TSB SI-0007 WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECS

Ask technical questions or post on problems/issues related to the Kizashi under this topic. Symptoms and pictures of your problem are a good idea.
NOTE: Any car related technical question can be posted here.
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Ronzuki
Posts: 2383
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:33 pm
Location: Lancaster County, PA

There is none. Alignments seem to plague the car. I put new tires on 8,500 miles ago had it aligned at the same time. Right Front toe was way out of spec and feathering the tire which caused me to take it to my trusted GMC dealer for the car's third alignment Saturday with their brand new laser rack. Also, I had the new(er) tires balance checked again by the GMC dealer Saturday on their new machine in response to my on-going rumble vibe noise that I was now starting to feel in the seat. They found 3 of the 4 wheels an 1/8 ounce out on the inner beads. The tire shop I bought the tires from re-checked balance after my complaining the balance wasn't right at around 4,000 miles...they claimed the balance was fine. I called BS and left the experts at their tire shop. Now the tires are running smooth, no noise other than the directional tread 'whine'.
Ron

2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded :D :D )
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top ( :| sold)
KansasKid
Posts: 429
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 2:19 am
Location: Kansas City, Kansas

So I took Azumi in for her second oil change and first tire rotation at the dealership that I got her from. As I dropped her off, I made sure to specify that I wanted them to check for uneven tire wear and possibly the alignment.

After sitting around in the waiting room for a good chunk of time, the clerk I dropped her off with stopped by to tell me that they found uneven wear, and that it's probably alignment related, and that they'd check to see if it'd be covered.

After sitting around for another good chunk of time, the guy comes back to tell me that Suzuki wouldn't cover the alignment. Being cognizant of the TSB on the alignment thanks to this website, I told him I'd hold off until having the alignment fixed. I was patiently readying myself for the many phone calls and hours of headaches that I would endure in the near future fighting with the dealership and Suzuki of America over my alignment.

As I went to the desk to go pickup my car, the clerk rushes out exclaiming "I told them to hold off on that". Eventually, the clerk comes back and tells me that I got a free alignment adjustment because the tech decided to start fixing my alignment even though he was not supposed to.

So in the end, Azumi got a free alignment adjustment one way or another. As another poster mentioned, the steering does seem to be a little lighter now. On the initial drive after the rotation/alignment, she seemed to be riding a bit rougher than usual, butI think I'll give it a few more days before I formally complain about it. I could've just been driving on a really crappy stretch of highway when I noticed it.

That's my alignment story, I'll keep the group posted on any developments that may turn up.
My Cars (Their Names)
'93 Ford Escort (Jorge - Prior)
'06 Kia Optima EX (Sakuya - Prior)
'11 Suzuki Kizashi SE AWD (Azumi)
'09 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Base 5MT(Akari - Prior)
'11 Chevy Cruze Eco 6MT (Erika - Prior)
'12 Suzuki Kizashi Sport SLS AWD (Kitsune)
murcod
Posts: 2279
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 12:03 pm
Location: Australia

KansasKid wrote: On the initial drive after the rotation/alignment, she seemed to be riding a bit rougher than usual, butI think I'll give it a few more days before I formally complain about it. I could've just been driving on a really crappy stretch of highway when I noticed it.

That's my alignment story, I'll keep the group posted on any developments that may turn up.
A nice outcome. Check your tyre pressures - I've had wheel alignment places pump mine up to ridiculous levels when having alignments done. :roll:
David
KansasKid
Posts: 429
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 2:19 am
Location: Kansas City, Kansas

murcod wrote:A nice outcome. Check your tyre pressures - I've had wheel alignment places pump mine up to ridiculous levels when having alignments done. :roll:
I never thought to check the tire pressures. I'll look into it. Thanks. ;)

P.S. I forgot to mention earlier that she has just over 6800 miles as of the oil change yesterday (oil changed at almost EXACTLY 3000 miles). So be sure to get the tire wear checked out sooner rather than later. Especially if you push your car a little harder than you're supposed to, as I do.

P.P.S. I suppose it would probably behoove me to figure out how to check the tire wear for myself, to see if the dealership was trying to con me into getting an alignment they wanted me to pay for.
My Cars (Their Names)
'93 Ford Escort (Jorge - Prior)
'06 Kia Optima EX (Sakuya - Prior)
'11 Suzuki Kizashi SE AWD (Azumi)
'09 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Base 5MT(Akari - Prior)
'11 Chevy Cruze Eco 6MT (Erika - Prior)
'12 Suzuki Kizashi Sport SLS AWD (Kitsune)
KZQ1911
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2013 3:02 pm

Thanks very much for this.
P-Wee58
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2013 6:38 pm

I had 2 new tires and alignment done.My car still rides bumpy,could some tell me why?
P-Wee58
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2013 6:38 pm

P-Wee58 wrote:I had 2 new tires and alignment done.My car still rides bumpy,could some tell me why?
:drive:
murcod
Posts: 2279
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 12:03 pm
Location: Australia

A wheel alignment will make very little difference to the ride. Perhaps check your tyre pressures. It could also be the new tyres.
David
SamirD
Posts: 3074
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2013 4:07 pm
Location: HSV and SFO
Contact:

I didn't pay too much attention to the tire wear on our 2011, but I think I will after reading this thread. Good thing there's a guy in HSV that bought his own alignment rack and will do anything you want for a good price. He loves aligning cars. 8-)
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Ronzuki
Posts: 2383
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:33 pm
Location: Lancaster County, PA

No matter what, make sure they take the time, and have the patience, to adjust it to a perfect 'zero' (or the exact middle of all spec ranges). It makes a difference. The car's suspension performs, but at the same time it is alignment finicky (at least the GTS and SLS models are).
Ron

2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded :D :D )
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top ( :| sold)
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