep the slow leak tire on the rear. Guess they didn't think I would ever check my tire pressure or notice the TPMS light.)
After my Forrester was struck behind the passenger rear wheel while parked by someone driving over 30mph it mas moved over 6 feet. I had to fight the driver's insurance to have a rear end alignment. The insurance company told me it was impossible to cause alignment issues. The repair shop found damaged parts, my muffler was damaged and I was told without the alignment my new tires would have been damaged and needing replacement within 6000 miles.
All four original tires (General Tires) on my new 2005 Camry LE started wearing on the outer portions of the treads. The door jam sticker stated a really low PSI for the ties...I think it was 26PSI. I thought that was too low so I ran the tires at 32 PSI, then 35, then 37. No matter what I did the outer edges of all four tires were wearing first...even after rotations. There was no tire pull and I had the alignment done. Many opinions later a foreman of a tire chain speculated that the side belts of the tires were not properly supporting the tire. After the tires were replaced with another brand...problem solved and gone! Go figure! BTW...my 2020 Camry LE came with Bridgestone Tires...no problems...smooth as silk.
Man I am so grateful for you making this kind of content available for everyone. Good video
I had a subframe deadset kit installed on my GTI. It replaced the factory subframe bolts with higher quality bolts with locking collars. This resulted in the caster correct to near identical in the front wheels. Routine alignment is well worth the cost.
I had a 1993 Toyota pickup with 286,000 miles when I sold it. I never had any alignment issues. Tires life was great.
My car just turned 10 years old. It's never had an alignment, but all my tires wear equally. Rear tires aren't worn in the middle. Front tires aren't worn on the sides. I try not to hit potholes, that might bend parts.
A lot of times when you replace bad parts. You don’t need an alignment anymore more.
Still have my 1996 Camry, bought new. Never had a wheel alignment. Never have had any front end work needed done.
I have an MR2 Spyder that I bought used. The rear tires were set up with camber in them, for better handling is what I was told. The tires did not last long before the inside edge started cupping. I had it set back to factory settings. Hope that helps on my new tires. Thank you for all the great info you give. You are a blessing to many people.
Check your front tires for wear for camber wear. That will determine if u need an alignment or when u let go of the steeering if it goes to the side or not
I wish I watched this video like 5 days ago. Could've saved $130 and not gotten an alignment when getting new tires. Good info as always!
Here in Malaysia, people around me advise to do alignments every 3 months, and it helps to make the tires wear out more evenly. Also, if we're working in the e-hailing sector, every driver is required by the government to enter an official car health test every year. And one of the things they test us on is the alignment, where the tires go on a huge treadmill and gets tested. And i've failed the whole course many times just because of this one alignment test.
Back when I worked at an NTB, we would have customers come to have their tires rotated and balanced or have an alignment. Ten minutes later, they would be back at the shop saying their car was "still shaking" or was "still pulling". If they told us this in the first place, a proper diag could have been performed the first time around. Always tell the person behind the counter if your car is having an issue. It saves everyone lots of time.
Many non-car people don’t know how to describe the issue. Not their fault, they just know something is off. A good mechanic or service tech can ask a series of questions and gather information required for a correct diagnosis.
A quick mention for cars with automatic lane centering: When driving, the car may require you maintain a light, but steady, pull on the steering wheel while driving on a STRAIGHT road. If you release the steering wheel the car may dart to one side. This reaction is NOT steering pull. Instead, it is the car's automatic lane centering system testing if you have your hands on the steering wheel. So, be sure to turn off any automatic lane centering before feeling for, or diagnosing, steering pull. In many cars this is the method the steering computer uses to tell if you have your hands on the steering wheel as required for safety regulations.
The first thing to check if your car is pulling is tire pressure. Buy a good gauge and check your tires regularly. If your car has a tire pressure monitor that actually reads pressure (not all do), then checking is very easy. A tire with low pressure will cause a pull in the direction of the low tire. This can happen before you get an actual tire pressure warning.
I got a 2008 Honda CRV, and the steering wheel did not center correctly. Toe was off only two tenths of a degree. After an alignment, centering was perfect. It doesn't take much to throw alignment off. One average sized Illinois pothole can do it.
