Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 12:40     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op reporting back. So, I found an independent shop with excellent reviews and took it in yesterday. Gave them background info and what the dealer said I need to replace. The owner guy did a quick check and suggested that I should do the alignment first and, if that doesn't fix the problem, he will check it out more carefully. he said he doesn't see any obvious damage. So, he did alignment, and it fixed the problem. He said the strut is very slightly bent but not enough to cause problems or cause safety issues. His recommendation was keep driving as is. Total cost? $200 for alignment vs $2100 dealer wanted to charge. Thank you everyone for you thoughts.


Did the mechanic explain what caused the slightly bent strut and the car being out of alignment after hard braking?


No, the only thing he said was that it was strange. He said that if I hit a pothole (or anything to cause the impact), the impact points are usually bottom half of the tire (vs. top half) and what that means is that usually wheels will lean "out" but mine is leaning "in". he also checked two large bolts (don't recall what they are called) but didn't see any sign of movement.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 12:21     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op reporting back. So, I found an independent shop with excellent reviews and took it in yesterday. Gave them background info and what the dealer said I need to replace. The owner guy did a quick check and suggested that I should do the alignment first and, if that doesn't fix the problem, he will check it out more carefully. he said he doesn't see any obvious damage. So, he did alignment, and it fixed the problem. He said the strut is very slightly bent but not enough to cause problems or cause safety issues. His recommendation was keep driving as is. Total cost? $200 for alignment vs $2100 dealer wanted to charge. Thank you everyone for you thoughts.


Did the mechanic explain what caused the slightly bent strut and the car being out of alignment after hard braking?


Probably a bolt that was a little loose. Could have been improperly torqued when it was installed or just worked its way loose.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 07:48     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Anonymous wrote:Op reporting back. So, I found an independent shop with excellent reviews and took it in yesterday. Gave them background info and what the dealer said I need to replace. The owner guy did a quick check and suggested that I should do the alignment first and, if that doesn't fix the problem, he will check it out more carefully. he said he doesn't see any obvious damage. So, he did alignment, and it fixed the problem. He said the strut is very slightly bent but not enough to cause problems or cause safety issues. His recommendation was keep driving as is. Total cost? $200 for alignment vs $2100 dealer wanted to charge. Thank you everyone for you thoughts.


Did the mechanic explain what caused the slightly bent strut and the car being out of alignment after hard braking?
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 05:43     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op reporting back. So, I found an independent shop with excellent reviews and took it in yesterday. Gave them background info and what the dealer said I need to replace. The owner guy did a quick check and suggested that I should do the alignment first and, if that doesn't fix the problem, he will check it out more carefully. he said he doesn't see any obvious damage. So, he did alignment, and it fixed the problem. He said the strut is very slightly bent but not enough to cause problems or cause safety issues. His recommendation was keep driving as is. Total cost? $200 for alignment vs $2100 dealer wanted to charge. Thank you everyone for you thoughts.


Sounds like you might have found an honest mechanic. Keep his number.


Yes, absolutely. I was lucky to find him.
Anonymous
Post 08/26/2025 18:19     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Anonymous wrote:Op reporting back. So, I found an independent shop with excellent reviews and took it in yesterday. Gave them background info and what the dealer said I need to replace. The owner guy did a quick check and suggested that I should do the alignment first and, if that doesn't fix the problem, he will check it out more carefully. he said he doesn't see any obvious damage. So, he did alignment, and it fixed the problem. He said the strut is very slightly bent but not enough to cause problems or cause safety issues. His recommendation was keep driving as is. Total cost? $200 for alignment vs $2100 dealer wanted to charge. Thank you everyone for you thoughts.


Sounds like you might have found an honest mechanic. Keep his number.
Anonymous
Post 08/26/2025 16:09     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Op reporting back. So, I found an independent shop with excellent reviews and took it in yesterday. Gave them background info and what the dealer said I need to replace. The owner guy did a quick check and suggested that I should do the alignment first and, if that doesn't fix the problem, he will check it out more carefully. he said he doesn't see any obvious damage. So, he did alignment, and it fixed the problem. He said the strut is very slightly bent but not enough to cause problems or cause safety issues. His recommendation was keep driving as is. Total cost? $200 for alignment vs $2100 dealer wanted to charge. Thank you everyone for you thoughts.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 12:23     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Assuming I am absolutely sure the car never hit a big pothole I would take it to an independent mechanic for a second opinion and to explain to me how I could have possibly bent a strut. Then go from there depending on their explanation. If they say it was likely a Subaru defect I would pursue a warranty claim. Your seems to be out of warranty due to age but the defect was likely to be there much earlier.


I will look into this. Thank you. As for repairing should I consider taking it to the dealer? or is this routine enough any reputable shop can handle?


I think installing the parts the dealer mentioned is routine.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 11:21     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
where and how do you report "defect" claims for investigation? national highway transportation safety board (NHTSB)?
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 11:13     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Anonymous wrote:Assuming I am absolutely sure the car never hit a big pothole I would take it to an independent mechanic for a second opinion and to explain to me how I could have possibly bent a strut. Then go from there depending on their explanation. If they say it was likely a Subaru defect I would pursue a warranty claim. Your seems to be out of warranty due to age but the defect was likely to be there much earlier.


I will look into this. Thank you. As for repairing should I consider taking it to the dealer? or is this routine enough any reputable shop can handle?
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 10:17     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Assuming I am absolutely sure the car never hit a big pothole I would take it to an independent mechanic for a second opinion and to explain to me how I could have possibly bent a strut. Then go from there depending on their explanation. If they say it was likely a Subaru defect I would pursue a warranty claim. Your seems to be out of warranty due to age but the defect was likely to be there much earlier.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 10:04     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
PPs - thank you for your suggestions. I'd appreciate your thoughts on how to move forward. The way I see it I only have two choices: 1) bite the bullet and pay 2100 and get it fixed at the dealer; or 2) take it to my mechanic and have him take a look and fix it there (I've never done a front-end job at my mechanic' shop so there's some hesitance on my part but I am sure it will be significantly cheaper. Car's only three years old so I want to fix it right.

Also, I reached out to Subaru Corp (via email) venting how disappointed I am with my first Subaru. I am not sure if these complaints result in positive outcome. Thanks again for your insight
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 10:00     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Rockville Auto Clinic on Westmore Rd (not Rickvilke Auto Repair) has saved me a LOT of money twice. In both cases, unscrupulous shops told me work needed to be done which was excessive or not necessary. I only go to them now even though a long drive since we moved.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 09:58     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Anonymous wrote:Hard braking going into a pothole can absolutely tweak your alignment. I’m constantly having to adjust the alignment on my racecar from dipping into the buffer while under hard braking right before a corner.

It’s a real thing.


Yeah, I can see that happening but I didn't hit a pothole. Just hard braking. (and don't drive like racecar driver).
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 09:56     Subject: can hard braking make your alignment "off"?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just got back from the dealer. They said my strut is bent. They need to replace right front strut, mount, knuckle and bearing then alignment. They took me in the shop to show the front wheel is "leaning" inside. They also said hard braking couldn't cause something like this, but big potholes or some sort of big impacts can. Except I haven't hit big potholes. Repair cost est - 2100 + 115 I paid this morning. Any good Subaru repair shops near Rockville area is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.




Anyone else been driving it? Left it with any shady valets?


Op - no other drivers and no shady valets like the photo.