Did I Get Screwed?

[ledger35]

The steering wheel lock came undone while they were doing your alignment. Just take it back and the only way they can fix it is to re-do the alignment. I've done a number of them (right the first time).

 

[shadow247]

The steering wheel lock came undone while they were doing your alignment. Just take it back and the only way they can fix it is to re-do the alignment. I've done a number of them (right the first time).

This, I've done a few alignments and the number 1 thing I have forgotten is to lock the steering wheel in the center before adjusting the toe.

 

[theizzardking]

Slight thread hi-jack here...If you pay for lifetime alignment, can you take it to any firestone or just the one where you paid for the service?

imo, that's the best part about it, if your like me and have 3~4 with in 30 miles it's great, i've found that 2 of the shops suck (not equipment, people) so i just drive down to the next one, also different firestones have different equipment depending on where you live, i've found the ones in more rural areas have the special clamps for over-sized and mud tires, i've also found that you can be with-in spec but still be out if the wrong clamps are used, i had 2 alignments done with in 24 hours from 2 separate firestones , the first one didn't have the right equipment but thought they got it in, the second one had the right equipment and found everything to be out of spec by .5~2 full degrees all around...now just let me say, they can dial it in right with out the special clamps, but the guy doing the work needs to take his time with it and really make sure everything is square on the jig before he starts shooting..... so in short a good tech can do it regardless, a half ass lazy tech won't care and let you be out a few degrees because the numbers are fudged on the print out from the wheels being of from the get go....


so yeah, in my usual way..cj80, ya it's good at any of them, cross country, life of the truck....they do check vin numbers though, i know from my truck tree debacle...

 

[Brian757]

[MENTION=44988]theizzardking[/MENTION], [MENTION=80102]shadow247[/MENTION], [MENTION=91321]ledger35[/MENTION], [MENTION=49649]KidVermicious[/MENTION], [MENTION=85046]nissanh[/MENTION], [MENTION=84120]nevada[/MENTION], [MENTION=56109]cj80cruiser[/MENTION], [MENTION=55507]Diagram14[/MENTION]:
Okay everyone. So I just got my truck back. I am fu#king infuriated. They have lost me for life. Every soul in that god forsaken shop is imcompetent and ignorant. They had my truck lifted at 2:00PM. I finally got my truck back at 5:00PM. WTF!

The first time, they said my tires had 45psi and they reduced it to 35psi, where it needs to be. Today they told me my tires were at 36psi and they reduced it to 30psi, where it needed to be. The same clown that did my alignment the first time, did it today.

Here are the reports...

February 2, 2013:

February 4, 2013(2 days later):

They said that my caster cannot be tuned. I am not sure as I have never messed with it. The guy walks in and says, "WOAH, nice tires!" I said, "Is my truck done yet?" He said, "It will be a few, we have to take some air out of your tires, they were overinflated." 1 and a half hours later they began my alignment. OH, OH, and I was the only vehicle in all 8 bays...

There must've been 6 mechanics in the employees lounge circle jerking.

 

[nevada]

but, more importantly, is the wheel straight now?

they didnt need to redo anything just to straighten the wheel.

perhaps ask for a refund on the year of alignments? and never go back. theyre retards...

 

[theizzardking]

They said that my caster cannot be tuned. I am not sure as I have never messed with it. The guy walks in and says, "WOAH, nice tires!" I said, "Is my truck done yet?" He said, "It will be a few, we have to take some air out of your tires, they were overinflated." 1 and a half hours later they began my alignment. OH, OH, and I was the only vehicle in all 8 bays...

There must've been 6 mechanics in the employees lounge circle jerking.

well from looking at that briefly, they can get your caster down to 1/2 a degree unless you have a bigger lift than me... they were deflating your tires to try to get their clamps to grab them, tire pressure should have no effect on alignment...really..they have no reason to deflate your tires...either their equipment is limiting them or mental capacity is, either they think "this guys anal, maybe his tires are over inflated, let's deflate them leave his truck on the rack for hours and let him think we did major work" or they seriously don't know what they are doing and their equipment is not working with your setup......if you want it dialed in 100% your going to need to get control arms, as it will never be zero'd out without them...but still they should be getting better than that as is.