Good evening, I also enjoy watching your videos and agree with alot of your experienced view points. Also being a professional technician and shop owner for 16 years can't agree more with Toyota being the best buy for your $$. Having worked for "mom and pops", "chain stores" and Ford at 2 dealers in my youth, past and getting Ford certified then becoming a Master ASE tech Plus L1 ect.. (I only own Toyotas now in my older age) Just wanted to add to your view in my opinion on the alignment chat. I have extensive back ground in Suspension, Tires, Steering and Brakes ect..
I believe it is very important to know where and how your customer drives and what the vehicle is used for. Highway (smooth)more, to city (pot holes, rough) more, owners who have rims / hub caps damaged from curb rubbing {toe}. Snow/Salt belt to Arizonia or even off road ect.. does effect wear and tear on vehicle. Not to mention towing, hauling heavy loads (Van/Trk) or even people who have cars with exessive weight in back seat or trunk always. "Not to be off base" but even if a driver is of the large size in a small vehicle and or a vehicle that see 3 or more passengers always compared to only driver. Weight distrubution does effect handling, steering & vehicle stance.
Areas of possiblilty that can effect drift, pull to be added in my opinion would also be incorrect air pressure all around and difference between tires, not to mention owners not following door jam OEM specs and following only the tire sidewall for PSI.
Incorrect type of load and speed rated tires put on vehicle, miss matched tread patterns, and AWD vehicles having 2 tires different in tread depth { more than 2/32} from other 2 tires and so on, 2 new, 2 old ect..
From a few weeks ago in your video on motor mounts. Transverse engine vehicles also can have a touque steer condition from worn loose or sagged mounts on the transmission and engine that missalign axle angles under take off or even cruising speed.
And off the top of my thoughts - living in the snow/salt belt, Brake drag - Caliper pins not releasing, seized causing front & rear drag to drum brakes being missadjusted / uneven, one adjusted tighter than other, to actual parking brake cable corrosion that causes cable to slighly apply. Cables on older automatic transmission vehicles seem to never get attension or used and even on the rear caliper ratcheting type can just corrode and not allow piston adjustment, not to mention actual brake pad rust, hang up in slides {wheel drag}.
Exellent video and continue the path, If you ever do come up to Road America again you are always welcome at our house as we live a few miles away from track. Anyway take care and God Bless.
I have a 1981 Toyota 2wd pickup. Mostly driven on gravel roads. Never needed an alignment. Last year I changed some of the worn out steering components and did my own alignment. No problems with steering or irregular tire wear.
I just had a 4 wheel alignment done on my 2004 Oldsmobile Alero FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER and jesus christ THE CAR GOES STRAIGHT WHEN I LET GO OF THE WHEEL NOW. IT'S CRAZY. and I replaced the front suspension AND NOW THE CAR FEELS LITERALLY NEW.
My 2012 Venza pulled very hard to the right. We began hearing a knocking sound when hittting bumps. I found that the right rear strut was worn out. I replaced both rear struts...car tracks straight now. This video helps that situation make sense.
2005 Camry, 210,000 miles. Never had alignment. Still drives like a champ.
Thanks for the information this will save me a lot of money. I just got a new set of tires today and declined the alignment and now I'm super glad I did. The other tires had worn beautifully.
Thank you. I had struts replaced and I was told to go have an alignment done and since I had a major component changed I will go get an alignment done. The avalon has 102,000 miles on it.
Are your tires wearing unevenly? Is your wheel straight and the car drives straight? Does it pull? If no, to pull and yes to straight wheel, sound tires, and drives straight...you don't need an alignment. I would think an alignment would have been done, or at least a site alignment.
@@CollegeRecruitsNW The shop that replaced the struts obviously didn't have an alignment rack; after replacing front struts, an alignment should be done and yes, I'm a mechanic.
You are,my friend not the only one of the best mechanics ever you are an amazing,very humble man, very oriented to every and each aspects of a problems. I am amazed with your videos and truly enjoyed them.
Something I think would have been valuable to touch on is a “tire rotation” every service. Move the fronts to the backs and the back to the fronts. I have 63,000 miles on my current set of tires, they probably still have another 20,000 miles left in them. Tire rotations go a long ways to help even tire wear.
Always such quality info. Helped me dispel some myths I’d had about alignments. Hearing it’s not a maintenance item makes me feel better.
I love watching these videos to support AMD the way he supports us all by making them!
