2002 Lexus SC 430 Reviews

2002 Lexus SC 430 Reviews

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Front End Alignment

I recently purchased an 02 with 72K miles on it that needed alignment. The work was done at the local Firestone Store. They tried to do the alignment but ran into a problem on the left rear side. The adjuster was bent and needed to heated up with a torch and moved back into position. Problem 1 Solved. Problem 2: The manager showed me the alignment diagram and stated that they had gone as far as they could but that the right front was still not in line and that the car would still drift to the right. He said that Lexus had issued a service bulletin in November of 2001 discussing this issue and that he and his techs had followed it but the alignment will still not "come in" to place. He stated that there is either a bent strut or a bent frame/bracket that is influencing the behavior of the right front wheel. We will resolve the problem in one way or another. Point of the story is to remind owners that Lexus did issue a service bulletin on this matter and also to make the point that even with a clean CarFax report as this car had it is still possible that it was involved in an unreported accident.
Moral of the Story: A longer test ride would have revealed the tendency of the car to pull right but even a close look by a mechanic would not reveal something bent. Keep your wallet handy when buying a used car...........