06 Lower Ball Joint Recall - Alignment Neccesary?

sdime98 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 03:43 PM

hey guys, my dad is the new owner of an 06 Access Cab, as of Monday of this Week, 2WD 4.7, pretty much a base model SR5..anyways, the dealership sold us the truck, with a dead inspection sticker, since May. So yesterday i take it to the local dealer, since the dealer we got it from is 2 hours away, and they mentioned there was a recall on the balljoints, and that if i had the time, they would like to knock it out, since it was a rather dead day in the service dept..so i was like cool, whatever...well it didn't occur to me at the time, but my dad asked me if they realigned it, after replacing the balljoints, to which i don't believe they did, but before i call up there and ask them, would it have been necessary? i don't really think it would, but i'm more of less asking for my dad's sake.

tempetom · #2 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 05:14 PM

They should align it and you should get a printout of the results.

Big_Al1 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 06:46 PM

Yes alignment is part of the recall.

HOGWILD · #4 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 07:01 PM

says inspect and adjust

They are supposed to do what the SSC says but if no ones watching and you did not ask for a alignment printout of the before and after specs call them and ask them if they can give you one? My take is they charged Toyota for one so they should be able to prove on paper they did one. I would think Toyota would wanta see the sheet and you would think that if customer asked afterwords they could produce one? But never know? it is an annual maintenance item any way!

socalenduro · #5 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 07:51 PM

the tires wear really fast with out it.

HOGWILD · #6 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 09:08 PM

mine were wearing really fast with it!! guess it's supposed to be steering rack bushings are worthless? outter edges worn twice as fast as outers!! they replaced my steering rack but would not budge on giving me tires!! i did get upper ball joints cause they were leaking! dealership not too happy about it but the got over it!! 06 with sealed for life ball joints shot at 25K miles along with steering rack?

sdime98 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 09:50 PM

yea, it was a dumb move on my part, not to ask at the time, it didn't strike me, until my dad mentioned it, and i was so anxious to get the hell outta there, it took me half the day to get the thing inspected, seeing as it took me going to 3 different places to get it inspected to start with, nobody wanted to do it for me, that usually take care of our inspections..it was either "well we don't want to inspect it, you don't have a state issued registration yet"(applied for new tag, waiting on it to come in - 30 day tags for now, with a written registration from the dealership.) i also got, "well we can't inspect it, it was last inspected in a safety + emissions inspection county." (my county is safety only) then when i finally got to the dealer, the service manager was a total prick, and i ended up sitting there almost 2 and a half hours, waiting on the recall, along with the inspection, with a screaming kid in the waiting area, so i was thrilled to get out, and a alignment was the last thing on my mind. will be calling the dealer in the morning, and arranging something. thanks.

arkninjazx9 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 10:12 PM

they didnt align mine and they said it wasnt necessary

Boosted27606 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 10:28 PM

Totally ridiculous ! If you remove a balljoint ALWAYS perform an alignment ! Even more required if you remove both of them !

HOGWILD · #10 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkninjazx9

they didnt align mine and they said it wasnt necessary

WOOOOPIGSOOOOIE!! they were maybe correct but unless they show me an alignment sheet for my VIN# they would be wrong!!? read the link i posted, it tells the dealership what they have to do and the dealership gets paid for an alignment whether you get one or not! i promise you that!

scoot45123 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-22-2008, 02:06 PM

I just had my '03 done last Tuesday and the dealer had it realingned as part of the job.

DJ · #12 (**permalink**) 08-22-2008, 06:56 PM

It's a simple rule: If you change any part that can change the alignment, then align it after changing the part. There are no exceptions to this rule.

socalenduro · #13 (**permalink**) 08-22-2008, 07:30 PM

they should have given you a sheet showing the current alignment and the adjusted readings.
Maybe they did put it on there, and it was within the tolerances. But the dealership still should have given you the readings

spennrocks · #14 (**permalink**) 08-24-2008, 12:42 PM

they should have at least checked the front end after they just worked on it.

imho, if your steering wheel does not wobble beyond highway speeds, the caster, camber, toe, appears to look straight, it would lead me to believe everything is fine.

replacing ball joints does not change the geometery. except if the balljoints were beyond gone, and alot of strain was put on the tie rods/link before anybody got around to getting the job started. that would cause a need for a basic alignment.

also, if there was anything askew about the vehicle, the dealer should have taken care of it before they even slap a price tag on it. at least its what our local boys do.

if in doubt, get it checked.