My man just saved me 200.00 on a lifetime alignment deal, now I'm just getting checked and will keep my eyes open, great advice
I have not watched the video yet, but the title says it all. I'm a 30 year alignment tech. And yes,wheel alignments do matter. Suspension fatigue, and other wear factors come into play. Also any component changes effect the geometry. 1/64 inch
of change can affect everything. Even a simple strut change can mess things up.Toe in is the most influential factor, for tire wear. Caster ,Camber can influence vehicle stability. And don't forget the rear. Alignment also influences fuel economy. And tire wear.
So, would you do an alignment check when you change the tires? And why yes, or no?
Perhaps you can help: I have a 2014 370z - I bought new in 2014. I don't drive it like a Prius... so - every single time I have changed tires - since the day I bought the car - the front right tire has strange wear on it. I have had alignments but recently I am told that the front right has abnormal tire wear due to camber - and that I need to replace the upper control arms. Oddly - (this is why I am asking) - It's not typical negative camber wear - where - the inner part of the tire is abnormally worn. It's all over the entire tire - as if it's scrubbing. Funny enough (laugh at me!) - I have always felt that if I am going faster around turns - the car always feels more confident around right turns for some reason. I have had some nice tires on the car: PS4's, and now some comfortable vredenstiens for winter use.
I do plan to make some changes to the suspension with adjustable coilovers, and some NICE forged upper control arms ( I don't buy junk! ) - so it's going to be about $2500-$3000 in parts alone - to maybe drop the car about a half inch, and refresh the now 110,000 worn suspension.
My question to you is this: What would cause this strange tire wear? why would this happen since day one? The 370z in general just eats through tires - so I have never gotten > 18 months / 15,000 miles out of set of tires... other than stupid tires - it's a pretty low maint vehicle, and fun to drive...
Most of the miles on the car a highway/long distance travel - I don't drift the car or do any stupid chit... Have never hit a curb or anything like that... Generally speaking - I am the slow driver that all the tourists are passing!! Until we hit some fun corners and then it's game on!
Yes . For me always. Different tires behave differently. If you can afford it, do it
@@07wrxtr1 370Z shares the same platform as the Altima,s. Biggest problem is the rear aluminum, subframe. It causes alot of rear camber sag. Stock specs are about 1.2 negative camber and almost .05 degrees toe in. Good handing, but compromising tire wear. I found my tears always wore faster than the front. 350s are rear wheel drive. Altimas are front drive. I've still experienced the same problems.
@@iamredrunt172 Yeah I thought the 370z was merely an updated 350z with a longer wheelbase? I do plan to update the rear subframe bushings - Z1 sells a number of various upgrades - everything from the subframe collar inserts - to the rear differential bushing.
Please 🙏🏻 show us your newest LS project!!!! The suspense is killing me! 😊
Excellent. One other reason that a wheel alignment is mandatory is if you replace the steering rack. Otherwise I have replaced tyres before without alignment and no issues. Best thing to do to extend the life of tyres is check tyre pressures and rotate them every 10000 miles or so.
This video have clarified me a lot with my Toyota Tundra 2010. I will try with rotating the tires. I noted front tires are outer edge wear, inner edge is fine. Let see how it goes. Thank you very much.
Literally going Saturday to have my tires installed. I haven't been seeing some of the new uploads so I was catching up on videos and saw this. Man the timing is perfect because I just told myself I was going to wait because i didn't think I have a problem and I don't want to spend 200 bucks for nothing on top of tires. You are totally right though all my young life I was told when you get new tires you have to get an alignment. I don't know any different until I started working on my own cars and noticed that they are almost never out of spec. The only time I really needed one was when I installed and new sub frame and suspension on a SUV. I'm happy that I found this channel It' s made a huge difference in how I approach taking care of my cars.
and you know your wheels are put of spec HOW?!? I guess you have an aligmnent machine that measures your camber, caster and toe down to the hundred degree inciuding your runout in your driveway hunh?!? I hate how people use their emotions to try and make things logical...what dummy would spend HUNDREDS on tires and NOT check their wheel alignment?!
I started in 2004 out of school as a tire guy then an alignment guy and was ASE Certified in Suspension and Steering BEFORE I ended up at the Toyota Dealer...alignment should be check and tires rotated every 5 months or 5,000 miles if you want the maximal life from your tires....anything else that is said is idiotic....when I got to the dealer I noticed that even Dealership technicians are absolutely CLUELESS about alignment machine in the corner..let alone suspension theory...
