Lifetime alignments?

[HoosierJeeper]

Are lifetime alignments a good value? Looking at one at tires plus...do they try to weasel out of them with tons of excuses? My Liberty needs one before I get new tires. I am thinking with the off roading I do or messing around with the lift height or replacing components (it's got 216k miles on it!) I should probably get it aligned more often. I will have it forever, so no worries about selling it etc. Should've considered it 10 years ago lol.

Thanks!

 

[wander2039]

Don't know about Tire One but don't EVER get one from Firestone. The first alignments was perfect.. I made the mistake of letting them check it during a balance and rotation, took 4 times on 3 vehicles to get back to close. I'm just going to start taking them to any where but a chain shop.

 

[zzyzzx]

.do they try to weasel out of them with tons of excuses?

That's what the internet suggests. One of the ways mentioned involve limited hours to make sure that you only get it if you drop the car off for a whole day on a weekday.

 

[simple_gifts]

Seems like the "timeshare" of auto maintenance. Happiness ends after they get your money. If you are going to change the lift height or change components, that would provide an excellent reason for them not to do anything. I know I don't want to clean up other peoples projects gone awry.

 

[chemman]

Well, my experience has been the exact opposite of Eric Smith's. I have Firestone Lifetime Alignment agreements on all my vehicles, and I've never had a problem with either the alignment or Firestone trying to "weasel out" of doing them. I've always received a before and after alignment specs printout.

The only thing that I have to put up with is their free "Courtesy Check" where they try and charge $50.00 labor to change a tail light bulb that takes me all of 10 minutes to change.

 

[Lubener]

Depends on your driving conditions. Alignments do go out very often unless you hit someting big time. Last time I got and needed one was over 20 years ago. That was after tie rod end replacement. Myself, I would get one time alignments as needed without a lifetime agreement.

 

[double vanos]

Wow. The last vehicle I had aligned was my old 330ci mostly because aging BMWs automatically sign you up for the bushing and control arm of the month club. Since then, if they drive straight, the steering wheel is lined up and tire wear is normal, no alignment. I sold the Bimmer in 2012, so that was my last alignment…..

 

[atikovi]

These days the only thing adjustable on many cars is the toe setting, and the only time it may change is if you hit curb and bent a tie rod for example. Either way, it's something I can adjust myself with a tape measure.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I've had this shop do them before and never had an issue with the specs. The toe/camber/caster are adjustable on it.

 

[Nick1994]

As atikovi said, your alignment only changes if you have bent/broken/worn out steering/suspension parts.

If your tires are starting to wear funny, getting an alignment will only be a bandaid. There’s an underlying problem.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

It wore this set of tires funny, but I've fixed everything since and got it aligned. but had to take the front suspension apart again a few months ago to replace CV axles and would feel better with a new alignment before the new tires in case I didn't get the clevis to the exact height. Plus replaced the rear UCA too since the last alignment, so it needs one now. I just want to see if lifetime ones are a scam, so whenever I replace something I can just get it aligned.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

And if you align to a bent component chances are it wont drive correctly even though the static toe is good.

 

[JeffKeryk]

How long do you plan on keeping the car?
I accidently bought a lifetime alignment for our 2006 TSX. It has been aligned 5 times, perhaps.
I don't remember what I paid way back when, but I'm sure a one-time alignment is a lot more now.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

How long do you plan on keeping the car?
I accidently bought a lifetime alignment for our 2006 TSX. It has been aligned 5 times, perhaps.
I don't remember what I paid way back when, but I'm sure a one-time alignment is a lot more now.

Forever!

 

[1uz_4me]

I had one at Firestone years ago for my fox body. No issues with them trying to get out if it or adding work that needs to be done. I ended up going to a specialty shop after replacing the front suspension with altered geometry goodies. My parents still have Firestone lifetime alignments on their cars, no issues either

 

[DzoG20]

I had lifetime alignment from Firestone and peps - never an issue to get one when ever I fill like I need it.
It cost a bit more than 2 single alignments and has some value if you need to do 3+ alignments on the same car.
Even for the older cars I had (up to age of 20y) with occasional suspension work, 3+ alignments is an overstretch.

In my case the lifetime alignment has value if I'm offered a deal at 1.5x the cost of single alignment at the moment when I need an alignment. Otherwise I wouldn't bother

 

[The Critic]

Forever!

It really depends on the competency of your local Firestone. The techs are also only paid .7 for the rechecks unless that has changed. My success rate with the subsequent alignments is probably 50-60%; many of them are done as sloppily as possible with no post-alignment test drive. Crooked steering wheels are common.

 

[SouthernHooDad]

I have had the Firestone Lifetime alignment on my vehicles for years. With a lifetime alignment you are ahead of the game by the 3rd alignment. Before I started changing my own oil, I used them for oil changes every 5k miles. My habit was to drop it off and for an oil change every 5k and get it aligned every 10k miles. Now that I change my own oil I just drop them off once per year for the alignment. This becomes a great deal if you find a coupon or during one of their alignment special deals. My previous Jeep Grand Cherokee was aligned (or checked) over 25 times during the 18 years and 235k miles that I owned it. My Honda Odyssey has been checked/aligned over 12 times in the 9 years & 135k that I have owned it. I think I have gotten my money's worth and extended the life of my tires.
(I have a good Firestone location where I know the manager and get good service. YMMV)

 

[Jarpin]

All I know is, if you live in Texas, do NOT trust Brake Check with a lifetime alignment. Literally a bunch of "tools" trying to use more tools to do this job.

 

[Pew]

I have the lifetime from Firestone. A lot of times I have to bring it back because the tech just sets the alignment in the green zone without matching the toe so the steering wheel is still crooked. No problem though cause I bring it right back and make them redo it.