When the dealership handed me the invoice for these, I was certain it was the wrong ticket. Nope. $110, even with the 20% discount I get using my buddies shop account.
With everything disassembled, getting the new LCAs torqued in and ready to roll only took about an hour or two.
Then I gingerly drove down surface streets to catch Firestone for yet another repeat on my Lifetime Alignment (definitely a good idea for any rig that gets wheeled).
These guys were no exception to the slacker rep Firestone receives. After they finished, I pulled into a parking spot and checked the torque on the alignment bolts. Maybe 50 ft/lbs max. I tightened them down to 96 ft/lbs, went back and told the service counter guy about their screw up. It's funny for two reasons:
1. The guy at the counter had been bragging on his alignment guys' experience levels, 15 and 25 years.
2. My 24" digital torque wrench had been sitting on the passenger seat with a 22 mm socket attached, next to a 19 mm wrench. The mechanic had to see it when he drove my truck onto the lift. Why did he think I had that sitting there?
I've put about 25 miles on the truck since the alignment, and it has held so far. The two alignments prior to replacing the LCA (more importantly the LCA bushings) didn't hold 10 miles. Looks like the problem is solved.
