allignment woes, just need to vent.

[Bajabronco]

I have a 1988 single cab 2wd ranger. I lifted it a little with stock 4x4 2" blocks in the rear and then made some 1 1/2" spacers out of some 3" round stock I had lying around, this gave me about 2" of lift up front.

So i took it to firestone for an alignment before i ruined my new tires. I went ahead and bought a lifetime alignment.....thank god.

1st try.....they tell me they cant even try because of bad wheel bearings and bad tie rod ends. They then tell me they will get it as close as possible. When i get there they hadn't adjusted anything. i throw on new tie rod ends and wheel bearings and bring it back in.

2nd try...they rack it up then tell me they cant align it because my camber bushings are frozen, so they just do the toe. So I took it home, bought a 1 1/2 combination wrench and broke the bushings free.

3rd try...they rack it up AGAIN and align it and tell me it's in spec, then i looked at the spec sheet. the before and after measurements are EXACTLY THE SAME. AND, one side was a full degree off from the other. I walked back inside and they tell me that their computer told them that there were no camber specs for a 1988 ford ranger and that the stock bushings were non adjustable. BS, but whatever, i tell them to just get the camber as close to zero as possible.

4th try...they get it on their rack and start to try....then they tell me that they don't have the right wrench to turn the d**m bushings!....back off the rack.

5th try... I go home and get the guy MY WRENCH that the firestoners didn't have, they rack it up and the tech doesn't know how the bushings work,i get under the truck and show him that after you loosen the pinch bolt the bushings just turn. He did this and finally got them as close as possible with the stock bushings. 3* positive but whatever.

Finally, what they said they would do on the first try. Then as i am leaving, i find out the DB manager didn't even pay the tech for the last alignment.


ughhhh, whatever.

 

[Frank The Tank]

Wow, sometimes you just have to cut your losses... and move on down the line man. No way I'd go back to the same idiots that many times!!!

Frank

 

[Bubba Bob]

Gotta find an older tech that still uses string and KNOWLEDGE instead of fancy computers and a lack there of...

 

[Will]

Were they holding it up with plates under the tires?

 

[Bajabronco]

Yup, had the plates under the tires. I just don't know, it was ridiculous

also, these five trys occurred over two days and the shop is only a mile from my house, but yeah, i know right.

 

[Captain Ledd]

yeah, first time - I would have been asking some questions that would make them sweat a little. 2nd time - different shop time. It's a shame good repair places are so hard to find...

 

[Frank The Tank]

I would sneak out there late tonight, and get my wasted time and frustration back in the form of brand new "sticker" tires!!!

Frank

 

[mrcarcrazy]

mistake Number 1 - going to firestone.

I used to be a suspension mechanic as I was putting myself through school. Those apes @ every firestone I've encountered shouldn't be let loose near anything more complicated than a ball.

Gotta find an older tech that still uses string and KNOWLEDGE instead of fancy computers and a lack there of...

Or even better a tech w/ knowledge and fancy computers.

I've used both. the string machines need constant calibration by a certified tech (harder and harder to find since those machines haven't been made in years). so the newer 'fancy computer" machines are better in that aspect. the issue is the user. Its not hard to follow a diagram on a machine...and most people don't understand suspensions enough to do more than that.

 

[84projectFORD]

personally i do all my alignments myself now. a degree finder and flat rluer work great for camber and caster, then making reference marks on your tires and a using a measuring tape you set your toe. After the headaches i have had with shops sayin in need this or that when they are brand new to begin with really pisses me off, let alone i wont let anyone work on my diesel. Seems like people do shotty work anymore these days.

The funniest part is im a mechanic but after seein what people do it really turns you into the "good, trustworthy" mechanic. you would be surpirsed the business i get just cause im honest and know what im talkin about lol

 

[Jim Oaks]

I've done alignment with a magnetic angle finder and a ruler before as well. Once you put in adjustable camber bushings, you just have to work until you get it where it needs to be.

I use a local alignment shop. One guy - the owner. He does nice work. He makes me the last appointment for the day so he can take the time to get it right because he knows I'll be bringing something that's been lifted and will take some time.

 

[old greg]

I just finished a spindle lift on my 2wd 06 Sport and took it to Firestone once I got my wheels and 32's on. I had this sinking feeling they'd have 19 reasons why they couldn't align it. Surprisingly they aligned it just fine, there was a note that the suspension was "modified" but that was it.

I know it could of easily gone the other way if I happened to pick a location that was poorly run or had untrained staff. I think with those bigger chain shops it's a roll of the dice as to whether or not you get 1) a knowlegable person & 2) someone who cares about what they're doing.

 

[Nhaz]

Ive had a similar run in with mechanics in the last 6 months. 3 shops. All told me my alignment was perfect and they couldn't possibly make it any more perfect.

And I said kewl. and please tell me. why my front tires sit on a angle?? And explain that awesome tire wear on the insides of my tires.

oh and I want my money back now.

The self alignment attempt is going to be made this week end.

My plan. find a flat chunk of concrete or as close as i can. get a level a square and some strong string.

Tie the string between 2 sticks use the level to make the string level park the truck up against the string so i have a spot to base the square off of. and start adjusting. =>

I'll let you know how it goes. its going to happen either this Friday or sat night.

 

[mrcarcrazy]

If main concern is tire wear and your camber is anywhere near zero (like within 2 degrees). just set the toe and be done with it.

toe eats tires if its a tiny bit off. Camber requires much larger problems, over longer periods of time to destroy tires.