I made tons of money doing alignments for technicians who spend hours trying to do an alignment and have ZERO understanding of them...ALWAYS CHECK yoru alignment when buying tires...alignments are thrown off NATURALLY from potholes, rough roads, etc. There is no such thing as"always in spec"...that is just dumb...KEEP that attiotude and Just Tires wil lOVE to see you coming
Pleasant surprise when you see a new video upload.
‘12 Prius V. Owned since new. I’ve had 3 sets of tires on it and have never had anything but even wear. At 125K, I’m super impressed with this.
Thankyou for being truthful, God bless. Over the years of owning a vehicle Ive learned that shops will scam and I'm much more careful about getting things worked on.
I love your video!! You explain things in a way that most people can understand.
Thank You for taking the time to record it.
My dealer said I needed 4 new tyres, which i knew, and the first time I've ever seen that they charge for a wheel alligment. It's a 2021 model car with 40,000kms. I said no all good I'll get tyres from somewhere else.
In the 20 years I've owned my 2003 4R I've never had a wheel alignment and never rotated the tires and all of my tires wore evenly and it drove just great.
If your car is pulling slightly to one side, FIRST check tire pressure.
I never had to do an alignment on my cars and they run straight and fine...unless u hit the curbs or got into accident
Car care nut guy is so honest. This is the kind of mechanic everyone needs to find.
🤔🤔🤔
Leasing a 2023 BMW x3m ordered it back in October 2022. The vehicle came with high-performance non runflat tires staggered. I currently have 32k miles on it. I went to get an oil change and they told me I needed a new set tires which did needed them because I inspected them myself, and they also told me I needed an alignment, because of the toe is wearing on the outside of the tires.. he quoted me on in stock tires which were run flats ,and my car did not come with run flats along with alignment which all together mount & balance etc $2500. I don’t have an issue with my steering and my tires look like they’re worn out pretty evenly since they’re high performance tires as you stated toe will wear your tires out ,because this is a high-performance SUV. When I got my car it had only 7 miles on it ,and now it has 32K . have gotten way more life expansion out of those high-performance summer tires ,so I know I don’t even alignment. I just need new tires that’s it. Thank you , this video has educated, and furthermore Not only did I get cheaper tires from somewhere else , they were also an upgrade from my current tires Which I paid for everything $1300 versus $2500. Thanks for the video.
Another good point is that when you have a pull under acceleration it could mean there’s an issue with an axle
My 19 year old F250 has never had an alignment. My tires wear evenly, and it handles great. I realize as tie rods, and suspension components wear, things can go out of spec. I do 4 wheel alignments and custom suspension setups for Porsche 9111s, along with lowering and corner balancing. I have all of my own equipment, including a special alignment platform, so I know a little bit about the subject.
YEah right..an F250 that sits in the driveway and probaly hasnt more than a hundred miles on it in a year..and WHEN was th elast time you put in on the rack and had ti measured?!? Eyeballing it and saying "I dont need an alignment" or a truk you dont drive as an example is misleading..I havent been to the Dentist in 40 years either!!
God bless you Brother, and thank you for all that you do for us car people! ❤
The most intelligent discussion on wheel alignment ever! Thank you, sir.
Great explanation of a complicated subject!
When I lived up north - Canada - in very cold environment, -40 at night was common for ~2 months I had alignment done late spring after pot holes were filled. Lived 30 years now in USA and have never had alignment, currently own car I’ve had for 12 years and 135,000 miles.
I went to a Lexus dealership with a slow speed pull and did exactly what you said not to. They gave me the car back and it still pulled! Turned out to be a front tire issue as you described.
My Range Sport needed new tyres and brake linings after 50K kilometres. I was taught to drive with anticipation, and minimise brake use. I was complimented on my gentle driving.
Unfortunately the tyres get a battering, with deep pot holes, and hitting the kerbs in a parking lot. So regular wheel alignments as needed. I believe the correct term is “parking by ear”. Other seniors will understand.😂
I do request printed alignment reports. The RR was very sensitive in its handling, so minor deviations in the alignment caused noticeable changes in handling behaviour. Tyres are rotated regularly, with best tyres on the front.
I swapped the RR for a Lexus NX300 F sport, a delightful vehicle, with its smaller size much more suited to city driving. But I still miss the RR.
Jax tyres in Sydney offer a free wheel alignment when you buy tyres from them. A promotion that is very appealing, and which gives them the opportunity to upsell brakes etc. So far they are very ethical, with no overselling.
Where I live, drivers hit an average of 1700 major potholes a year though
That means some one is hitting 3000+ and someone else is hitting very few...see it every day 😊
I've done this for decades.
