Here's a little eye opener, Get out and get under! Options

[Howard]

So my newly acquired 914-V8 has a bit of front end shake. Take it to local tire place, they balance and notice struts are leaking and clank a bit. So balanced, aligned and strutted, I'm on my way.

Out for a drive, front really gets shaky and a bunch of free play in wheel. Limp home, jack up car and take a look. Gee whiz (I think I said it differently) the steering box was not bolted to the frame. Nice holes, nice threads, no bolts. Installed bolts. Thanked powers that be, as I had just come off a curvy road with some serious drop offs.

Back to tire shop, tech says 'they told me to replace struts, not check anything else'. Mutters a few other things, and realigns. Car still shakes, of course. Car sat for a long time on new tires, and they now 'guess' tread separation. Nowhere near round, of course, but hey, they did balance. Think I'll take my business elsewhere.

So what have we learned, kids? I learned "Trust everyone, then double check". I had my granddaughter in the car last week.

Irate old fart goes to tire store with grenade laucher: Film @ 11.