Alignment Issues Due to Tire Shop?

[TNTexas]

I bring all my vehicles to a local tire shop (a national chain) for all my tire needs including rotation and balance. I recently noticed that they use floor jacks exclusively (instead of lifts) to raise vehicles (4 floor jacks per vehicle). I recently had alignment done to the truck before tire balance and rotation. Immediately after the balance and rotation, I felt the alignment was off again (not as bad as before, but still off). I drove around for 2 months before taking the truck back to the alignment and sure enough, the alignment was off. I am certain that I didn’t run over any big potholes. I can only suspect that the tire shop may have jacked up the truck at the wrong spot (lower control arm, etc.) and somehow threw the alignment off.

In my view, I don‘t think it’s a good idea to have the truck (or any vehicle) on 4 floor jacks at the same time. And I don’t want to tell people what to do at their job. What do you think? If you live in the Houston area, do you have any recommendations for a tire shop?

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[Miqie]

A 'national chain' that doesn't have lifts? Sounds amateur to me. I'd go elsewhere.

 

[chasea1989]

Lifting a vehicle like that is perfectly fine. We do it at my shop when we don't have any lifts available. It doesn't put load on any suspension components that aren't already under load when sitting on the tires. That shouldn't do anything to the alignment unless the tech that did the alignment didn't completely tighten down the adjustment cam bolts on the lower control arms and one of them slipped a little. I've had that happen to me and completely throw an adjustment out mid test drive.

 

[Yotota]

Shouldn't be an issue. Discount Tire does this at all my local locations, and they seem to prefer it over using the lifts.

If the alignment was recently done, take it back to whoever did it since that work is likely under warranty.

Also - check your tire pressures with a good gauge. Incorrect pressures can cause alignment issues.

 

[Roadster Racer]

Sounds like radial tire pull... If the alignment check shows correct. You could put the tires back were they where, drive it & that would tell you.

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