New tires + alignment check
Rotating your own tires and measuring the wear
Alignment only when needed.
I think I've done an alignment once, maybe twice on my cars throughout their life.
Thank you... very sound information and advice. My Toyota service always wants me to do a alignment even after I got one done. Everytime I drive in... supposedly there is a laser that measures it.
A honest mechanic is a needle in the haystack. I wish AMD was in my neighborhood.
Me too !!!
Thank you for your hard work delivering these educational videos.
In the US, Tires Plus offers car lifetime alignment. Really awesome deal if you just got a new car and expect to drive it for a decade+ until the wheels falls off ... I have a 2011, and not sure how they are making money from me ?!?!? :)
It's a third party insurance company that Tires Plus and their sister company (Firestone CAC) deal with.
I did 4 alignments with them. Right after the fourth time and with brand new tires, my car got hit and totaled. Now they're off the hook.😅
I got downvoted on reddit for saying that roads aren't flat and your car will naturally turn towards the shoulder lol
Thank you for making this video! I have a '21 es 300h and I've grappled with this issue since I got the car. I'm in Phoenix and we have very aggressive crowning. Gotten my alignment checked multiple times (alignment was good, no charge, good ppl), tires are new, balancing is good. Good to hear this for peace of mind
In 2021 I almost bought a new ES 300h but the wheel size available during covid was 19" That's an invitation to all kinds of alignment and vibration issues. I turned around and bought a new Camry hybrid LE 16" wheels, with cold weather pkg. So, I had the thing I wanted 'a heated steering wheel" in a car with plastic hub caps😊
@@landshass2849 haha yeah, the wheels look very cool but I'm terrified of curbs 😅. I have the heated steering wheel in my sienna and I never thought I'd use it when I got it, but it's one of my favorite things about the car. Toyota forever
@@auke640 OMG. You two are part of the reason I can't buy a simple inexpensive easy DYI Toyota any more (kidding).
@@ravenfeather7087 man it's true, Toyota knows we're never gonna buy anything else 🤷♂️
Back in the day I had a brand new Ford F 150 pickup with bias ply L78-15 tires. The truck would catch any imperfection in the road and would 'pull' into those imperfections. I had aligned a number of times and it never helped. Eventually I put a set of Michelin radials on it and the 'pulling' disappeared. What a difference it made!
My 2000 dodge dakota x cab 4x4 has 316k and i never had it aligned. 5 sets of Tires so far since i bought it new in 2001 and they still wear even.
I've replaced a few tie rods and adjusted the toe myself. And i grease the front suspension at every 3k when i change my oil. My upper and lower ball joints do not have zirk /grease fittings. So i use a grease needle on my grease gun and inject grease into the rubber boots. And also rotate the tires as well. Alignments are a rip off especially when you only need a front end Alignment and they insist you need a 4 wheel Alignment. When its impossible to adjust the rear differential assembly. This is my experience and my opinion. Do as you wish. And have a great day!
Another correctly done video with spot on recommendations. I would say here in chicago land there are more bumps
than in beautiful florida that may increase rate that toe would go out a bit but recommendations are still spot on.
Two things he doesn't mention. 1. Potholes can throw your alignment off. 2. I drive on mountain roads with tight turns. My tires wear unevenly, especially the front. I rotate them every 5000 miles. However my Toyota dealer will not rotate side to side. Only front to back. I think that is wrong. Some tires are made to only rotate in one direction, but most are not. So why not rotate both ways?
I like to get an wheel alignment every 500 miles just to play it safe
I do mine every 50, i save on gas and tires!
@@gavinsingh4450it’s an excellent move
😅😅😅
I do 500 miles in 3 days
1 Million Subscribers.... Wow, that's some Achievement... You so very well deserve it... I Love watching your videos.. God Bless You and your family .... Cheers from Melbourne, Australia...👍👍😊😊
Your knowledge is second to none,the thing as simple as wheel alignment "that's what people think" should be mith broken, bless you I've learnt.
One of the best on wheel alignment I have ever heard. Thanks AMD
im glad this was made into a video, becasue it goes to show. my dads old 98 civic only had an alignment 2 times over 15 year period. I would say its needed after a longer period of time like every 4-6 years because of pot holes, or wore out struts etc. its rarely needed. Now I off-road in my tacoma and I do my own alignments with my set up, and it does change a from a 0.5-1.0 degree difference from my last alignment., mostly in my camber which makes more sense with all the rocks and drops plus my lift, wheels and tires, heavier set ups will wear the vehicles alignment more than stock set ups. great video too
Wheel alignments, oil change stores, brakes, ... If you don't know a reliable mechanic, and there aren't that many left, just assume they are lying.
