2000 RX 300 - 4 wheel alignment

[techtrainer]

Vehicle: 2000 RX300 - Front wheel drive, mainly driven short distances
as a soccer mom's car.
Mileage: 63,000
Tires : New

Hi everyone:

Need your expert opinion.
I have new tires (6 months old) and just had them rotated-balanced.
When I drove the car on a straight road, there was a slight drift to
the right if I let the steering wheel go.

I had the 4 wheel alignment done at Sears, paid $95 for it. They give
6 month-6000 mile warranty.

Problem is I tested the car back on the freeway, and the drift to the
right is still there.
Also, as before steering feels little heavy on the left .. ie. if I
have to turn left, but feel light if I have to turn right.

I remember the technician telling me he cannot do anything about the
drift to the right side.
He said he has adjusted alignment to original settings.

Can you help me understand if the technician's argument is correct ?
I feel cheated out .. but not sure
if my expectations are right or not.

Thx very much for your assistance.

[Ray O]

Post by techtrainer
Vehicle: 2000 RX300 - Front wheel drive, mainly driven short distances
as a soccer mom's car.
Mileage: 63,000
Tires : New
Need your expert opinion.
I have new tires (6 months old) and just had them rotated-balanced.
When I drove the car on a straight road, there was a slight drift to
the right if I let the steering wheel go.
I had the 4 wheel alignment done at Sears, paid $95 for it. They give
6 month-6000 mile warranty.
Problem is I tested the car back on the freeway, and the drift to the
right is still there.
Also, as before steering feels little heavy on the left .. ie. if I
have to turn left, but feel light if I have to turn right.
I remember the technician telling me he cannot do anything about the
drift to the right side.
He said he has adjusted alignment to original settings.
Can you help me understand if the technician's argument is correct ?
I feel cheated out .. but not sure
if my expectations are right or not.
Thx very much for your assistance.

If the alignment is actually within specifications, then the likely cause is
either the crown of the road or the tires. If you rotate the tires back to
their original position, does the drift to the right go away?

[techtrainer]

On Aug 12, 10:11 pm, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>

Post by Ray O

Post by techtrainer
Vehicle: 2000 RX300 - Front wheel drive, mainly driven short distances
as a soccer mom's car.
Mileage: 63,000
Tires : New
Need your expert opinion.
I have new tires (6 months old) and just had them rotated-balanced.
When I drove the car on a straight road, there was a slight drift to
the right if I let the steering wheel go.
I had the 4 wheel alignment done at Sears, paid $95 for it. They give
6 month-6000 mile warranty.
Problem is I tested the car back on the freeway, and the drift to the
right is still there.
Also, as before steering feels little heavy on the left .. ie. if I
have to turn left, but feel light if I have to turn right.
I remember the technician telling me he cannot do anything about the
drift to the right side.
He said he has adjusted alignment to original settings.
Can you help me understand if the technician's argument is correct ?
I feel cheated out .. but not sure
if my expectations are right or not.
Thx very much for your assistance.

If the alignment is actually within specifications, then the likely cause is
either the crown of the road or the tires. If you rotate the tires back to
their original position, does the drift to the right go away?
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Hi Ray:

Good question .. I don't know. Before I had the tires rotated &
balanced the same drift was there. It is after that I got the
alignment done.
Rotating back to their original position will not be easy to do --
will have to take it back to shop. Is there any other way to check ?

Is my expectation for the drift to be correct too high ?

Thx
Bimal

[Ray O]

Post by techtrainer
On Aug 12, 10:11 pm, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>

Post by Ray O

Post by techtrainer
Vehicle: 2000 RX300 - Front wheel drive, mainly driven short distances
as a soccer mom's car.
Mileage: 63,000
Tires : New
Need your expert opinion.
I have new tires (6 months old) and just had them rotated-balanced.
When I drove the car on a straight road, there was a slight drift to
the right if I let the steering wheel go.
I had the 4 wheel alignment done at Sears, paid $95 for it. They give
6 month-6000 mile warranty.
Problem is I tested the car back on the freeway, and the drift to the
right is still there.
Also, as before steering feels little heavy on the left .. ie. if I
have to turn left, but feel light if I have to turn right.
I remember the technician telling me he cannot do anything about the
drift to the right side.
He said he has adjusted alignment to original settings.
Can you help me understand if the technician's argument is correct ?
I feel cheated out .. but not sure
if my expectations are right or not.
Thx very much for your assistance.

If the alignment is actually within specifications, then the likely cause is
either the crown of the road or the tires. If you rotate the tires back to
their original position, does the drift to the right go away?
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Good question .. I don't know. Before I had the tires rotated &
balanced the same drift was there. It is after that I got the
alignment done.
Rotating back to their original position will not be easy to do --
will have to take it back to shop. Is there any other way to check ?
Is my expectation for the drift to be correct too high ?
Thx
Bimal

If the drift appeared after the alignment, then the alignment was probably
not done properly. If the drift was present before and after the alignment,
then the cause is probably tires or the crown of the road.

