sbrown329

Hi all, I took my 04 in for an alignment (93k miles) and the tech told me the rear caster/camber was almost out of the "normal" range and is not adjustable.
He said this is due to normal wear and when i come back he can install a $10 bolt that has a cam shaped surface which will make the rear adjustable in all dimensions. I thought that was cool.
Item 2, I also went to the local Lexus dealer to see about a transmission program update and while waiting for the service advisor started chatting with an older mechanic. He told me in his experience the reprogram works sometimes, does nothing sometime but sometimes makes shifting worse and there is no going back if thats the case. to make a long conversation short he suggested changing gas manufacturer for 2 tanks and see if that helps before committing to the reprogram. Evidently the adaptive transmission computer and the engine management system talk to each other.
These items may be common knowledge to the CL group but just in case.....

ukrkoz

1. Cam bolts do not adjust caster and are definitely not 10 bucks a pop. Best priced I could find were $27 parts store. Unfortunately, Toyota in it's infinite wisdom does not provide any factory provisions for camber adjustment. So camber bolts it is. They work great - if someone knows how to install them right. This is why I shall never take my cars to local Firestone. Clueless. Les Schwab here wanted $180 for two bolts plus install. Nope. As strength of camber bolt determines your safety, I'd have been very careful with a "10 dollar bolt". Just sounds too cheap to be true.
2. As they say in the South, Don't fix it if it ain't brok. Why do you need to mess with your transmission? Was ATF ever changed in your transmission? Yes, I know on certain years they claim lifetime. Rrrrriiigggghhhhhtttttt.... Flush tranny with Transtune for several hundred miles driving, then have ATF changed.

ukrkoz

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...amber-kit.html

I actually did quick scope and you can find camber bolts (why they call them camber/caster beats me) for $12 a pair but..... If it breaks, you lose wheel at highway speed. So you likely want to stick to reputable manufacturers. Duralast, for example. Cardon. When I had mine installed, it was quite scary first few months, till I got used to idea that they actually hold just fine.

sbrown329

Thanks ukrkoz! Good info on the bolt, I would not have known about the manufacturers. Thats the beauty of this site, someone always has something important to add!
Yea, I believe that "lifetime" claim on the trans fluid too... maybe I won't change my oil either...
I am going to drain the trans, but was just going to replace the fluid with Toyota's recommended. Thanks for the Transtune recommendation.