 

[Brian757]

well from looking at that briefly, they can get your caster down to 1/2 a degree unless you have a bigger lift than me... they were deflating your tires to try to get their clamps to grab them, tire pressure should have no effect on alignment...really..they have no reason to deflate your tires...either their equipment is limiting them or mental capacity is, either they think "this guys anal, maybe his tires are over inflated, let's deflate them leave his truck on the rack for hours and let him think we did major work" or they seriously don't know what they are doing and their equipment is not working with your setup......if you want it dialed in 100% your going to need to get control arms, as it will never be zero'd out without them...but still they should be getting better than that as is.

Yes. They are complete morons.

 

[cj80cruiser]

imo, that's the best part about it, if your like me and have 3~4 with in 30 miles it's great, i've found that 2 of the shops suck (not equipment, people) so i just drive down to the next one, also different firestones have different equipment depending on where you live, i've found the ones in more rural areas have the special clamps for over-sized and mud tires, i've also found that you can be with-in spec but still be out if the wrong clamps are used, i had 2 alignments done with in 24 hours from 2 separate firestones , the first one didn't have the right equipment but thought they got it in, the second one had the right equipment and found everything to be out of spec by .5~2 full degrees all around...now just let me say, they can dial it in right with out the special clamps, but the guy doing the work needs to take his time with it and really make sure everything is square on the jig before he starts shooting..... so in short a good tech can do it regardless, a half ass lazy tech won't care and let you be out a few degrees because the numbers are fudged on the print out from the wheels being of from the get go....


so yeah, in my usual way..cj80, ya it's good at any of them, cross country, life of the truck....they do check vin numbers though, i know from my truck tree debacle...

Awesome, I was a little worried about paying for the life time alignment and being stuck with a bad shop. Good to know I can go to another firestone as there are several to choose from in Columbus.

 

[shadow247]

well from looking at that briefly, they can get your caster down to 1/2 a degree unless you have a bigger lift than me... they were deflating your tires to try to get their clamps to grab them, tire pressure should have no effect on alignment...really..they have no reason to deflate your tires...either their equipment is limiting them or mental capacity is, either they think "this guys anal, maybe his tires are over inflated, let's deflate them leave his truck on the rack for hours and let him think we did major work" or they seriously don't know what they are doing and their equipment is not working with your setup......if you want it dialed in 100% your going to need to get control arms, as it will never be zero'd out without them...but still they should be getting better than that as is.

I had a similar amount of lift - TRD Springs with Tundra Shocks and a 3/4 Top plate spacer, I could never even get positive caster. I think those numbers are fine, as long as it drives straight and the steering wheel is straight. If you are really concerned about the Caster, you will need new UCA's, which would mean going back and messing with your upper ball joints again.

 

[I_bRAD]

Shouldn't the "current" measurements of the first alignment and the "before" measurements of the new alignment match?

 

[BlackCat914]

Pull your truck straight and undo your steering shaft and put steering wheel in position you want and reconnect....why shops don't position steering wheel after alignment never made sense to me

lol, that's seriously like the worst advice ever.

 

[theizzardking]

maybe i'm reading my old sheet wrong..

 

[shadow247]

maybe i'm reading my old sheet wrong..

The "Before" measurement is what it measured out at on the initial set-up.

The "Actual" measurement is what it measured out at after the adjustments are made.

I see your Camber in spec at .3/-.2
I see your Caster in the negative at -.5/-.6
I see your Toe in spec at .13/.13

Those are just fine for measurements. They didn't even adjust anything other than the Toe, the Camber/Caster readings are the same as they were on the initial setup. Like most people know on here, you'll need new UCA's to correct your Caster back to factory. I dropped mine back down because I couldn't stand the way it drove on the freeway with negative caster.

 

[Brian757]

Shouldn't the "current" measurements of the first alignment and the "before" measurements of the new alignment match?

Uhh... Yeahh!! Haha, they are some.. Its a new day Brian. Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts.
[MENTION=44988]theizzardking[/MENTION]: it drives straight now. Sorry. I never even mentioned it. I have noticed a tremendous difference is steering response and way better handling after my UBJs, LBJs and upper tie rod end replacements. I will buy UCAs later. I need a break from tie rod/ball joint pullers and suspension for the month