You can eliminate the crown of the road if you can find a relatively flat
road or drive in the left lane of a 2 lane divided road.

Other than due to the crown of the road, the vehicle should track straight.
The difference in steering effort from side to side is a clue that you
should relay to the place that is doing the alignment - I suspect that there
may be more caster on the left side than on the right side.

[satmech]

Post by techtrainer
On Aug 12, 10:11 pm, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>

Post by Ray O

Post by techtrainer
Vehicle: 2000 RX300 - Front wheel drive, mainly driven short distances
as a soccer mom's car.
Mileage: 63,000
Tires : New
Need your expert opinion.
I have new tires (6 months old) and just had them rotated-balanced.
When I drove the car on a straight road, there was a slight drift to
the right if I let the steering wheel go.
I had the 4 wheel alignment done at Sears, paid $95 for it. They give
6 month-6000 mile warranty.
Problem is I tested the car back on the freeway, and the drift to the
right is still there.
Also, as before steering feels little heavy on the left .. ie. if I
have to turn left, but feel light if I have to turn right.
I remember the technician telling me he cannot do anything about the
drift to the right side.
He said he has adjusted alignment to original settings.
Can you help me understand if the technician's argument is correct ?
I feel cheated out .. but not sure
if my expectations are right or not.
Thx very much for your assistance.

If the alignment is actually within specifications, then the likely cause is
either the crown of the road or the tires. If you rotate the tires back to
their original position, does the drift to the right go away?
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Good question .. I don't know. Before I had the tires rotated &
balanced the same drift was there. It is after that I got the
alignment done.
Rotating back to their original position will not be easy to do --
will have to take it back to shop. Is there any other way to check ?
Is my expectation for the drift to be correct too high ?
Thx
Bimal

Alignments should be accompanied by a printed report.

Ray O. is (as usual) right on.

[Ray O]

Post by satmech

Post by techtrainer
On Aug 12, 10:11 pm, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>

Post by Ray O

Post by techtrainer
Vehicle: 2000 RX300 - Front wheel drive, mainly driven short distances
as a soccer mom's car.
Mileage: 63,000
Tires : New
Need your expert opinion.
I have new tires (6 months old) and just had them rotated-balanced.
When I drove the car on a straight road, there was a slight drift to
the right if I let the steering wheel go.
I had the 4 wheel alignment done at Sears, paid $95 for it. They give
6 month-6000 mile warranty.
Problem is I tested the car back on the freeway, and the drift to the
right is still there.
Also, as before steering feels little heavy on the left .. ie. if I
have to turn left, but feel light if I have to turn right.
I remember the technician telling me he cannot do anything about the
drift to the right side.
He said he has adjusted alignment to original settings.
Can you help me understand if the technician's argument is correct ?
I feel cheated out .. but not sure
if my expectations are right or not.
Thx very much for your assistance.

If the alignment is actually within specifications, then the likely cause is
either the crown of the road or the tires. If you rotate the tires back to
their original position, does the drift to the right go away?
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Good question .. I don't know. Before I had the tires rotated &
balanced the same drift was there. It is after that I got the
alignment done.
Rotating back to their original position will not be easy to do --
will have to take it back to shop. Is there any other way to check ?
Is my expectation for the drift to be correct too high ?
Thx
Bimal

Alignments should be accompanied by a printed report.
Ray O. is (as usual) right on.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. All those years of helping dealers fix
problem cars has come in handy!

[j***@hotmail.com]

The problem may also be with a sticking brake caliper. Mine did that
to me even when I flushed the system every year. Bad piston seal.
Finally put on two rebuilts from the local NAPA parts store. Solved
it.

Consistent drift to the same side after rotation/balance should
suggest it's not a tire problem. And if the problem is the same before/
after an alignment, then alignment may not be a problem. (The techs
cannot misalign to compensate so for that we give him credit).

Post by techtrainer
Need your expert opinion.
I have new tires (6 months old) and just had them rotated-balanced.
When I drove the car on a straight road, there was a slight drift to
the right if I let the steering wheel go.
I had the 4 wheel alignment done at Sears, paid $95 for it. They give
6 month-6000 mile warranty.
Problem is I tested the car back on the freeway, and the drift to the
right is still there.
Also, as before steering feels little heavy on the left .. ie. if I
have to turn left, but feel light if I have to turn right.
I remember the technician telling me he cannot do anything about the
drift to the right side.
He said he has adjusted alignment to original settings.
Can you help me understand if the technician's argument is correct ?
I feel cheated out .. but not sure
if my expectations are right or not.
Thx very much for your assistance.