Hybrid Maverick Alignment - Observation / Changes

[SoonerBrink]

First Picture - with Red (performed 2 weeks ago) No alignment service was performed.

Second Picture - with No Red (performed this week) No alignment service was performed.

Same guy did the check both times.
Recently installed alignment equipment from name brand company at a nationwide shop.

Any suggestions on why it came back better after I drove for a week?

Would new tires have anything to do with it?
Maybe there was a different amount of fuel in the tank?
Maybe its normal variation?
Maybe the tech made minor adjustments to be nice and didn't say anything?
Any other thoughts?

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[HeyBales]

Electronic Steering Rack?
Not actually keeping a set center, so it floated just a bit so tie-rod ends moved?

No idea, I'd hope the steering rack has an easy method to determine center that can't go off.
That might explain the front perhaps - but from prior posts, the back has no adjustments.
Therefore perhaps it's all due to poor setup for the alignment.

But I'm about to take mine in.
2500 mile trip - straight as an arrow, as it's been since pickup (well, couple days after when they corrected alignment).
Since back, noticed torque steer first, then noticed brake steer (under regen only so no actual brake pull) about the time it couldn't hold a straight line.
I've hit nothing bigger than I've hit before, which isn't much nor bad.

Seems very strange and I was wondering if the electronic nature of the rack could allow that to happen.
Or they didn't tighten their correction enough, and not the tie-rods. Since it was a warranty fix last year, they didn't supply a printout of what was and what corrected to.

So thanks for your printout to see what the expected values are.

 

[Escapologist]

Most alignment racks seem so janky they can't get the same answer twice, so there's that too.

 

[RR - All the way]

Why did you get the second alignment only a week after the first?????? Did you hit something to make you think you may have knocked it out of alignment? ?????

 

[SoonerBrink]

I asked AI to analyze it it said it was probably an adjustment by someone without notice due to the red being corrected. But those were just out of spec, and now are just in, and th

Most alignment racks seem so janky they can't get the same answer twice, so there's that too.

This one is brand new.

 

[SoonerBrink]

Why did you get the second alignment only a week after the first?????? Did you hit something to make you think you may have knocked it out of alignment? ?????

I had alignment checked when I went to order new tires.
When I got tires installed they checked it again.

 

[WJOHNM]

did you add some weight on drivers' side

 

[SoonerBrink]

I didn't add any weights. Maybe the new tires don't weigh the same as the old? Are you saying the weight of the wheel/tire can affect alignment?

 

[710-oil-614]

As others pointed out - you’re talking about 5 hundredths of a degree or less. Mav isn’t a race car and the alignment equipment easily could have that tolerance/play in it

 

[WJOHNM]

I didn't add any weights. Maybe the new tires don't weigh the same as the old? Are you saying the weight of the wheel/tire can affect alignment?

I remember my guys putting weights on driver's side to compensate for driver that was years ago don't know if they still do it. Am retired almost 10 years.

 

[inline_five]

Electronic Steering Rack?
Not actually keeping a set center, so it floated just a bit so tie-rod ends moved?

No idea, I'd hope the steering rack has an easy method to determine center that can't go off.
That might explain the front perhaps - but from prior posts, the back has no adjustments.
Therefore perhaps it's all due to poor setup for the alignment.

But I'm about to take mine in.
2500 mile trip - straight as an arrow, as it's been since pickup (well, couple days after when they corrected alignment).
Since back, noticed torque steer first, then noticed brake steer (under regen only so no actual brake pull) about the time it couldn't hold a straight line.
I've hit nothing bigger than I've hit before, which isn't much nor bad.

Seems very strange and I was wondering if the electronic nature of the rack could allow that to happen.
Or they didn't tighten their correction enough, and not the tie-rods. Since it was a warranty fix last year, they didn't supply a printout of what was and what corrected to.

So thanks for your printout to see what the expected values are.

I'm at 9,000 miles and noticed the same thing the last 1,000 or so. It's getting progressively worse, I thought it was torque steer but had none that I remember when I first bought, and when I left off the gas it still pulls right.

Did you get it aligned under warranty? I'm wondering if that is possible. Weird others have the same thing happening to them. It seems these may have another issue we are unaware about. I've hit nothing out of the ordinary, and our roads in NC are quite good.

Firestone sells a lifetime warranty plan here, I may take them up on it.

 

[HeyBales]

I'm at 9,000 miles and noticed the same thing the last 1,000 or so. It's getting progressively worse, I thought it was torque steer but had none that I remember when I first bought, and when I left off the gas it still pulls right.

Did you get it aligned under warranty? I'm wondering if that is possible. Weird others have the same thing happening to them. It seems these may have another issue we are unaware about. I've hit nothing out of the ordinary, and our roads in NC are quite good.

Firestone sells a lifetime warranty plan here, I may take them up on it.

My initial alignment was like within 3 days of taking it off the lot. Not sure if warranty or just correcting it.
They were surprised I noticed, they thought it was so minor, and had to find a very flat road to prove it.

Now is worse than that, and even then it didn't feel minor - it felt obvious to me.

I haven't been in yet for it, as waiting for slow day since they don't provide a loaner. I guess it was much easier getting it done in a day after I'd just bought it.
I'm not expecting warranty at this point - but hoping for the same person that did the last one, as he did nail the centered steer wheel. Hoping I can share what 3rd party cost would be, would they match for an easy job, since no rear-end alignment.

 

[HeyBales]

Well - warranty says, obviously dealer follows.
Especially at 18K miles.

"Wheel alignments and tire balancing will be provided during the first 12 months or 12,000 miles in service, whichever occurs first."

Now to see if they'll price match at least.

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