Brake Alignment Reported Off

[Dang Lad]

So I just got my car serviced at 5500 miles by the Toyota Dealership. They called and mentioned the rear brake alignment was "way off" and they had to re-align them. They said they don't know how/when it would have happened and didn't really have any suggestions for how to avoid it in the future.

Has anyone else had this reported? I use my FRS as my DD, and have taken it on a few short road trips, but nothing exceptional (had it since mid-May 2012).

The dealer did fix it under warranty free-of-charge, but I'm concerned that they don't know how r why it happened, and I have yet to see a thread on this here.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Mo707]

Ive had mine since may, havent heard that yet. And my frs is my DD.

[Fever]

I'm no mechanic, but I've never even heard the term brake alignment before. Not sure what this means.

[Skurj]

yeah.. brakes don't get out of alignment...

[wbradley]

Probably rear wheel alignment.

[Dang Lad]

I hadn't heard the term before either, glad I'm not the only one. I called the supervisor this morning and he said that the notes were incorrect the e-brake alignment was off - they said the friction point wasn't matching up.

Now the question is - does that make any more sense, and has anyone else had this issue?

I'm definitely not using my e-brake for anything aside from parking (not using when drifting, etc.) so it shouldn't be due to not using it as intended.

[ahausheer]

Perhaps he means there was too much or to little slack in the parking brake cable?

[Skurj]

I'm no tech, but I could understand if when e-brake is applied one side engages before the other... Though I don't have a clue how it works on disc brakes in the drum brakes of the past that could easily happen if one adjuster had seized or soemthing.

[Fever]

I'm not 100% but I think the ebrake on these cars activate a small drum brake mechanism located in the hat of the rear discs rotors. They're on both sides, so one side could (for whatever reason) be out of alignment (of engagement) from the other.
Doesn't sound serious to me. That stuff would be adjustable.

[JesseE]

Sounds like the dealer was slow and wanted to make something out of nothing... I would go in and ask exactly what was adjusted, and have them show you the specification of how it was "out of alignment" and how far it had to be adjusted.

Now if this car had drums brakes that used them for actual braking, then once a year or so they should be cleaned and lubed and adjusted, but when your only using ebrake they so rarely need to be adjusted...

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by Dang Lad

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Well, I related your tale to my wife, and her face contorted into a weird shape and a strangled “WhaaaAAT?!” escaped her lips. “He’s making that up!” she exclaimed. “Or, he misunderstood.”

She's listened to a lot of NPR's "Click & Clack, The Tappett Brothers," over the years.

I'm concerned that they don't know how r why it happened, and

I’d be concerned about WHY these lying, thieving, SOBs are telling me such outlandish lies. Are you certain they did not charge you something for this make-pretend service for a non-existent problem?

Perhaps it’s a “probe.” They’re testing you to determine how ignorant and gullible you are as they “prep” you for future service visits where they WILL charge you … and CHEAT YOU.

Rear brake alignment … and “way off,” no less, huh?

How’d they spot it in the first place?

And just how far off was it? Exactly.

Measured in degrees, millimeters, or kilograms?

I have yet to see a thread on this here.

You will see it on here … when pigs fly.

[wbradley]

Or it's a troll.....?

[FRiSson]

Could they mean that the rotors are out of round?

[Robmilkshakes]

For most services, even just basic oil changes, the tech will inspect the safety components of the car, and it's a regular service recommended at Toyota dealers. The purpose is to adjust the parking brake shoes in relation to the drum surface. It may have come misaligned from the factory or if the parking brake was left on while the car was in motion can have an effect on the parking brake's adjustment. It's not a big deal.