Alignment "Rear toe at Maximum"

[Phobos]

Thanks for the feedback plain OMK and cardoc. It sounds like I should just get another alignment done with no load.

Originally Posted by plain OM

Perhaps if the car is unloaded, the toe will be well within the proper setting range.

To clarify the above alignment measurements are with the car unloaded and a full tank of fuel. Are the measurements 'out of spec" enough to dramatically increase tire-wear? I have not noted any abnormal handling characteristics.

[plain OM]

I brought the car back and asked the tire shop to re-check the alignment and provide me with the current specs.

I misunderstood. I had thought the "current measurements" were the results of the alignment with the 220 lbs added but realize now they are actually after the car was remeasured with no additional load, when you went back. So they actually put it on the alignment machine again. That's good.

Those alignment machine readings appear to be in degrees, rather than the mm used by Subaru in its specs. The spec is between 0 and -3mm.

According to the alignment machine reports I have from my dealer, the rear toe should be between 0 and -0.13 degrees, which I imagine reflects the conversion from mm to degrees. (There's a complex calculation to translate alignment "mm" to "degrees" that depends on the wheel diameter.)

If this is correct, then both rear toe measurements are out of spec. Even if the absolute converted value of 0.13 isn't correct, the rear toe should be 0 or negative, not positive, when the car is not additionally loaded.

Incidentally, I'm surprised, and disappointed, that the shop didn't provide you with a printed report of the alignment readings, both times.