Does Axle Replacement Require Alignment?

i would call toyota customer service and file a complaint against the dealer.
if in the end they want you to pay, i wouldn't give them the satisfaction. take it to an indy alignment shoppe.

 

Wow, the dealership service stories continue.

The fact that the axle had to be replaced under warranty, and as a result of this they say you need an alignment, then that should be covered too. I would contact the service manager at that dealership first to ask whether they'd like to reconsider charging you for the alignment before you contact Toyota U.S.A. Contact Us | Contact Toyota

 

A two year old car typically needs an alignment after running over a pothole or curb - not just from driving it normally. Can you recall an incident that might cause the need for an alignment?

 

did they do an alignment check and give you the values?

 

If you disconnect the ball joint from the bottom of the strut, you can move the strut freely as needed to R&R the axle, and when you reconnect it there is no possibility of anything having been moved alignment-wise.

I don't know if that's how they do their axle replacements... just pointing out that there is a way to do it that shouldn't require alignment afterwards.

 

I assume by “driver’s side axle,” you mean the part Toyota calls the Left Front Drive Shaft Assembly, 43420-47040, seen in the second image of parts catalog Figure 43-02, Front Drive Shaft.

The removal and installation procedures are in the Repair Manual (RM3200U, available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com), under Drivetrain: Drive Shaft/Propeller Shaft: Front Drive Shaft Assembly. In the installation procedure, step 13 of 17 is “ADJUST FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT,” with a link to the separate procedure for doing that.

I’d direct the dealer’s attention to page 14 of the Warranty and Maintenance Guide (PDF), which may be the source of their confusion. “Wheel alignment and wheel balancing” as adjustments are excluded from coverage under the Basic Warranty after 12 months or 12,000 miles, but there is no such exclusion under the Powertrain Warranty, which covers repairs to “axle shafts” and “drive shafts,” among other parts.

You might ask the dealer to check with their District Service and Parts Manager (DSPM), Toyota’s field representative, if they are uncertain whether they would be reimbursed. I imagine Toyota would much rather pay for an alignment, on a one-time basis as a necessary repair step, than to handle your claim under the California Dispute Settlement Program (PDF brochure and claim form).

 

I hope they try this on me tomorrow. I'm going in for the same issue. Axle.



SM-N960U1 ?

 

FYI - axle replaced at 31,000 miles on my 2016 gen 4 (four touring). Now at 61,000 miles and needs replacing again. Contacted Toyota Corp this time and awaiting my first call from the rep assigned to my case.... was impressed w customer service so far. Let’s see what happens next