Tires and an alignment

EricG · 11-30-2007, 05:32 PM

While I already put the new Toyos on the front, I was waiting until the end of the drag season and threat of snow before I threw Toyos on the rear. Today was the day. Here's my F1 salute:

Aftermath:

Alignment - I was at what is regarded as the best shop in town, kind of sucked having to drop $120 on an alignment for basically a new car, but it was worth it. Other than a little tweaking, they said the toe-in was really bad and that is what likely lead to the wear on the outer edges of the front F1's so quickly. I'm sure there are a couple mpgs and a tenth or two to be gained.

I'm aligned perfectly and had a fresh road force balance on all four tires and the feel behind the wheel is SO MUCH better, hard to describe without feeling for yourself...better than new that's for sure.

Eric

**CUEBALL** · 11-30-2007, 06:26 PM

Good way to end the season! Thanks for the vid.

Maltese Mafia · 11-30-2007, 07:03 PM

Nice work Eric! I almost feel sorry for those F1's...

crhemi · 11-30-2007, 08:32 PM

I would recommend everyone get there alignment done. Mine was so towed in it was plowing. Definetly hurt my 1/4 times. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

**GoofyTimL** · 11-30-2007, 10:15 PM

Nice hybrid you got there Eric... burns rubber and gasoline!

EricG · 12-01-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crhemi

I would recommend everyone get there alignment done. Mine was so towed in it was plowing. Definetly hurt my 1/4 times. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

I 100% agree, wish I did it right when I bought the car. If your tires are still fairly new out there, it's money well spent.

Tim - that's what I tell the environmentalists that I work with

Eric

**Rambit** · 12-01-2007, 11:52 AM

I'd be interested to know what alignment specs they used on your car. There is a fairly new TSB (Oct 07) which supercedes the 2005 alignment TSB - http://www.wkjeeps.com/misc/LX/TSB/TSB_0200407.pdf.

I'm wondering how this shop managed to get the new specs and if they are in fact the same as the TSB. Can you find out for us?

Bernie

EricG · 12-01-2007, 03:25 PM

Wish I knew about that newest TSB, as far as I can tell they just picked and chose from the old one and then went with what they thought was best. It's straight as they come, smooth and wobble free right now...guess I'll have to watch the tire wear on the new set.

Eric

**Rambit** · 12-01-2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricG

Wish I knew about that newest TSB, as far as I can tell they just picked and chose from the old one and then went with what they thought was best. It's straight as they come, smooth and wobble free right now...guess I'll have to watch the tire wear on the new set.

Eric

I wasn't aware of this newest TSB either till today myself and that it supercedes the old one. I've never even had that one done either, but I will when I mount my new fronts. I think this deserves more exposure here too. How many others have just gotten new tires and had an alignment using the old specs???

I wonder also if the dealer would honour the cost for you as they would have had to do it anyway. I'm still curious what specs the place you went to used.

Bernie

EricG · 12-01-2007, 09:00 PM

A couple things, I did get a print out of the alignment I just had done and tossed it unfortunately, it may be worth digging through the garbage for. The old alignment tsb was to correct a right lead, so it had one side of straight specs and one side of "corrected" specs to fix the right lead problem...kind of like a NASCAR adjustment or something along that line. They did note the difference in the rear and kept it per the factory specs...they figured the differing thrust angles were to compensate for a little a$$ slide when launching and noted that the tires wore correctly.

Being that the dealer told me my alignment was fine when I was there at 7000 miles when in fact it wasn't told me a couple things. One they most likely didn't check it even though they did have the car overnight, and two, they more than likely didn't have the right (state of the art) equipment for these cars with 20's...and even if they did have those two things going for them, I highly doubt they would have a trained specialist to actually get it right. I wouldn't depend on them to get it right unfortunately...and I am past 12,000 miles and on my own for this problem that is now solved.

I'm a little bummed that I had to pay to get it done, but they way it drives now - I'm glad I did. I also doubt they send the wheels out "brand new" perfectly balanced from the factory. After watching they guy do mine, two of the four wheels he had to do twice on the road force balance machine. Do they have one of those at the factory - and does the guy there take that much time and have the ability to do it perfectly? You gotta wonder... I definitely don't have that wa wa wa wa wa wa at 30 mph like the car used to, and that slight tick of the steering wheel at 70-80 mph when I hold a steady speed like I used to either.

Eric