I got a wheel alignment..., kinda Options

[mike_the_man]

So, I took the teener in for a wheel alignment on the weekend. I gave the guy all the specs that I wanted the car aligned to, front and rear. I also gave him my cell # and said if there are any problems, to call me. I was told the car would be ready in about an hour.

So, an hour later I come back to get it. I go in to pay, and the guy behind the counter tells me they weren't able to adjust the caster and camber, but he's not sure why (kinda sounds like a problem, why didn't they call?), so I ask to speak to the mechanic. He tells me there wasn't enough adjustment left, so he left them all as they were. I ask about the rear, and he says that I didn't ask to have it done. Why would I have given specs for front and rear if I didn't want the rear done?!? The mechanic snorts and walks away.

So, I payed $35 to get the front toe adjusted, and that was all. To top it all off, now the car has a pretty good shimmy at about 60mph that wasn't there before. And, after looking, it doens't look like the adjustment bolts on the front struts were even loosened, so I'm not sure how he could tell there was no adjustment left.

I'll be calling the manager today, I just had to vent.

And to top it all off, there's an autox tonight that I wanted to go to, but probably won't because of the crappy "alignment".

Mikey angry!

[Joe Ricard]

I can do a better job with a carpenters square, measuring tape and some string.

PP has a tech article on home alignment. can't do caster quite well so I just make them the same.

When I 1st got the 928 paid 400 bucks for the alignment shop to screw up the car. Tech never checked to see if anything was worn out. Needed wheel bearing adjustment, one new ball joint, and a tie rod end. After that nobody wrenches on my cars. And the guy who told me my brand new forged wheel was bent. (actually didn't know how to put the hub on the machine correctly). Give it back I'll keep it thanks. Put it on the car set up dial indicator. .004 run out. Yup bent my ass. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spank.gif)

May not even bring the Mini in for service. Any body ever wonder what qualifications it takes to work at some of the shops we take our cars to? No offense meant to the few exceptions. Shops that really know what they are doing and charge for what they really do.