Need Alignment Specs - GT with AWD

[SomeGuyFromNYC]

Does anyone have the alignment specs/range for a cx5 GT with AWD?

I am thinking about getting new tires because the Toyos don't seem to track straight very well and I am getting a vibration in the steering wheel at over 60mph. I think I have a set that may be from that bad batch of Toyos circulating. I had my wheels road forced balanced for a second time and somehow this time one of them could not be roadforced balanced. This was from my local tire shop which has high online ratings. So the tire shop balanced it without doing the roadforce part. I brought this up to my dealer who test drove it and said everything felt normal, and that they don't even do roadforce balancing! just normal balancing. When I mentioned to them the vibration they claimed it was just because the surface of the road, since in their opinion it was not serious enough to be a tire issue and the road is "rough".

This is obviously unacceptable, so I am going to replace the tires myself going through my local tire shop. I had the alignment checked by my dealer who said everything was in spec, but I want another alignment done after the new tires are installed and I do not want my dealer to do it. The dealer wants $150 for an alignment....get real!

So does anyone have the alignment specs for a GT with AWD? This would be very helpful!

I'm only at 6,600 miles on the 19'' Toyos.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Hey, I C&P this directly from the service Manual. It gives the angles at different fuel capacities. However, unless you have a dealer that won't align cars with aftermarket wheels/suspension or something, I would look for another dealer. Most charge $75-100 (More like ~$85) for an alignment. You get enough fuel economy to make a 60 mi round trip (to another Mazda Dealer) worth it to save $50 or more..

 

[MikeM.]

However, unless you have a dealer that won't align cars with aftermarket wheels/suspension or something, I would look for another dealer.

I don't really understand that. Did you mean to say the opposite?

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

I don't really understand that. Did you mean to say the opposite?

I meant he should try another Mazda dealer that isn't charging $150

 

[SomeGuyFromNYC]

I'm going to call one other Mazda dealer for a quote. $150 is outrageous, but not for dealers around here. When I had my Ford Focus, one dealer wanted $150 and another dealer wanted $179!

I also had a quote from a Ford dealer in Pennsylvania, who wanted a more reasonable $100.

 

[V8toilet]

I don't think $150 is outrageous considering what labor costs these days including what that equipments costs to purchase and insure. I'm thinking 1.5-2 hours labor @ $80 hr + 15% overhead and profit. I think since your tires will cost you around $800 (for good name brand tires) and your vehicle costs at least $27,000 that $150 is really not that much of a maintenance cost.

 

[MikeM.]

I don't think $150 is outrageous considering what labor costs these days including what that equipments costs to purchase and insure. I'm thinking 1.5-2 hours labor @ $80 hr + 15% overhead and profit. I think since your tires will cost you around $800 (for good name brand tires) and your vehicle costs at least $27,000 that $150 is really not that much of a maintenance cost.

I tend to agree with that. I don't want people adjusting my alignment that only make $15/hour or don't have top quality equipment at their disposal. It's an important job that required a skilled operator and well-maintained equipment.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Lol, I don't know of any dealer that charges over $100 for alignments. I guess it's just regional pricing.

 

[SomeGuyFromNYC]

It is hard for me to not laugh at all the dealer support here...they are usually as bad, if not worse then independent shops...and cost much much more. The only recourse though is you can hold the dealers more responsible because you can contact corporate...although their power is limited too.

That being said, I will probably go back to the dealer now for the alignment, just so everything is on record in case something goes wrong.

 

[MikeM.]

It is hard for me to not laugh at all the dealer support here...they are usually as bad, if not worse then independent shops...and cost much much more. The only recourse though is you can hold the dealers more responsible because you can contact corporate...although their power is limited too.

That being said, I will probably go back to the dealer now for the alignment, just so everything is on record in case something goes wrong.

I'm not supporting the dealerships (I wouldn't go there unless I needed warranty work). What I'm opposed to is the consumer rush to the lowest possible price. Competing primarily on price has the unfortunate tendency to pressure service centers to compromise on hiring qualified technicians or to skip on providing additional professional training. The net result tends to be tire shops filled with young, inexperienced "technicians" who are pressured to take shortcuts in order to keep billable high.