2 recent episodes:
1 - Neighbor, who like me, does most of his mechanical work, was pulling a wheel off in his garage and I stopped by and asked. He replied rotors and pads. So, being the inquisitive type, I watched as he removed the wheel and observed that the rotor and pads were in great shape, only slightly worn. I asked why he bought the pads and rotors and he said he he had oil changed and the "mechanic" advised that the front pads and rotors were shot and they could replace them with no wait for $400. He ended up with some spares.
2 - Wheel alignment. My grandson called from a tire store "my car needs to have a camber kit" put on the rear suspension because the camber is out of specs and will wear out your new tires quickly. I told him to tell them he could not afford that immediately and bring it by. I have toe plates, camber gauge and a level floor. You guessed it, the camber was in specs for the car. I sent him a video about tire wear so he would know when to be concerned.
Solid advice all around! My general rule of thumb is just align the car with a new set of tires to CYA. Otherwise, if it's driving perfectly straight, I don't bother messing with it. It's also kind of a pain because I'm pretty picky and my car is lowered on coilovers with adjustable camber plates and control arms, and most shops won't touch it lol
In my career, I found pull to be 95% tire-related. AMD, I know that you are very knowledgeble and honest. I did have a pull, or more correctly a bump-steer because the factory incorrectly installed the spring shims on a 2003 Camry XLE purchased new, binding the strut bearings, which caused the twist on the springs to steer the car left on bumps.
I usually get a lifetime alignment plan from Firestone when I buy my first new set of tires. It is about $200 bucks, but then I get it done 10x (about every 20k miles) and the ride is subtly smoother.
There are many things the can cause a vehicle to need an alignment...such as replacement of components like the struts, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc. Striking objects or going through potholes might cause bending which is enough to disturb the correct alignment. When the car is aligned to factory specifications, your tires last longer and you have better control over your vehicle at highway speeds.
Isn't that the long and the short of what AMD said?
@@Cocora22 That only means that two professional mechanics agree with each other. I have Ahmed's video marked to watch later.
I have a 2019 Spark with 80,000 miles on it. A few days ago, I noticed the car pulling to the left, and I immediately thought it might be an alignment issue. I took it to a shop and got an alignment done, only to find out the real problem was "tire separation" on the right front tire. I ended up feeling like I wasted $100 for nothing.
you are the best mechanic an human being, I done 10 alignments on my Rav 2019 and still steering wheel is not straight and the car is pulling left, I am dying because no one is able to do it. in UK i can't find a proper mechanic to help me with alignment. thanks
AMD, THANK YOU for the great info, again. No one has been able give a solid answer - why does the Avalon ‘22 and others state to rotate front to back and NOT side to side as well. One day I’ll maybe get a scientific answer. 🤔
Love all your videos!!!!!!!!!!! Always looking for the next one. Thank You for all the valuable information
I do my own alignments with a level, angle gauge, string, then use a cheap thermal imaging camera to get the wear even across the face of the tires
Yes, string is good enough escept race car on track
If you know how to do it
I paid for a lifetime alignment with Firestone when I last bought my tires 2 yrs ago. I get one done every 5k miles when I rotate them🤷🏻♂️
I had a 2005 Scion XB. 262000 miles, never needed an alignment. I just bought a 2006 Scion XB. I found a receipt in the glove from the shop the previous owner bought tires from. They bought an alignment, and they were also charged for new TPMS sensors. This car doesn’t have a TPMS system!
I've heard conicity described as "radial pull", but as drawing [7:46] showed, a difference in edge to edge diameter means a probem: the wheel is at a fixed rpm, but the difference of tire diameter is demanding two speeds at once - one side is dragging, forcing steering. Quick fix until replacement can happen? Rotate front & rear, but plan on inspection soon.
I experienced pull last on a vehicle that the inner tie rod was worn out/not holding consistent alignment position. Mechanic spotted the problem and correctly refused to perform the alignment I requested: it would have been a waste of time and had to be fixed first and...uneven tire wear was also apparent. In that case, tire wear was not the cause but the symptom of the bigger issue.