FJ Cruisers of Northern California

Good shops and a off-road friendly dealership???

OK, I have finally gotten moved down here and settled in. I need to know a couple things. I need a good alignment shop. Front end is a bit off. Steering is good and it tracks straight but the wheel is off to the left like 30 degrees. Has been since Cruise Moab this year. I took it to my dealership in Portland and they took a look at it. I thought I bent a tie rod or something, but nothing. They said everything is straight. I just need to get it aligned. However, the front diff transfer case is warped! It's been leaking, VERY slowly since last Cruise Moab ('08). I took it to them back then and they tightened everything up. I found, on the trail (during CM '08), that four of the diff case bolts were so loose I could take them off by hand! So I tightened them up. After the dealership looked at it and tightened everything up, it seemed fine and didn't leek for a while. But then I noticed small puddles and my rear axle was coated in grease. So, after CM '09, and the front end issue, I took it back and that's when they told me after closer inspection that the case was warped, and was most likely from when the bolts came loose the year before. It would need a whole new front end. They replaced the whole thing under warranty. Even though they KNOW, and it's obvious I wheel it hard. There's really no hiding it! They never have given me a problem about anything. And probably because they know that I replace stuff at my own expense that I know was broken because of something I did. Including trailing arms, front axle, etc. So....does anyone have a dealership that is this cool with those of us that actually use the vehicles the way Toyota promotes it? I'm in the East Bay (San Leandro), but I'm willing to drive a bit if the dealership is cool.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bozly on August 15, 2009 at 5:19pm

I used Walnut Creek Toyota for my second service and they are supposedly the ones to go to. They seemed pretty good, my rig is kind of built and it's obvious it's not a mall crawler and they had no problem tightening up the lower links after I installed the skid plates and didn't get them tight enough.

Can't speak for big warranty work but I'm hoping they are as good as everyone says cuz I'm sure I'm not very far off dinging something that will need replacing, hopefully under warranty.

And as far as your wheel being off 30º, someone ran into my rig in front of my house one night, heard it but didn't get up to look figuring it was down the street and someone else's problem, and when I took off to work the next morning the wheel was 90º out and pulled to the right, I took it back to the alignment shop I had been to figuring something had slipped but they couldn't even get it close. Turns out the spindle upright was bent, doesn't take much, so an alignment should shed some light on the problem. I've been told that is one of the weaker links in the front end. Bad news is it was just over $1K to fix, insurance I'm sure would cover it but warranty may be a stretch.

Good luck and keep us updated on a good shop who likes doing warranty work.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben Matthews on August 15, 2009 at 5:54pm

Thanks for that. I'll have to pay them a visit. Even if it's just an oil change, just to get to know some people. I'm thinking of taking it to Les Schwab for alignment. It's where I got the Toyo MTs in Portland and they did a good job on the Rev Tech lift. But I've heard mixed reviews about them. I need tire rotation too and since they do them free, it's just easier to have them do it. Know of a Les Schwab location with a good rep?