Alignment issue? (Second opinion?)

[dave_the_nerd]

So, my housemate drives an '08 Acura TSX. Every now and then I drive it for the day (when it needs to be brought in for service, basically.) Which I did today.

Maybe I'm nuts, but it seems off.

At 60+ mph, it drifts to the left. Drift gets worse the faster you go, and requires you to steer slightly to the right while you're driving. Also, the steering is kinda... bouncing around - I quickly exited my lane, not necessarily in the direction of the drift, if I took my hands off the wheel even to switch radio stations. It was honestly kinda scary - by the time I got to work, I had the wheel in a death grip.

Also, parking lot handling sucks. Turning radius like a truck; I didn't make a single parking spot on the first try. Jesus H.

Tires are relatively new (20k miles) and rotated regularly.

Am I correct in assuming this sort of behavior is abnormal for a car like this? My 2007 Ford Focus tracks straight, at even higher speeds on the same stretches of highway, and I definitely don't think of it as a "driver's car."

(While technically illegal, 80+ mph speeds are fairly normal on the rural interstates between our home, our mechanic, and my housemate's work.)

I've had the alignment checked at our mechanic, and they said it was fine, but they're honest and frugal. So while I love them, I do suspect they have a "good enough for jazz" mindset when it comes to the persnickety stuff. Do you think it would be worth my time to take the TSX to a dealer for an alignment check? Or could it be something else like a goofed steering rack?

Looking for opinions and thoughts. Thanks for reading.

 

[C1]

Funny as I just got home from taking my 2004 Corolla LE in for its near 100K mile tune up. Cost $2700. But the struts were on the hairy edge of being bad.

All struts/shocks were replaced (along with lots of other stuff - tranny, power steering, brakes, coolant services, hoses & filters, oil change, etc). Anyways all struts + shocks were changed out. Added camber adjustment kit option plus wheel alignment & steering centering.

Runs & handles like a champ/new.

Steers straight as an arrow on the freeway & handles around corners like no tomorrow.

Their "kickass" & I highly recommend:

https://westautomotivegroup.com/west-el-cajon/


They are on KFMB 760 AM radio each Saturday here in San Diego as "Auto Talk".

 

[NutBucket]

Unless your mechanic put it on a Hunter machine or actually measured everything I don't believe him. I've had more than one bad alignment and it doesn't matter whether they did it manually or with a rack.

Also, the turning radius probably just isn't that great. It's unrelated to the alignment issues.

 

[russtm]

I had a 10' TSX the underpinnings are similar 2.4 i4 etc. Worst turning radius on a car I've ever experienced. It always pulled from the time it was brand new when it was in alignment, usually towards the left in the left lane and the right in the right lane. It wasn't bouncy but it was always jerky that's how they drive.

Google lists 07' focus turn radius 17.15. 09' TSX 18.35

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I had a 10' TSX the underpinnings are similar 2.4 i4 etc. Worst turning radius on a car I've ever experienced. It always pulled from the time it was brand new when it was in alignment, usually towards the left in the left lane and the right in the right lane. It wasn't bouncy but it was always jerky that's how they drive.

Hmmm... well, some places do "hump" their roads a bit to produce that effect - this pulls left even when I'm in the right lane though, and my Focus tracks straight on the same stretches of highway. I suppose since I'm unused to the steering response, if I'm overcompensating for a drift, that could explain the jerky feeling.

Google lists 07' focus turn radius 17.15. 09' TSX 18.35

Oh, that's all? Feels like a bigger difference than that. Maybe because the TSX is longer too? Thanks for looking that up.

Unless your mechanic put it on a Hunter machine or actually measured everything I don't believe him. I've had more than one bad alignment and it doesn't matter whether they did it manually or with a rack.

Hunter machine... *googles* hmm... I will keep that in my brain. Thanks! Maybe will have it checked somewhere else then, if I have a pretense (it's not my car, so while I can exert pressure...).

Also, the turning radius probably just isn't that great. It's unrelated to the alignment issues.

Yeah, I just wanted to complain about the turning radius. I kinda felt like a total tool trying (and failing) to park it today.

 

[NutBucket]

My dad had a guy try to sell him a "computer" alignment....but I knew for a fact the shop didn't have a Hunter. Then he tried the local Firestone that did a crap job. If you have a Hunter you should be able to set the alignment exactly, not just "within spec". If you can't you're a bad tech. And you should absolutely ask to see the before and after numbers.

I'll bet $20 toe is out of whack and that's what really kills tires fast.

 

[C1]

You simply need to have the auto's suspension & steering components evaluated 1st for integrity (eg, that the steering/suspension system can even hold or maintain an alignment).

Given that the mechanical parts are satisfactory then the car needs proper/competent alignment.
- Front wheels need to track with back wheels on a straightaway
- Besides tire wear, being out in "toe" generally results in "wander" on a flat road.
- Being out on "caster" causes the car to steer or roll off a road that is crowned.

Alignment involves all the dimensions you are describing:

- Rear wheels tracking with front wheels,
- Turn radius,
- Tire wear,
- Stability on flat roads,
- Stability on crowned roadways,
- Steering wheel spoke at center position on straightaways,

and more.

(This is not rocket science.)

Pour a trail of white flour on a flat playground & drive the car over it and analyze the front to rear wheel/tracking

 

[RLGL]

I had a Dodge Intrepid do the same thing from day one. The dealer could not fix it, Traded the beast 2 years later. That was back in '02

 

[C1]

It's beginning to sounding like autos which have been in some kind of collision in which was incurred a bent frame.

The playground test using white flour should spot such phenomena.

 

[jlee]

I would thoroughly check for ball joint and tie rod end play, as well as for worn suspension bushings.